WARSAW, Aug. 20 (Xinhua) -- "We need Poland as a very important element of the EU," visiting German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas said on Monday in Harmeze, Oswiecim in southern Poland.
Maas told a press conference after the meeting with his Polish counterpart Jacek Czaputowicz that his visit to Poland was "very moving", and stressed that wartime death camps constituted "the darkest pages in German history."
He stressed that Germany took full responsibility for wartime atrocities committed against Jews and Poles.
Maas pointed out that the talks were the second meeting between the Polish and German foreign ministers, and said this proved that both sides were intent on expanding their relations.
Maas also underscored Poland's importance for the EU.
He announced an autumn-planned round of Polish-German government-level consultations, among others to focus on the Western Balkans.
Czaputowicz that the German foreign minister's visit to Poland "aimed at underscoring the relations between our countries and open doors to further cooperation."
He said that the talks concerned the situation of Germany's Polish community, and European affairs including Brexit, and the new EU budget.
Czaputowicz said Poland hoped for more government aid for Germany's Polish community, especially in matters related to Polish-language education.
With regard to Brexit and the EU budget, Czaputowicz said cooperation in both fields between Poland and Germany "was possible and could be very fruitful." He added that the talks with Maas also covered Ukraine, Georgia, Syria, migration and the future of the EU.
