Polish president calls for unity ahead of Independence Day
PR dla Zagranicy
Roberto Galea
11.11.2016 07:47
Unity is needed now more than ever, Polish President Andrzej Duda said in an Independence Day-eve address to Poles on Thursday.
Andrzej Duda appearing in a televised address. Photo: PAP/Darek Delmanowicz
He said unity was required as Europe faced difficulties associated with mass migration, war in the east and south and terrorism.
Poland is “united by the irrefutable value that is independence,” he said.
“When Poland has cracks, Poland is weaker. When it's united, Poland is stronger.”
In Poland, Independence Day is traditionally marked by people taking to the streets, which in recent years has ended in violence and clashes with police.
Duda called for harmony.
“Harmonious celebrations will be a sign that we as a nation can rise above unnecessary divides and disputes,” he said.
Duda said that Friday's Independence Day celebrations were a direct throwback to the celebrations during the Second Polish Republic of the interwar period of 1918-1939.
“Today, in a free country, with pride we return to the pre-war tradition, giving voice to our conviction that our Poland is a continuation of the one that was being built by the generation of the Second Polish Republic,” Duda said.
“[Friday's] celebrations are an important symbol – a symbol of historic continuity of our nation.
“We look back at our past in order to build a better future.” (vb/pk)