Aleksander Kwasniewski Quotations

So I think that is one of the reasons we can face some regional problems, which are very difficult, very dramatic and is necessary to have instruments to solve these problems. NATO is such instrument.

Simon Wiesenthal and the institute he created played an absolutely vital role in showing the mechanisms of the Holocaust, pointing to those guilty of this genocide, ... I hope that this message will be universally accepted by politicians, societies and not just in the context of the Holocaust, but all crimes against human rights which take place in the modern world.

No president is informed if some plane lands,

Such prisons do not exist on Polish territory ... and there have not been any,

We have to show them that their interests are protected and that enlargement is good for all of Europe.

However, I don't doubt that a wave of immigration will come to Poland.

So I think that is from the European perspective, for the European future, this engagement can be one of the most important and effective decisions in the last 50 years maybe.

To be in the EU, it means to have same rules of... for economy, for social life, to be together in the majority of European countries.

Every man is responsible only for his own acts. The sons do not inherit the sins of the fathers. But can we say: that was long ago, they were different?

So I think that I can say, as the President of Poland, we're proud that I am coming from Poland, which is different and what's more important, much better than before.

We all live in a free Poland, and there would be no free Poland without you, Twenty-five years ago, I did not stand on the same side together with you, but today I have no doubts that it was your vision of Poland which led us in the right direction.

Technology should be an important ingredient. It may be and should be a tool for social development.

In my opinion, terrorism is a question which is not a short- term problem for all of us. It is a long-term fight. And NATO can play, and will play, a very crucial role in this struggle.

We're in a place where no words can tell the truth about what happened... But they have to. This was hell on earth.

Well, we are very glad that Russia is so close with NATO.

We welcome, we welcome this good cooperation between Russia and NATO.

Following the Second World War, we are a country of one ethnicity. After the moving of the borders, after the tragedy of the Holocaust and the murder of Polish Jews, we don't have large minority groups.

We have become aware of the responsibility for our attitude towards the dark pages in our history. We have understood that bad service is done to the nation by those who are impelling to renounce that past.

We know enough to stand here in truth - facing pain, cry and suffering of those who were murdered here. Face to face with the victims' families who are here today. Before the judgment of our own conscience.

There is simply no room for anti-Semitism in a democratic and law-abiding state.

The nation is a community. Community of individuals, community of generations.

In the wake of winning the war, Poland wants to help win peace with Iraq. I believe that the international community cannot leave Iraq without support.

Righteous is the one who was able to demonstrate compassion in face of human suffering.

My message to the Americans, to the American President, is that I am coming from Poland, which is in good shape; it is much different than ten years ago when last state visit from Poland was here in the United States.

And still the time, especially in the economy, is very tough, very difficult. It's necessary to be active still, to work, to fight, to make our economy more competitive.

We are a strong democratic country.

And we want to develop our strategy to partnership and friendship with the United States, which is connected with a very rich history but what is very important for our future.

I personally think that today, Iraq without Saddam Hussein is a truly better Iraq than with Saddam Hussein, but naturally I also feel uncomfortable due to the fact that we were misled with the information on weapons of mass destruction.

And I think to be in NATO for the countries of our region, it means more guarantees for us, it means more responsibility for our common security, but it means fulfillment of all standards of civilized world, like protection of human rights and democratic mechanisms.

We think that the United States is a necessary factor in Europe as far as security, politics and the economy are concerned.

We are an American ally in NATO and in anti-terrorist coalition. And we want to be in the European Union very soon, beginning of 2004.

We are very happy with the decision of today. Poland waited so long and now the doors to full NATO membership are open. We are very satisfied and we are ready to go forward.

And what is politically extremely important, Europe can be united, the first time in the history, after a thousand... more than a thousand years.

On Tuesday night or Wednesday morning at the latest we could start talks with the victorious parties and answer a question who should become the prime minister,

Then, what I mentioned, this security system in the region, more countries in NATO means more zone, bigger zone, wider zone of security and stability.

But why EU is so interested to have Poland and some new countries inside, because it's a huge mark. There's almost 100 million people.