Polish Diplomacy Towards the Events in Czechoslovakia in 1989

Abstract

Political relations between Warsaw and Prague in 1989 were influenced by the disproportion between the rate of the systemic changes taking place in both countries and the critical stance of the KSČ leadership towards the changes taking place in Poland. The negative assessment of the decision to convene the Round Table talks, the capitulating attitude of the PZPR, which de facto agreed to abandon the principles of socialism in the economy and accepted the strengthening of the Solidarity opposition, influenced the reduction of official political contacts, especially in the second half of 1989. This also applied to cooperation between social organisations, especially youth organisations, cultural cooperation and individual border traffic. All these issues were perceived by PLR diplomats making attempts to counteract the isolation by party activists of various levels and trying to counteract the unfavourable presentation of Poland in the Czechoslovak media and supporting their citizens subjected to persecution by Czechoslovak border guards