President Aleksander Kwaśniewski’s Remarks at Oakland University
Rochester, Michigan, July 18, 2002
I want to thank Governor for nice words, and especially I want to express my gratitude to President Bush for such words, so important for you and for all of us everywhere in the world.
The first time I was here in Michigan, in Detroit, many years ago, 26 years ago, I spent some days in Hamtramck, and during this period, 26 years, everything changed - changed the world, changed Poland. I came from Poland, which is today different country and better country. And I see and I feel same atmosphere, same friendship. And I would like to thank you that you keep this friendship for Poland and for all of us. Thank you very much.
But honestly speaking, something changed more, because 26 years ago, I was here as a student. Today I am President of Poland. And what is more important,my host and my friend is President of the United States, George W. Bush.
It is a historic moment. Here President of the United States and President of independent Poland are meeting in Troy to express their admiration and respect to the achievements of Polish community in the US. To tell you that America of today would not exist without this community. Americans of Polish origin are the America`s salt of the earth. They are co-creators of American success. Poland is proud of you. We also remember everything Polish community has done for the country on the Vistula. We remember its support in difficult times and happiness of us all when Polish people regained sovereignty. There would be no free Poland without you, without your help and your involvement!
I emphasize it especially in the presence of the leader of the free world, George W. Bush. During his last year`s visit to Poland he assessed very highly the achievements of Polish people and heritage of our country. He is a man, whose opinion I value very much. Largely thanks to him the world recovered from the shock after the tragedy of the 11th of September and has become even stronger after passing this trial.
About ten million of US citizens today can be proud of their Polish roots. It is the most numerous concentration of Polish immigration and people of Polish origin in the world. And at the same time the sixth largest ethnical group in the United States. The level of education in this group is higher than US average. It is the fifth wealthiest group. When I think about it I am proud, as it is the best testimony of how strong and enterprising you are, how hard-working and full of aspirations. That you know how to use your opportunities. I congratulate you from the bottom of my heart.
Good Polish-American relations are a never-ending story. Poles have been part of the US history from the very beginning. They were among the founders of the first colony in Jamestown They fought in the war of independence and in the Civil War. We are proud of the role Americans of Polish origin have played in every stage of the development of this country. They built its economic power, created open society, participated in everything that caused that the United States is today a symbol of freedom and democracy.
Polish community in America has always combined two kinds of patriotism: loving their new country they have never forgot their roots. In moments most trying for the state and the nation, our countrymen from America have lent us their helping hand. It was so not only at the time of partition and national uprisings, but also during the 2nd World War and Nazi occupation, and later - in times of the "iron curtain". We cannot forget the role of this community for Polish accession to NATO.
Its charity work also deserves respect - I mean here the assistance Americans of Polish origin are providing for Polish community in the East or collection for the victims of flood in Poland.
As president of independent, free and democratic Poland I wish to pay tribute and thank all the countrymen in America for their contribution in bringing our country back to a place it deserves in the family of free states.
The presence of President George W. Bush reminds me that here, in Hamtrack - a district of Detroit inhabited mainly by Polish community - his father, president George Bush, in April of 1989 proposed a plan of assistance for Poland in her economic and political transformations. I wish to emphasize that both he himself as well as his predecessor, Ronald Reagan, won a special gratitude of Poles. We remember well what their successor Bill Clinton did. The present president of the United States is also close to Polish hearts - he has successfully continued the mission of his predecessors. Today, we too can - as the words of a song known to Republicans go - be happy that "Happy Days Are Here Again".
Americans have never left us in need. The United States has been supporting the system transformation of our country with an enormous commitment. It has also played a fundamental role in the creation of a new security system in Europe, providing an unequivocal support to the first, since the end of the "cold war" - enlargement of NATO. Today Poland and the United States are joined by friendship, political partnership and military alliance.
Poland is a steadfast ally of America. Whether in the Balkans or in Afghanistan - Polish and American soldiers cooperate everywhere where the peace is threatened and human rights are violated. Together we have undertaken a decisive fight against global terror. We shall not allow madmen to threaten our values.
Poland has been consistently building her international position.
We have good relations with all our neighbors, we facilitate political cooperation of all Central and Eastern European countries. We are striving to delete once for all the divisions left by the 20th century in the map of our continent. Further enlargement of NATO, in which both Poland and the US are deeply involved, will be favorable to that. This enlargement will be an important contribution to stability and peace in Europe as well as creation of a platform for the fight against terror.
The vision President Bush outlined during his visit to Warsaw that "All of Europe`s new democracies, from the Baltic to the Black Sea should have the same chance for security and freedom - and the same chance to join the institutions of Europe".
Poland is happy and proud that soon we will welcome new NATO members. America, accused of unilateralism, once again is showing that it is ready to cover by its security guarantees the states of new democracies far from the US borders. But today America`s security begins in Warsaw, in Vilnius, Bratislava and Bucharest.
Most recent history of relations between Poland and America shows how much we need each other. And it is the Polish community here that is the living bridge that strengthens our friendship and cooperation. Do remember that both our countries continuously need your support, goodwill, and involvement. We count on you. Let us be together in thoughts and in deeds. As ever.
I wish you, dear countrymen, all success. May your dreams, dreams of your families and your beloved ones come true. May Poland and America be always proud of you!