On the occasion of the Hundredth Anniversary of Polish Independence, the main Polonia organizations convened the 5th Congress of Poles and Polish Diaspora from Abroad - as the organizers write - giving the event a special character and unusual dimension.
More than 600 representatives of Polonia from around the world debated in seven thematic forums: about the problems and challenges facing Polonia's structures within the organizational forum, about Polonia's culture, education, science, sports and tourism, the Polish pastoral ministry and the media. The honorary patronage over the Congress was assumed by President Andrzej Duda.
During the session in the Parliament inaugurating the Convention, the Speaker of the Sejm Marek Kuchciński emphasized that we are a nation, 1/3 of whose citizens live outside Polish borders. - This state results from the dramatic effects of World War II. It is also connected with great waves of political and economic emigration, which followed later, until the 21st century - said the Speaker. He also pointed out that today the policy of our state is aimed at facilitating the return of compatriots from emigration, including those who were forcibly displaced during the occupation.
- Poland is our common good. And we can say boldly that in every generation Poles abroad, in exile, have fought tenaciously to preserve the spiritual heritage of our nation," said the Speaker.
The Marshal emphasized that after 1989 the importance and role of the Polish community did not diminish. - We worked together to strengthen Poland internally and internationally. NATO and the EU are great organizations, of which Poland is a member - also thanks to your efforts - Polonia," Kuchciński said. But examples of support for compatriots in the country and devotion to the Homeland are also visible nowadays. These are festivals of Polish culture, Polish schools, broadcasts by Polish media and many other activities of successive generations of Poles living abroad.
He reminded that the Sejm declared 2018 as the year of the jubilee of the 100th anniversary of Poland's regaining independence. - In this important resolution, we recorded that the regaining of independence was achieved through a struggle full of sacrifice and heroism, not only on the battlefields, but also in everyday struggles to preserve the spiritual and material substance of the nation, he noted.
Marek Kuchciński thanked his compatriots for their great services to Poland, for helping our nation during the struggle for freedom in the second half of the 20th century, as well as those who today, working abroad, support their families in the country and contribute to its development.
Photo by M. Olejnik
