French Ambassador to Poland Patrick Gautrat talks to Małgorzata Kaczorowska.

How long have you been an ambassador to Poland? What are the personal highlights of your time here?
I have been an ambassador for two and a half years in Poland. I think the greatest moments during my stay here included Poland's accession to the EU, after difficult negotiations, and of course the referendum last year, whose result was uncertain until the last minute. This final result was my best souvenir of those days. Of course there were both good and bad times during my term of office. Diplomats know that both positive and negative moments come with the job. Honestly speaking, there was a balance between the two.

What are your impressions of Poland? Is this your first time in the country?
This is my second stay in Poland after a 30-year absence. The country has changed a great deal since then. In comparison with Poland of the past, today the country has more wealth and freedom, and people are more relaxed. On the other hand, I was much younger during my previous visit and I was more enthusiastic about discovering the country. At that time, Poland was a mix of communism and some freedom of expression. But I think it is still a unique country. Opinions about Poland's future must be more positive now. Countries should remember their past and think about how they are developing. Having such a perspective is very important.

What are the implications of Poland's EU membership for bilateral trade initiatives? What did you feel as ambassador May 1 this year, at that special moment?
Membership in the EU does not modify our bilateral relations because states and nations within the Union retain their identity. Therefore, bilateral relations are still very important because of economic and cultural differences. In this area there is still much to be done, although many decisions will now be made not in Paris and Warsaw, but in Brussels and Strasbourg or on the other forums where EU representatives meet. I think that our relations will develop, but our ways of operating have to be modified.

How would you describe Polish-French relations?
Our relations are a cause for both satisfaction and sometimes frustration. Satisfaction-because there are many successes in terms of economic relations: trade has increased significantly over the last 10 years and French investments in Poland are spectacular. So I am very pleased to have such a big community of French investors here. My only hope is that the number of small and medium-sized enterprises in Poland will grow in the future.

As far as culture is concerned, I believe that our position is not as bad as some believe. Of course, the French language is not as popular as it used to be. However, I think that young people understand how useful French language can be now in Europe.

This year France is hosting a Polish season, which will continue until January 2005. Moreover, Polish culture is well known in my country for historical reasons. Therefore scientific, technical, and cultural relations between Poland and France are in good condition.

Unfortunately, there have been some political difficulties in the last seven years-this is not a recent development. The latest polls report that France is seen as a country that does not support European enlargement with new countries, including Poland. For me, this is very surprising. Over 50 percent of the French describe Poles as friendly people. Of course, there were some negative reactions to Polish decisions which were not well understood, but explaining these misunderstandings is a challenge for ambassadors and journalists. I hope that they will fade away. It was for that purpose that we created a bilateral annual seminar on France and Poland last year. The first meeting this fall will be devoted to education, science, communication and training. This type of event is a good basis for building a common future, not only in terms of political relations.

How about cultural cooperation between our countries?
The Poles should be proud of their culture. It is spectacular. Many well-known Poles have lived in France, so this brings our nations closer. Poland is very active in many areas of culture such as literature, painting, theater and cinema. Poland's culture and traditions are important, which is normal for a country of this size and history. I believe that Poland's culture will be successfully exported to other countries.

Will you leave many friends behind when your term ends in Poland?
Yes. I also left friends after my first stay in Poland. Now, after 30 years, I was able to see them again. Although much time had passed since our previous meeting, after a few minutes I realized that they had not changed at all. Aside from those I met 30 years ago, I have made new friends, with whom I hope I can stay in touch in my new assignment in Portugal.