Materials&Documents
October 2008
Statements, Letters, Messages
Message of condolence sent by President of the Republic of Poland Lech Kaczynski to Vietnam, October 2, 2008. 2
Letter sent by President of the Republic of Poland Lech Kaczynski to participants in "Revitalizing the US-Central European Relationship" conference, October 12, 2008. 2
Address by President of the Republic of Poland Lech Kaczynski on health care reform, October 7, 2008. 3
Statement by President of the Republic of Poland Lech Kaczynski following a meeting with head of the Union of Poles in Belarus Angelika Borys , October 8, 2008. 4
Statement by Senate Speaker Bogdan Borusewicz following a meeting with head of OSCE Parliamentary Assembly Joao Soares, October 9, 2008. 5
Message of condolences sent by President of the Republic of Poland Lech Kaczynski to the President of the Kirgiz Republic, October 9, 2008. 5
Statement by President of the Republic of Poland Lech Kaczynski after a meeting with the President of the Czech Republic, October 13, 2008. 5
Statement by President of the Republic of Poland Lech Kaczynski after session of the European Council, October 15, 2008. 5
Statement by Senate Speaker Bogdan Borusewicz at a meeting with the Czech Senate delegation, October 16, 2008. 5
Statement by Senate Speaker Bogdan Borusewicz at a meeting with Afghan lower house speaker Mohammad Younus Qanooni, October 21, 2008. 5
Statement by Senate Speaker Bogdan Borusewicz at a meeting with head of Human Rights Tribunal Jean Paul Costa, October 23, 2008. 5
Statement by President of the Republic of Poland Lech Kaczynski following a meeting with representatives of Polish economic and financial milieus, October 24, 2008. 5
Statement by President of the Republic of Poland Lech Kaczynski following the Poland-Ukraine economic summit, October 29, 2008. 5
Statement by Senate Speaker Bogdan Borusewicz following the meeting with the UAE National Assembly head, October 29, 2008. 5
Letter by President of the Republic of Poland to soldiers of the last shift of the Polish military contingent in Iraq, October 29, 2008. 5
Poland's President Lech Kaczynski sent a letter of condolence to President of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam Nguyen Minh Triet following floods triggered by Typhoon Hagupit in the north of the country which killed 41 people.
"Shocked by the news about the tragedy triggered by Typhoon Hagupit which killed over 40 people I would like to send my sincere condolences over the tragedy," the president wrote.
"My sincerest sympathy goes to families and relatives of the tragedy."
Letter sent by President of the Republic of Poland Lech Kaczynski to participants in "Revitalizing the US-Central European Relationship" conference, October 12, 2008.
Poland's President Lech Kaczynski sent a letter to participants in the conference "Revitalizing the US-Central European Relationship" held at the Royal Castle in Warsaw.
The letter read:
"It is a pleasure to have you here in Warsaw, at the conference organized jointly by the Center for International Relations and the Center for European Policy Analysis. The main topic of today's meeting concerns revitalizing relations between the US and Central Europe, it sets the framework for the current discussion about relations between Europe and the US.
NATO, which links democratic states on both sides of the Atlantic and guarded security in Europe during the cold war, has laid foundations for strategic and defensive cooperation between the Old Continent and the US. After the fall of the "Iron Curtain," thanks to the return of Poland and other countries to the family of free nations, grouped in NATO and EU, "the zone of stability and peace" extended onto a considerable part of central and eastern Europe.
Over the last decades the Transatlantic area was perceived as a model example for building international relations and cooperation. The zone was to guarantee peace, political and economic stability, conditions for systematic development allowing peaceful existence to hundreds of millions citizens living here.
The Euroatlantic area of security and stability cannot be closed. We should remember that the countries to which we have a moral duty and debt are still outside it. We can repay that debt to Georgia and Ukraine only by fully including these states into NATO and EU structures.
The ability to include into the cooperation the states and cultures with various roots and history but having the same system of values and rules, the states sharing the vision of the world, ready to defend Freedom, Democracy, Human Rights and the Law Abiding States, which are its foundation, is an exceptional feature of transatlantic cooperation. But we should remember that transatlantic cooperation is not a process carried out regardless of the changing reality.
Today we can say that Europe and the US are once again in their history facing new threats and challenges. In the face of attempts to redefine the to-date security system in Europe, tighter economic, political and military cooperation should be the priority of transatlantic community policy. That is why the ability of political leaders, both in Europe and on the other side of the Atlantic Ocean to shape joint policy of international security remains a crucial challenge.
The success of the transatlantic project has an extraordinary value for the US, Europe and the world. Being aware that freedom and democracy are not given once and for all, we have to take more coordinated actions in transatlantic relations, directed to defend the values on which our civilization is built.
Wishing you successful and fruitful debates I am deeply convinced that the Warsaw meeting of the Conference will be a significant element of the process of strengthening of transatlantic links.
Address by President of the Republic of Poland Lech Kaczynski on health care reform, October 7, 2008.
In a televised address President Lech Kaczynski announced that he would put forward a motion on a referendum on Poland's healthcare system reform. In the address the president said in part:
"Health protection is one of the most important fields of social life. The role of the state is to create such models of health care functioning which are most effective from the point of view of citizens.
We Poles had a right to be dissatisfied with the functioning of the health care system over many years. These problems are known to everybody: from young families with children to elderly people who need special care. It is not surprising therefore that both politicians, doctors, nurses, patient associations have been in a dispute about how to improve this important sphere of our life.
Such dispute is nothing bad, it is going on in many countries of the world, many of them much more affluent than Poland. My views on the issue are very clear. I spoke about them three years ago during the presidential campaign and I have not changed my mind.
I believe that health care is the last sphere of social life which should be governed by rules of the free market. A patient cannot be treated as a source of profit, and a hospital or a clinic cannot be a money machine. This will unfortunately take place if we allow privatisation of the health care system in Poland.
During debates before presidential elections I said I would veto the bill which will aim at privatizing hospitals. During last year's parliamentary election campaign the presently ruling party said clearly that it does not want privatisation of the health care system. But it changed its mind over a year. The bills reforming the health care system which are now in the Sejm aim at its privatisation.
I respect opinions of the liberals now ruling Poland but I fundamentally disagree with them. It seems to me that a reasonable solution relating to the future of the Polish health care system would be to ask Poles whether they want health care system privatization.
In the near future on the strength of Art. 125 Para. 2 of Poland's Constitution I will send a motion to the Senate to carry out a referendum on the issue. At the same time I will ask the ruling coalition to stop parliamentary work on the plans to privatize the health care system pending the referendum on the issue.
I would like and I am calling on the government and the opposition for a debate before the referendum to be held peacefully, by means of factual arguments, so that every Pole could have his/her opinion and take a decision consciously.
A referendum is not a solution frequently used in Poland but there are moments in which citizens, rather than politicians, should be allowed to speak. The problem of health care system privatization is such an issue, in my opinion.
I would also like to make it clear that I will respect any decision taken by Poles in the referendum.
Thank you very much.
Statement by President of the Republic of Poland Lech Kaczynski following a meeting with head of the Union of Poles in Belarus Angelika Borys , October 8, 2008.
Poland's President Lech Kaczynski met head of the Union of Poles in Belarus Angelika Borys.
After the meeting the president said:
I congratulated Ms Borys on her determination, toughness and successes. We spoke a lot about the situation of the Polish minority and the general situation in Belarus. Please remember that according to official data there are four thousand Poles there, there are also data which show that there are more Poles in Belarus, but I will not assess how many more. Even 400,000 Poles constitute five percent of Belarussian population.
We spoke about changes which aim at making the regime a little less repressive but I would like to uphold my opinion that for now these are changes which lead to no changes. The outcome of the last election in Belarus show this. As we know no representative of the opposition managed to make it to the parliament.
As regards the Union of Poles it is unacceptable for the organization created by undemocratic authorities - the organisation whose leader often presents the stance which is expected by the present Belarussian authorities - for that organization to join the organization led by Ms Borys, which is the authentic organization.
I would like to once again thank Ms Borys for that and say that the improvement of relations with Belarus is a good thing - but requires conditions. We, as Poland, cannot use certain inclination of our EU friends to see in a special way the countries located to the east of Poland, to use it in the way which in fact means helping the regimes which do not deserve it. And so much the more we cannot enter the world of a dynamic, authentic Polish emigre organization. And this was the topic of our talks.
I would like to congratulate Ms Borys and wish her further successes. I am deeply convinced that not only the Polish minority but all Belarussian citizens are in the last phase of waiting for such changes which took place in the whole Europe.
Head of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly Joao Soares paid a visit in a Polish Senate on October 9. He was received by Senate Speaker Bogdan Borusewicz.
Borusewicz said that Poland actively supported OSCE which is a very important international organization, active where there are conflicts or problems resulting from lack of democracy.
The organization plays a significant role in the construction of European safety. It is extremely important that there is an organization which observes what is going on in the places of conflict and seeks to work on dialogue between sides of a conflict, supports democratization processes and the construction of law-abidingness in OSCE countries.
Borusewicz stressed that he was an observer during Slovenian elections, and twice in Ukraine and was aware of the importance of the presence of OSCE observers in the countries where democratic standards are not fully observed.
Joao Soares stressed that the OSCE wants to build agreement everywhere where conflicts exists. The organization organized a meeting in Toronto recently, where the situation in the Caucasus was discussed. The meeting was attended by representatives of Georgia and Russia.
Borusewicz said that the fight for democracy in Spain and Portugal was an inspiration for action for him. This was an example that the defeat of the dictatorship by own forces was possible. It is good that the head of OSCE Parliamentary Assembly comes from the country in which people now know what the lack of democracy means.
The Senate speaker came out in favour of the autonomy of OSCE institutions, that is the Office of Democratic Institutions and Human Rights, OSCE spokesman for the freedom of the media, the high commissioner for national minorities. These institutions require changes but it is not a good time for it now, he said.
Also discussed was situation in the Caucasus. The sides agreed there is a need to support and build dialogue between the sides of the conflict.
Message of condolences sent by President of the Republic of Poland Lech Kaczynski to the President of the Kirgiz Republic, October 9, 2008.
Poland's President Lech Kaczynski sent a message of condolence after an earthquake which hit the Altay territory.
It was with great sorrow that I learned about the strong earthquake which hit the Altay territory, killing over 70 people, including several dozen children. Please accept my deepest sympathies, on behalf of the Polish nation and myself, for the families of the victims of the tragedy and wishes for recovery for those injured in the earthquake, the president. wrote.
Statement by President of the Republic of Poland Lech Kaczynski after a meeting with the President of the Czech Republic, October 13, 2008
Poland's president Lech Kaczynski met with Czech President Vaclav Klaus on October 13, 2008. After thee meeting the president said in part:
Our meeting has lasted since yesterday. We visited Cieszyn, both its Polish and Czech part. The meeting was symbolical because of the fact that the town, divided by the decision of the council of ambassador in 1920, is functioning today jointly in a way. It has a total of 63,000 residents, 37,000 on the Polish side, 26,000 on the Czech side. Mayors of the Czech and Polish parts are friends. Cieszyn is located halfway between Warsaw and Prague - in the identical distance from the two cities and today is a symbol of our very, very close relations. One may say that these relations are not a very big success, as naturally Czech-Polish relations should be very close. Yes, but this natural state was achieved only recently and that is why I am very satisfied with yesterday's meeting and its nature - which was undoubtedly symbolic, just as I am satisfied with today's meeting after breakfast. Soon, in an hour we will meet again, and this time President Vaclav Klaus will be in another role - as an author of a book, as a very bold intellectual who opposes tendencies which dominated the way of thinking on some very significant matter - I would say that the domination took place in a global scale. I think that you, who represent the media, know what an established way of thinking in certain group means. I will not give examples here relating to our country, as you all know them. There are people about whom one can write only positively or the people, in the case of who one positive sentence has to be followed by the next three negative. I admire in this respect the intellectual courage of Professor Klaus. Regardless of the fact that Mr President has been the president for the second term, earlier he was the prime minister, and also the head of the National Assembly, that is the counterpart of our Sejm speaker, and he was the finance minister. So he held all the important functions in the Czech Republic, at first still in Czechoslovakia. I congratulate him on this intellectual courage, we will meet in an hour or so. Mr President will speak about his book.
Statement by President of the Republic of Poland Lech Kaczynski after session of the European Council, October 15, 2008
On October 15, 2008 Poland's President Lech Kaczynski went to Brussels to take part in the session of the European Council.
After the return to Poland the president told a press conference at the Okecie airport:
"As regards the issues relating to climate package, the very fact that the decision was postponed is very positive from the point of view of Poland. Probably more could have not have bee done. Of course the story about the coalition of nine countries is not quite true but everybody who knows the European Union - and I can say I know it - must have been conscious of it. But I do not think that anyone else, me, or Prime Minister Donald Tusk, could have achieved more that the postponement of the decision. From this point of view this session ended in a relative success as regards a matter important for Poland, solutions that would be clearly unfavourable for Poland, according to the government, were not adopted.
I hope that such things will not happen again. I am glad I was there. The fact that the head of Poland's president's chancellery and undersecretary of state responsible for foreign affairs were not let in, was undoubtedly not a decision of the French presidency. One could suspect that the information that this was the will of the Polish foreign ministry is true. I want to express my astonishment - this is beyond any political custom. But in general I am satisfied, calm, I think that things will be all right."
On Oct.16, 2008 Senate speaker Bogdan Borusewicz received the visiting delegation of the Czech senate headed by deputy speaker Jiri Sneberger. Borusewicz described relations between both senates as very animated and voiced particular satisfaction over relations between the senate EU committees.
Sneberger said that his talks with Polish senators proved that Poland and the Czech Republic had very similar views on the Lisbon Treaty and EU future. Sneberger also said that the ongoing financial crisis should be discussed by all EU states. Czech politicians were surprised by the fact that not all EU countries had been invited to talks on solving the crisis, he added.
Borusewicz noted that the crisis had not affected Poland so far but admitted that the world situation could bring a slowdown in the Polish economy.
According to Sneberger, the situation of his country was similar to that of Poland in this respect: the banking crisis that affected the Czech Republic in the past decade led to a tightening of lending criteria which were now more stringent than in western Europe.
The two politicians also discussed the climate package and its possible consequences and the need for building a common energy policy of the EU, a common market in energy. Such a common policy would contribute to greater energy security of the EU states, they concluded.
On Oct.21, 2008 the head of Afghan National Assembly’s lower house Mohammad Younus Qanooni, on a visit to Warsaw, met the speakers of Sejm and Senate and discussed the situation in his country, among other topics.
Senate speaker Bogdan Borusewicz said after the meeting that he had been „extensively briefed” on the course of events in Afghanistan, including the possibility of holding elections next year.
Qanooni told Borusewicz that Afghan authorities were highly concerned with the fact that terrorism had become „a genuine threat” in his country.
„Our government has plans to ensure security to the Afghan people and to foreign nationals,” Qanooni declared.
The international community should cooperate in the struggle against terrorism „in Afghanistan, in the region and in the world,” he added.
Poland, like 39 other states, has sent troops to Afghanistan under the ISAF initiative. The Polish contingent will grow to 1,600 troops, from 1,200 at present, by the end of this year.
On Oct.23, 2008 Senate speaker Bogdan Borusewicz met Jean Paul Costa, the president of the European Human Rights Tribunal.
Borusewicz declared that the recent rejection by the Tribunal of a suit filed by the Prussian Trusteeship against Poland was of great importance not only for Poland, but also the whole of east-central Europe. This move demonstrated that issues of the past could not be rehashed again and again.
EHRT president noted that this decision had been welcomed not only by Poland but also by Germany. He added that the decision meant that no similar cases would be reviewed by the Tribunal.
Jean Paul Costa told Borusewicz that as far as the number of suits reaching the Tribunal was concerned, Poland ranked sixth among the member states. Some 2,500 complaints against Poland waited to be reviewed at present - not a high figure considering Poland’s population of 38.5 million, the president remarked.
Relations between Poland and the Tribunal were constructive, he said. Poland enacted a number of laws reflecting earlier EHRT rulings. The number of complaints against Poland concerning systemic solutions was on the decrease. The bulk of complaints concerned protracted court procedure, excessive duration of detention, and conditions in prisons. The EHRT president appealed to the Senate speaker to accelerate work on legislation deemed necessary by the Tribunal.
Borusewicz informed his guest that as a rule the Senate needed only two weeks to proceed on legislation sent in by the Sejm. He also noted that the minister of justice made efforts to shorten and simplify court procedures but encountered resistance from judges who saw these efforts as an attempt at undermining their independence.
President Jean Paul Costa stressed that the Tribunal gave priority to complaints over infringements of the right to life and over tortures. However, in order for the Tribunal to be able to deal with such complaints, member states should eliminate systemic causes of complaints.
Statement by President of the Republic of Poland Lech Kaczynski following a meeting with representatives of Polish economic and financial milieus, October 24, 2008
On Oct. 24, 2008 president Lech Kaczynski met representatives of Polish economic and financial milieus in connection with the Cabinet Council sitting scheduled for Oct.28 and devoted to the current economic situation. Among the participants were the governor of the central bank (NBP) Slawomir Skrzypek, chief of the Financial Supervision Committee (KNF) Stanislaw Kluza, president of the Warsaw Stock Exchange (WSE) Ludwik Sobolewski, and president of the Bank Handlowy S.A. Slawomir S. Sikora.
After the meeting the president said this, inter alia:
The meeting gathered academic as well as business economists. We reviewed the situation in many aspects, discussing the current international financial situation, mechanisms of the world crisis, possible remedies, and, above all, the Polish situation. The view that has emerged from the debate and is shared by banks, the academia and politicians, is that it is imperative to take measures that will help limit the expected decline in Poland’s rate of growth. The Polish economy has sound fundamentals. For instance, the rate of bad debts in the banking system is only 5 pc at present. The banking sector has strong foundations. Also the insurance sector is healthy, with the exception of the open pension funds (OFEs) whose situation has worsened markedly. Overall, we receive optimistic signals, though there are also some threats. I hope that we will manage to hold a substantive debate at the meeting of the Cabinet Council on Oct.28, free from political overtones, even if there are differences of opinions on substance, like there have been today. We must reckon with the fact that growth may slow down a bit. Bank deposits are safe, and this is the good news. The Polish banking system has healthy foundations. After many years of development under difficult circumstances it has reached a near-optimum condition. There is nothing to be afraid of in this field. There are problems, of course. Such as growing mortgage loan instalments, especially for Swiss franc denominated loans, resulting from the depreciation of the zloty which, on the other hand, has some positive aspects, particularly for exporters. This may teach us a lesson to draw home loans in national currency. NBP chief Mr Skrzypek told us today that this year’s inflation will not reach 5 pc, as some have feared, and also the next year will not be bad and inflation should go down to the NBP target in 2010. Finally let me say that compared to what is going on at present the years 2005-2007 look very good, indeed. The reasons for this go beyond the crisis situation of the last 2 months. However, Poland will continue to develop even if the pace of growth will slow down a bit.
Statement by President of the Republic of Poland Lech Kaczynski following the Poland-Ukraine economic summit, October 29, 2008
On Oct.29, 2008 president Lech Kaczynski met Ukrainian president Viktor Yushchenko in Donetsk and both leaders attended the debates of the 9th Polish-Ukrainian economic summit there.
President Kaczynski made the following statement for the press after the summit debates:
We discussed issues related to our bilateral economic cooperation, such as VAT, border crossings, customs, fiscal administration, etc. There might have been delays in solving some of the problems. On the other hand there is the issue of entry visas for Ukrainians travelling to Poland. The tourist traffic has suffered and this has an impact on business, too. I invited president Yushchenko to come to the 10th, jubilee summit to Poland next year. Let us hope it will bear fruit.
Despite all problems trade between both countries reached 7 bn USD annually, with Polish exports slightly higher than imports. This is neither very much nor very little. We have a common border, our countries are relatively big and bound by friendship, so the figure could be higher. On the other hand, this is a substantial percentage of our trade turnover. We want to further develop bilateral trade between small and medium size firms and between large companies. The agreement signed here a while ago is on behalf of a group of businessmen represented by one of the major Polish entrepreneurs. We also welcome cooperation between smaller firms. Poland is a country of millions of firms: is has one business for every 2.5 families. We are among Europe’s leaders in this respect.
I am firmly convinced that our bilateral trade will surpass the figure of slightly more than 7 bn USD. Both countries face problems resulting from the overall situation in Europe, though the causes of problems are slightly different in Poland than in Ukraine. We covered this topic at length in talks with president Yushchenko. Both countries should strive to overcome these problems. Poland has launched the necessary actions but one can safely say that they will not be 100 pc effective. The (high) rate of economic growth Poland recorded until recently will not continue into the next year. Still, the actions have already produced some results, like the strengthening of the zloty in recent days. Ukraine has launched a different set of measures which we understand but would very much desire that they affect bilateral trade as little as possible.
Economic ties between our two countries are not particularly strong in view of the existing potential, but political ties are very close. I would very much like the political closeness to transpire into the economic field because this augurs well for political and strategic initiatives like the Odessa-Gdansk pipeline (I prefer this label to the Odessa-Brody one for as a matter of fact we speak of the Odessa-Gdansk connection). Secondly, this is about maintaining the existing cooperation with our friends from Azerbaijan and Georgia, and this is a fundamental political issue. I will do all I can to preserve this level of cooperation. Ukraine has its political problems and so does Poland. I sincerely believe that we will overcome the problems to the benefit of our countries and our cooperation. Mr chairman spoke about various standards that were difficult to meet in Ukraine at present. I am convinced that things will improve in the coming year. Poland also had problems meeting western standards in various areas, like banking. We must show patience because the Ukrainian market is very attractive for us, offers great prospects and has great political importance. This is my message to Polish businessmen which holds true also for the Ukrainian businessmen, because Poland is a large country that supports just Ukrainian aspirations. Poland is a friendly country and we can develop very close cooperation.
On Oct.29, 2008 Senate speaker Bogdan Borusewicz met the visiting president of the Federal National Assembly of the United Arab Emirates Abdul Aziz Abdulla Al-Ghurair. - The United Arab Emirates is an open and tolerant state with which Poland has very good political and trade relations, Borusewicz declared after the meeting.
The talks covered bilateral relations, situation in the region, and cultural and economic cooperation.
According to Borusewicz, his guest came up with proposals of joint investments in Emirates’ funds and assured of their full safety. The financial crisis and its impact on both countries was also discussed.
Abdul Aziz Abdulla Al-Ghurair thanked Borusewicz for the invitation to Poland and said that his visit paid in the UAE last November had been a stimulus for closer cooperation.
„We are very much impressed by the transformation and the qualitative leap made by Poland over the past dozen-odd years when it made a transition from socialism to capitalism,” the Emirates’ official said.
He declared he saw Poland as the gate to Europe for his country and welcomed Borusewicz’s statement about the UAE being the gate to the Middle East for Poland.
„We also talked about ways of supporting Polish-Emirate investments and of reactivation of the four bilateral agreements,” the UAE politician said. The agreements deal with mutual protection of investments and avoiding double taxation, among other things.
„I hope that we will succeed in translating our agreements into concrete decisions by the end of this year,” he declared.
Reporters from the UAE asked Borusewicz about the Polish Senate’s position on Iranian occupation of three UAE islands. „We should be patient and solve problems by peaceful means,” he replied. „We will support any decision worked out by the UN,” he added.
Letter by President of the Republic of Poland to soldiers of the last shift of the Polish military contingent in Iraq, October 29, 2008
President Lech Kaczynski addressed a letter to soldiers of the last shift of the Polish military contingent in Iraq that was read out by deputy head of the National Security Office (BBN) Witold Waszczykowski during the welcome-home ceremony held in the 12th mechanised brigade in Szczecin on Oct. 29, 2008.
The letter reads, in part:
„Thousands of miles away from home you risked your health and lives in the struggle against the greatest threat of the 21st century: the global terrorism. Today when the important stage of our mission in Iraq comes to an end I want to say: Poland thanks you!
„The Polish military mission in Iraq had a profound sense for Poland, for our allies and for millions of Iraqis who want a better and more secure life. Poland supported the (US) military action in Iraq being convinced that we cannot remain passive in the face of threats which, although distant from our borders, can hit us, too. When joining the international coalition in early 2003 the then authorities of Poland decided about its place in the international arena. We wanted and still want to be a close ally of the United States. In light of the strategic interests of our country this was undoubtedly the right decision.
„Poland, together with its allies, had to take a firm stand on violations of the fundamental human rights in Iraq. The Iraqi crisis was a major humanitarian tragedy and at the same time became a serious test in our constant struggle for such values as democracy, human rights and the rule of law. We took up this challenge by offering our tangible participation in the Iraqi Freedom operation. Poland’s actions are aimed at restoring peace and helping to build and consolidate a new Iraqi state that is independent, law-abiding, and stable. The tasks that you have implemented in Iraq have given the Iraqis hope for peace and a better tomorrow, for the final closing of the tragic years of terror and violations of human rights. This was the meaning of the Iraqi operation and the purpose of our involvement in that region.
„We are proud of you, soldiers. We know how difficult your service in Iraq was and how high the risks were. We were united in the mourning after the deaths of your fellow soldiers. I want to express deep sympathy for the relatives of soldiers and civilians killed in Iraq. I am certain that their sacrifice will not be in vain. Thanks to their courage and sacrifice Iraq is on the road to stability and the Iraqis will live in a safe country.
„The five years of the Iraqi mission brought very important experience and changes to the Polish armed forces. At the outset it turned out that our army was not well prepared for actual battle. Very painful experience gathered during the early shifts led to major changes in the entire army, its command, equipment and training. The experience also changed the mentality of thousands of men serving in the army and led to the emergence of a new class of soldiers: the battle-tested professionals. The Iraqi mission was a demanding test for the Polish army which proved it could cope with even the most difficult challenges. The experience gathered during the Iraqi mission also backed my decision of 2006 to base the Polish army on career soldiers.
„Although this stage of the Polish mission in Iraq has ended, the mission itself continues in different forms. A small Polish Military Contingent remains as part of the NATO training mission. Poland remains present in Iraq, we do not desert our partners and allies.”
