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WARSAW-Russia's relations with Poland have rarely been easy but Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov visits Warsaw on Thursday amid particularly sharp disputes over missile defense and Moscow's army offensive in Georgia.Polish President Lech Kaczynski has been among the most vocal critics of Russia's policy in Georgia, flying to Tbilisi to demonstrate Poland's solidarity with the ex-Soviet republic and helping to mobilize protests in the European Union.Prime Minister Donald Tusk's government has been more measured but its decision to host part of a U.S. missile defense shield on Polish soil has also infuriated Moscow.Poles view the fact that Lavrov is coming at such a time as proof that being firm with Moscow pays off and that the Kremlin has understood the need for dialogue with Poland, the largest ex-communist member of the EU and NATO, and with Europe.Lavrov is due to meet Tusk and Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski but not the more combative Kaczynski."I don't expect a new era of love and 100 percent trust to break out between Warsaw and Moscow because we differ about too much, but neighbors need to have good, normal ties," Krzysztof Lisek, head of parliament's foreign affairs commission and a member of Tusk's Civic Platform, told Reuters."I think this visit should mainly be seen as a sign of good will from Russia, which is willing to mend relations with all of the European Union, without excluding any country."Tusk has said the visit shows Poland has moved toward improving relations with Russia after they hit rock bottom under the previous cabinet of Kaczynski's twin brother Jaroslaw.To read more go to:
As in the days of Noah...
