This year marks the silver anniversary of post-communist Free Poland. Apart from the two decades between the two world wars, it was only the second time in more than two centuries that Poland has been truly free. Put another way, Poles have lived in a fully independent country for only 45 of the past 222 years.
The 4th of June marked 25 years since Poland first held partially-free elections, resulting in a massive victory for a formerly-banned free trade union. Poland’s emergence from the ashes of communist Europe to its current position as the European Union’s sixth largest economy is one of the continent’s most remarkable stories.
Swedish Foreign Minister Carl Bildt visited Warsaw to participate in celebrations of the 25th anniversary of Poland’s democratic liberation. During his visit, Bildt speaked at the prize ceremony for the Solidarity Award. The award has been established by the Polish Ministry of Foreign Affairs on the occasion of the 25th anniversary and is intended to be awarded annually to a current champion of freedom.
Carl Bildt during the award ceremony of the Solidarity Prize (Photo: Embassy of Sweden)
Source: www.government.se
