25.05.2005 

Part IV:  Polish Intelligence in 1989-2005
Troubles with the Personnel Supersession (1989-2004)

The transformation of the structure of the Polish intelligence community personnel is a significant issue. In contrast to the Baltics, where the employees of new intelligence agencies were recruited and prepared anew, the situation in Poland recalls that of Russia. UOP and WSI could not get rid of the old skilled staff completely. Additionally, the society has not supported idea of "getting even" with intelligence officers of the Communist period. For this reason, 14.000 of 25.000 SB employees underwent a so-called " "Decommunization" process in the beginning of the nineties and only 4.500 of them were deemed unsuitable to continue working for the special services.
Most of the former employees jumped over to the market of security services (Private Security Services - Rynek uslug ochrony). Presently, about 200.000 people are working in this sector of the Polish economy, many of whom are former intelligence officers. Some of the "formers" even actively try to influence internal Polish politics. For example, UOP`s ex-chief Jerzy Konieczny took the most active role in the resignation of the former Prime Minister, Wlodzimierz Cimoszewisz (2001).
As for those who stayed in the ranks of the intelligence agencies, they initially had to concede the key positions to the representatives of the winning anti-Communist opposition. However, they subsequently regained their former degree of influence. This process became especially noticeable after SLD came to power at the end of 2001. At that time, 420 officers left UOP ranks, mostly those, who had been accepted in the nineties. One of the leaders of SLD, Zbigniew Siemiatkowski, surrounded himself with former SB officers upon being appointed to the post of the head of AW in October 2001 . His two closest assistants, colonels Zenon Bilewicz and Andrzej Derlatka, are the best examples. A similar process took place in the office of the head of ABW, Andrzej Barcikowski.

Marek Belka`s Personnel Rearrangements (2004-2005)

The radical turn in personnel selection for the Polish intelligence community took place only after Marek Belka become Prime Minister in May, 2004. Three months later, at the end of August, Zbigniew Siemiatkowski 's dismissal from the post of AW head was announced.. Professional diplomat Andrzej Ananicz took his place. He had no experience in the field. Ananicz is an expert philologist and orientalist – he has a Master's degree in Turkish Studies and a Doctorate (Ph.D.) in Iranian Studies. He graduated from Indiana University in Bloomington. Since 1981 he has been busy with a academic career.   At the beginning of the nineties, he became a personal adviser to Lech Walesa. Before his assignment to the post of Head of Polish Intelligence services, he worked for more than a decade in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Poland (Ministerstwo Spraw Zagranicznych) and served as deputy Minister (1997-2001). From 2001 to 2004 Ananicz was the ambassador of Poland to Ankara. Polish political commentators called his Turkish assignment "an honorable exile". Known for his right-wing political views and connections in the right- camp, Ananicz simply was not fit to be the deputy to the SLD`s Minister of Foreign Affairs. For the same reasons, his assignment to be the chief of Foreign Intelligence caused sharp protests on behalf of the ruling coalition.
However, Prime Minister Belka was firm in the decision. Foreign Intelligence needs professionals, instead of politicians, he said, and Ananicz remained in the post. And in March, 2005, Andrzej Derlatka left AW`s ranks. Colonel Dariusz Antosik, a typical representative of the SB's young generation after the "Decommunization" process, took his place. As a former ordinary employee of the scientific- technical branch of the Polish intelligence service, he started his ascent up the career ladder at the beginning of the nineties. There is also reason to believe that Zenon Bilewicz will not stay long in the post of the assistant to the head of AW.
In all likelihood, he will be dismissed after the parliamentary elections of Autumn, 2005. 
The similar situation is apparent also in Poland`s Agency of Internal Security (ABW). Simultaneously with the resignation of Siemiatkowski in August 2004, an assistant to the head of ABW, the veteran of counterespionage, General Pawel Pruszynski, was retired.  Pruszynski, as a member of SLD, filled this high post in the counterespionage department for only two years. He is considered the protege of the previous Prime Minister, Miller. His place was occupied bymajor Jacek Maka, Master of Law, graduate of Lublin University. Maka came to the UOP counterespionage department only in 1994, already in the post-Communist period. In this connection it is possible to assume that the head of ABW, Andrzej Barcikowski, will not remain at his post for long. It is most likely that Barcikowski will be removed from the post (as Bilewicz was from AW) after the upcoming parliamentary elections.

Part One

Part Two

Part Three

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