Obama joins European leaders in 'toast for solidarity'

Tuesday's banquet at the Royal Castle in Warsaw. President Bronislaw Komorowski speaks (C), and to his left sits President Barack Obama. Photo: PAP/Radek Pietruszka

“We can say today that we managed to break through the wall,” Poland's president Bronislaw Komorowski said during the toast, welcoming guests at Tuesday's banquet at the Royal Castle in Warsaw.

President Obama with former Solidarity leader Lech Walesa: photo - PAP

“We did not just break through the wall, but we destroyed it,” he added, commenting on the legacy of the Solidarity trade union. We enabled there to be unity in Europe," Komorowski, a former Solidarity activist said.

“That's why we pay tribute today to all those who had the bravery back then, and we want everyone here with us to be glad of this. There is no freedom without solidarity,” he told the guests at the dinner.

Guests included former president Lech Walesa, President-elect of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko, President of the Czech Republic Milos Zeman and the President of Lithuania Dalia Grybauskaite, among others.

Tuesday's dinner concluded the first of a two-day visit by President Barack Obama.

Prior to the dinner, leader of Crimean Tatars Mustafa Dzhemilev was presented with the inaugural Solidarity Award. The winner was picked by a panel that included Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski and former Solidarity leader Lech Walesa. (nh/pg)

Source: PAP