Mayor of Warsaw Hanna Gronkiewicz-Waltz signs a condolence book dedicated to Baroness Thatcher at the British Embassy in Warsaw. Photo: PAP/Leszek Szymanski
Writing a wide-ranging article for the UK's Daily Telegraph, Sikorski declared that the former prime minister “stood on the side of the angels in the Cold War and provided leadership for as long as the Soviet Union needed to be challenged.”
Sikorski likewise claimed that “until she entered the fray, it was assumed that capitalism was ultimately going to converge with communism – and that a bigger and bigger role for the state was inevitable.”
In Sikorski's opinion, “she put an end to that,” and “by rejuvenating Britain, she made the strongest possible case against the model of the command economy in both its hard and soft forms.”
Poland's foreign minister also stressed the importance of Thatcher's visit to Poland in 1988, during which she met with Solidarity trade union leader Lech Walesa.
Sikorski reflected that the visit was “an important factor behind the Communist Party’s decision to start negotiations with the Solidarity opposition,” adding that “by all accounts, Mrs Thatcher gave Walesa sensible advice about the need to prepare for government.”
The minister concluded that “we in the former Eastern Europe... will continue to remember her with gratitude as someone who hastened the day when we joined the family of democratic nations.”
Meanwhile, the conservative Daily Telegraph has expressed distaste at the celebratory reaction of many of Thatcher's critics across the UK.
Street parties were held in parts of Bristol, Leeds, Liverpool, London and Glasgow, during which toasts were made to the 'Iron Lady's' demise.
Baroness Thatcher died of a stroke on Monday morning, aged 87. The funeral of the late British leader will be held at St Paul's Cathedral, London on 17 April.
Condolence book opened in Warsaw
Meanwhile, a book of condolences has been opened at the British Embassy in Warsaw in tribute to Baroness Thatcher.
Mayor of Warsaw Hanna Gronkiewicz-Waltz (pictured above) was among the first to leave a dedication this morning.
Members of the public can also do so until Friday 12 April, from 10am to 12am and 2pm to 4pm.
It is also possible to leave messages online at a special website, and a selection of the comments will be passed on to the Thatcher family. (nh/di)