Polish President Bronislaw Komorowski addresses the UN General Assembly in New York, 22.09.2011. Photo: PAP/Jacek Turczyk
“The spirit of solidarity is the source of Poland’s success,” Komorowski said in front of the General Assembly, urging other countries to follow in a similar vein.
“We can share our experience with countries to the east of Poland, and with Arab countries which are now going through what Poland went through 20 years ago,” Poland’s president continued.
“An important point of Poland’s foreign policy remains solidarity with nations, which strive for life in freedom, in democratic conditions and the respect for human rights,” Komorowski said in his address to the UN.
The ongoing UN General Assembly is addressing a number of issues, notably Palestine’s application for statehood, which is to be made by President of the Palestinian National Authority, Mahmoud Abbas, before the UN Security Council on Friday.
Before Komorowski’s departure for New York, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk said that Poland would not vote in support of a UN resolution on recognising a Palestinian state if it harms the security of Israel.
However, “as a country which holds the EU Council Presidency, [Poland] must keep its neutrality,” President Komorowski said before his address – a point which was reflected in his speech, which called for solidarity rather than any direct political manoeuvring.
EU President calls for renewed talks
Bronislaw Komorowski’s speech followed on from an address given by the President of the EU Council, Herman Van Rompuy, who described the current Palestinian-Israeli situation by saying that “the status quo is no option.”
“Now, the resumption of direct talks between Israel and the Palestinian Authority is the top priority,” Van Rompuy said in his address to the UN General Assembly in New York.
“Now is the time for politics: for dialogue and negotiations. Populations have lived in fear and suffering for too long,” Van Rompuy said.
“That’s why I say to the leaders on both sides: the time to act is now. There are political risks, but you need to take them – just like some of your predecessors did – with a view of offering a better and safer future to your communities,” the EU Council President added. (jb)
Source: IAR/PAP/AFP