President of Germany Joachim Gauck (2L) and President of Poland Bronislaw Komorowski (2R) during a meeting with Polish and German youths in Gdansk, 1 September. Photo: PAP/Piotr Wittman
The two presidents took part in a debate with a group of Polish and German youths on Monday evening in Gdansk, from where Nazi Germany began its invasion of Poland in 1939.
“Polish-German relations have never been better, not only politically, but also psychologically,” he claimed.
"For Poles, it is important that Chancellor Angela Merkel experienced life under a communist regime, and that President Joachim Gauck is an icon of resistance against communism,” he reflected.
“It makes it easier to find elements of political brotherhood and closeness,” he said.
“We know that they understand what we say to them. This is not always the case in politics.”
President of Germany Joachim Gauck (L) and President of Poland Bronislaw Komorowski (R) lay wreaths in Gdansk, marking the 75th anniversary of World War II. Photo: PAP/Piotr Pedziszewski
President Gauck commented that “it is unbelievable how close Poles and Germans have come to each other,” adding that “the word peace does not have to be an empty formula.”
Poland secure?
However, asked in an interview later whether Poland could be certain that its allies would defend the country in the eventuality of war, Komorowski gave a more measured response.
“No one can give 100 percent certainty,” he told public broadcaster TVP.
“This certainty needs to be worked on. We are working on this through the strengthening of the North Atlantic Alliance, and making Poland more firmly rooted in the integration of Europe.
“The choice of the prime minister [Donald Tusk] as President of the European Council is proof of that,” he argued.
Komorowski also stressed that during this week's NATO summit in Wales, Poland would push “to strengthen the eastern flank [of NATO],” as the Ukrainian crisis continues to unfold. (nh)
Source: PAP/TVP