21/01/2009 (Agence Europe) - On 20 January, the president of Poland, Lech Kaczynski, reiterated his refusal to sign the Polish law ratifying the Lisbon Treaty as long as the Irish have still not approved the treaty. A second referendum is expected in September or October. . He did provide assurances, however, that his country would not obstruct the entry into force of the text if all the other member states ratified it. According to a statement made on Monday by the foreign minister, Karel Schwarzenberg, parliamentary ratification by the Czech Republic would take place “soon”. Schwarzenberg informed the EP foreign affairs committee: “I am absolutely sure we will ratify”. The Czech Parliament is expected to start its debate at the beginning of February but Czech ratification might also be linked to the Irish problem. The president of the Czech Senate's European affairs committee, Ludek Sefzig, quoted by the EUobserver, affirmed that it will be “very problematic” for the Senate to approve the treaty as long as the EU has not put on paper and adopted the legal assurances it promised Ireland in exchange for a second referendum. December's European Council agreed that these assurances (focusing on keeping one Commissioner per country, neutrality, taxation, the family and social and ethical questions) will be included by the middle of the year. (H.B./transl.rh)