Speech by President Aleksander Kwásniewski
Speech by President of the Republic of Poland Mr. Aleksander Kwásniewski at a Meeting in Jyväskylä to Commemorate the End of the Cold War, 8.11.1999.
Your Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen,
It is the pleasure for me to be in Jyväskylä. This meeting, the participation of five Presidents, is a meaningful sign of the time. Estonia, Finland, Latvia, Lithuania and Poland have been linked by the common historic experience. The united Europe is what brings us together now.
I am glad that we have this opportunity to share our reflections with lecturers and students of the local University and with the residents of Jyväskylä. This University and this town are a unique place - the cradle of the Finnish-language studies, an important centre of education, culture and business. At such a place a politicians' debate becomes a more general conversation on challenges we all are facing.
Estonians, Finns, Latvians, Lithuanians, Poles... We differ a lot. Different languages, different cultures, different progress reflected in economic processes, and even different climate zones. Yet, we have the feeling of closeness. We are the inhabitants of the same Baltic region. We are the participants in the European civilisation circle that for years has been co-created by our nations. We cherish similar memories and similar hopes. The same dates are significant events in our histories.
The years 1917-1919 were the beginning of the independent existence of our countries in the 20th century. The period between the two world wars was the time of important experience: the consolidation of sovereignty, development of state structures, difficult lessons of democracy. The replacement of generations was not yet complete when we had to face the tragic challenge of the year l939.
The Second World War and its aftermath, and particularly the effects of the Ribbentrop-Molotov pact cast a shadow over our fate for half of century. The agreement of totalitarian superpowers, signed in August of 1939, was directed against our freedom and independence. That became obvious with the German, and then Russian aggression against Poland. Soon afterwards Stalin attacked Finland, Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania became, too, the victims of at first hidden and then more palpable Stalinist aggression. After the war, in the post-Yalta divided Europe, we had to live in the shadow of the Russian empire. The post-war histories of our countries differed but that experience became an element of our common memory.
The Autumn of Nations of 1989 opened up a new chapter in our history. In Poland, the first democratic government in Central and Eastern Europe was formed as a result of the Round Talks negotiations and parliamentary elections; we regained the ability to act in a sovereign way; political and economic reforms began. On August 23, 1989, on the 50th anniversary of the signing of the Ribbentrop-Molotov pact, two millions of Estonians, Latvians and Lithuanians took one another by the hand to create a "living chain" leading from Tallinn to Vilnius. That great manifestation of the will of freedom and independence, just like many rallies staged in the previous years, left a great impression on the international society. Poland and Finland responded to it with the feeling of recognition and friendliness.
Soon the wishes came true--the Baltic states regained independence. The "cold war" ended. The "iron curtain" was removed. We experienced other historic development which only a few years earlier had seemed impossible. Russian troops left the territories of Poland and the Baltic states. Finland became a European Union member. Poland was admitted to NATO. The Baltic states and the United States signed a partnership charter. Poland and Estonia entered membership negotiations with the European Union. I think that Lithuania and Latvia will do the same in not so distant future. NATO declared that the door to the Alliance remains open. Our region is playing a more important role in the great act of uniting Europe.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
We are entering the threshold of the 21st century. Much tells us that this will be a century beneficial to our nations and to Europe. We are however aware of challenges the future is placing before us.
The question about the shape and speed of integration processes is one of the most important matters. The dichotomy of Europe into the "West" and
"East," so characteristic of the period of the "cold war," does not find its reflection in the contemporary times. Democracy, the rule of law, pluralism, free market-this is everyday life of Central European and Baltic states. Once separated by the "iron curtain" from the main current of European transformations now we have returned to our civilisational roots. We have proved that we can be the architects of our future, we know how to pursue independence and freedom, how to co-operate in a partner-like manner. The striving for membership of European structures naturally entails the sense of our having roots in the spiritual community of Europe.
The enlargement of the European Union with the so-far neutral countries of Finland, Sweden and Austria was an important step in breaking old divisions and in building a new united Europe. The admission of Poland, the Czech Republic and Hungary to NATO was a milestone from the point of view of European security, from political and also psychological angle. Now Europe can prove that the "cold war" divisions were eventually buried. This will be evidenced by the enlargement of the European Union to include other countries. And that would provide a good solution to problems that may trouble Europe in the 21st century in the world of co-dependence and competition.
The process of Union's enlargement is a complex one. The adoption of European standards and communities' law by aspiring countries must be accompanied by the reform within the Union itself so that it could preserve its coherence and effectiveness while having larger membership. On the other hand, countries aspiring for EU membership contribute to a common success through their consistent reforms, accession efforts. We do hope that the December Summit in Helsinki, during the Finnish chairmanship of the Union, will produce decisions favourable for the further enlargement of the European community.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
A unique link between us is the question about Baltic and Baltic region. In the future, hopefully not a distant one, the Baltic will become an internal sea of the European Union. Today the Baltic region is one of the most important areas in European co-operation. The neighbours here are countries with different degree of economic growth, with different traditions. So this is an excellent laboratory to verify various ideas. We have a common interest here. The point is to make life here better, safer, more comfortable and fascinating for everyone. Almost every field of our everyday life is the area of co-operation: economy, power industry, transport, ecology, culture, science, local democracy, tourism...
If we were to look for examples and models, I must admit that the achievements of Finland seem to me particularly inspiring. A country of a great economic success, a country of modern technologies is at the same time a country faithful to its traditions, a country of intellectual and artistic movements, a country of unpolluted forests and lakes. It is worth following the Finnish experience in the region of the Baltic sea now and in the future strengthening the "northern dimension" of the European Union.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
In the catalogue of European dilemmas a significant position is occupied by the question of Russia. This is the question about choices the Russians
would make, what way will Russia take in the new century, what will be her relations with the European Union, NATO, Baltic countries and Central Europe. This question is particularly important to us, Russia's neighbours. This is linked with a challenge that we could be intermediaries and animators of co-operation between Russia and the rest of Europe. There are many tragic moments in the complex history of our neighbourhood with Russia but at the same time we know the spiritual greatness of Russia, her cultural attainments, her great capacities.
We are aware of all this when we think about the history and the present day of St. Petersburg and Kaliningrad, the former Koenigsberg. They reflect the difficult history of this part of Baltic Sea, they remind us of the common responsibility for its future.
It is impossible to imagine that the development of European co-operation could continue without Russia's input. The political dialogue, mutual confidence building measures, economic co-operation are the domains which should attract our attention.
Your Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen,
We are witnessing today the revival of the European idea. We are asking ourselves fundamental questions: about our identity, about the interpretation of European values, about the borders of Europe, about the liveliness of our civilisation. It is good to do so. We, the nations of central-eastern and northern parts of Europe, would not stand a chance several tens years ago to participate in the creation of the European project. The uniting of the two parts of Europe is like its maturing. Pope John Paul II spoke about this in the European Parliament. This maturing is going on now also thanks to us. This is both the historical responsibility and great satisfaction.
