Fragment of an interview given by Poland's President Aleksander Kwaśniewski to Sever Plockierov, a journalist of the Israeli daily "Yediot Ahoronot" on February 26, 2001
One thing that is difficult to change is what is inside people's minds. If one has been hurt and still carries the pain inside, if to someone the thought of Poland is tragic, it is very difficult. Because history can be reported in books but human life is something we carry in our souls, it is not feasible to repair a man's soul with the use of books, nor is it feasible to convince a man that his fate was a result of something predestined. He remembers his own fragment of history, his own time which caused him so much sorrow and pain. The same can be said of the Polish side.... I think that the most difficult thing is that Polish-Israeli relations will be for many more years still connected with very personal experiences, which need to be honored and treated with utmost respect. Secondly, I believe that the more sincerity, openness, media publications, historical research, cooperation between scientists to explore the history there is, the better it is. We have to do that as well. There are a few more taboo issues, which require serious historical analysis and publications. Thirdly, when examining World War II it's necessary to state that it had many tragic moments. A difficult issue lies in front of us, namely the full examination of the murders in Jedwabne. What do we want to accomplish through this? We believe that it's our duty to explain the events and also present the responsibility for them. IPN (Institute of National Remembrance), which is directed by professor Kieres, declared that its will bring the investigation to a close in a few months time. For this dramatic event, ignoring its inspirations, causes, and historical background, which led to it, a great homage and apology should be paid to the Jewish population of Jedwabne. I believe that the 60th anniversary of the murders will be an opportunity to fully express such an apology....
There are black stains in our history; there are situations which can not be explained by any means. The Jedwabne case be-longs to such occurrences; it places us in a situation to carry out the duty to expose all such difficult, dramatic occurrences, to discuss them openly as such discussion betters us despite all of its painfulness. I have to admit to you that when reading Gross' book during the summer break, I was only able to read only two pages a day. It is such a shocking report, so awfully painful that it was impossible to read. Alas, I believe that one needs to experience this kind of a shock connected with history. We should draw the right conclusion from all this as we need to educate the Polish public towards unity, reconciliation, and tolerance. At the same time, I hope that those who will review and critique Gross's book will not forget who organized the Holocaust and caused World War II. As not to find out all of a sudden that Jedwabne is the beginning of the new history of World War II, as that is not true. It was one of the most tragic, and in no way excusing Poles, I stress in no way excusing Poles, episodes of this whole great war which was caused by the Nazis. Please remember that I decidedly protest against statements, which claim that certain reactions were caused due to the fact that Jews collaborated with the Soviet authorities in the region. It's only the historical background and not a justification at all. A murder remains a murder, a crime is a crime, and human suffering will always be human suffering, there is no justification here at all.
Yediot Ahoronot: Will this issue cause an increase of anti-Semitic incidents?
I don't think so. I believe that the Jedwa-bne case will be a reason for deeper reflection in Poland. A reflection, which will be based on the question, why was this possible, why a number of people participated in this? I am much more afraid of a situ-ation where the Jedwabne example would be a case of transfer of responsibility for the Holocaust from the German to the Polish side. That would not be positive. I hope that no wise indi-vidual in the world would claim that. u