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Der Spiegel: "Poles are now the masters of Europe" [49]
There are few such success stories as Poland's history after the change of it's regime - writes German weekly "Der Spiegel", which in the latest issue published an extensive article about Poland before Euro 2012, entitled "the miracle in the neighborhood."
According to "Der Spiegel" the symbol of the changes that took place in Poland, may be the National Stadium in Warsaw. "Built out of ruins and looking toward the future it is more than a building structure. It is a symbol. Through this superstadium Poland would like to show the world her new face, to prove that it has overcome the shadows of the past: the crimes of the Nazis, communist oppression and random time transformation of capitalism" - writes the weekly.
"Poles are now the masters of Europe"
Recalling the good economic indicators of Poland, "Spiegel" estimates, "Whatever falls out of Euro 2012, the Poles are already champions of Europe in terms of growth rates over the past decade."
"A country that sees itself as a pioneer and model for the east. Wants to be a force in Europe, wants to be for Europe and take it's place which it has always considered to be suitable for itself. We're back to being a somebody - it is said in Warsaw, Gdansk, Wroclaw and Krakow - a change that seems to be familiar to every German "- he added.
"Exemplary student and a naughty boy"
According to "Der Spiegel" the success of transformation in Poland is most evident when one compares it to other Eastern bloc countries - "for example, the authoritarian-ruled and plagued by human rights violations of Ukraine, the second co-host the European football championships." "Exemplary student and a naughty boy" - he writes, "Spiegel" of the two countries.
"Amazing" is according to "Der Spiegel" one more thing: "The beginning of the end of the longstanding hostility" between the Poles and the Germans, who can get close to one another, as has Germany and France done in recent decades - even though many residents on both sides of the Oder still think of one another in terms of the old stereotypes.
"Promised Land"
Weekly estimates also that "Ukraine has become to Poland what Poland was once to Germany." "Just as Berlin played the role of a generous advocate of Warsaw, now Warsaw is an advocate of good will for Kiev. Unfortunately, after the Orange Revolution, Ukraine is not necessarily the official wishes to continue to go to the West" - says "Spiegel".
"But people vote with their feet. Hundreds of thousands of Ukrainians living more or less permanently in Poland, the use of employment opportunities for low-wage sector (...). Many of those who return from Poland to the Ukraine believe that they had seen the promised land, clean, efficient and focused on the future "- writes the weekly.
