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Poland's President sworn in

Lech Kaczynski

WARSAW: Lech Kaczynski was sworn in as Poland's new President on Friday, crowning the rise to power of conservative leaders who pledged to fight corruption, boost the economy and distance the country from its communist past. In his first remarks after taking the oath of office, Mr. Kaczynski said Poland would continue to pursue strong relations with the United States and pledged to make ties with Russia ``an important issue'' for his presidency. Mr. Kaczynski inherits a close alliance with the U.S. and tense relations with Moscow from Aleksander Kwasniewski, an ex-communist who has been President for the past decade. However, he focused a speech to Parliament on his favoured domestic issues — among them, cleansing the country of corruption. ``The state is not performing its duties properly,'' the 56-year-old former Solidarity activist and ex-Warsaw Mayor said as he began his five-year term. ``For that reason, it must be cleansed and rebuilt.'' As Mayor and during the presidential campaign, Mr. Kaczynski called for removing former communists from public offices. He indicated he would continue on that course, but without causing unnecessary social divisions. ``Our country requires that old accounts be squared, but it also needs accord and unity,'' Mr. Kaczynski said in a 20-minute speech greeted by frequent applause. Mr. Kaczynski appeared nervous as he was sworn in, failing to raise his hand as he promised to ``observe the Constitution and to protect the freedom and independence of Poland.'' Mr. Kaczynski won the presidency in an October 23 runoff election, beating a more business-friendly conservative, Donald Tusk. — AP

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