Polish President Hopes For Improved Ties With Russia

Polish President Lech Kaczynski (file photo) (AFP) 1 January 2006 -- Poland's newly-inaugurated President Lech Kaczynski used his first New Year's address to the nation to say that he hopes Poland's strained ties with Russia will improve significantly.

Kaczynski, a former anticommunist dissident, has often used tough language about Russia.

But he said in his televised address that he hoped the time would come for what he called "a significant transformation" of Poland's ties with Russia.

(AP)