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President urges Poles to make 2018 ‘a year of national pride’

PR dla Zagranicy
Grzegorz Siwicki 31.12.2017 21:37
In a New Year's Eve address, Poland’s president said that 2017 "has been a year of major changes” in the country and urged compatriots to make 2018 “a year of our national pride.”
Prezydent Andrzej DudaPrezydent Andrzej DudaFoto: prezydent.pl

Andrzej Duda said in his message on Sunday evening that the outgoing year ”has been a time of building a state that serves citizens—all of them, without exception, a time of reforms thanks to which state institutions and authorities operate in a transparent manner under greater democratic surveillance.”

The president added that 2017 was “marked by effective efforts to secure faster and more prudent development for Poland, and to make sure the fruits of this growth are fairly shared.”

He also said that “millions of Polish families” were feeling the effects of continuing economic growth and that the country’s “internal and external security is founded nowadays on solid foundations.”

According to Duda, 2018 will be “a unique and exceptional year” for the Polish people, a year when the country will be celebrating the centenary of regaining independence.

The milestone will be “an opportunity to rediscover the greatness of our history, to consolidate our national sense of identity and pride inspired by the outstanding achievements of past generations,” Duda said.

He added: “It will be also a time for reflection: to ponder on what kind of Poland we want to bequeath to our children and grandchildren."

The president encouraged Poles to “take part in a debate on the shape of our civic community” and to “decide together about the new constitution intended to serve modern times.”

He appealed: “Let us forge our future with hope and confidence in our own potential, the same way our ancestors did—winning back the Polish state with their courageous struggle and their persevering effort.”

Referring to Poland’s upcoming term as a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council, Duda said: “Of symbolic importance is also the fact that the centenary of that grand success coincides with Poland’s accession to the group of states determining the most important problems of international politics and guarding peace.

“As of January 1, the Republic of Poland is going to be one of 15 members of the United Nations Security Council. We shall contribute to this fold with our values, our long-standing experience in striving for freedom, peace and cooperation among nations.”

Duda concluded: “May this New Year be a prosperous one: for our Home Country, for our families, for each and every one of us. Let us make it a year of our national pride, nurturing the sense of belonging to our civic community. Let us celebrate together the achievements made so far and let us work together to score new success. Let us be together in this unique time: here, at home and among our fellow citizens living abroad.

“My very best wishes from the bottom of my heart: may this New Year 2018 bring you peace, family happiness and prosperity, as well as achievement of all your plans and fulfilment of your wishes.”

(gs)

Source: TVP 1, PAP, president.pl

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