It is with great pleasure that I address you today on the commemoration of the National Day of the Republic of Poland. Today we mark the restoration of sovereignty to the people of Poland when in 1918, the Second Polish Republic was established.
Poland’s path to sovereignty is truly remarkable. For one hundred and twenty-three long years (123), Poland was absent from the political map of Europe, only to re-emerge after the First World War when the empires controlling it, namely the German Austro-Hungaric and Russian Empire collapsed.
However, 1918 and the years succeeding it, both before and after World War II, did not in effect make Poland a really free country, its destiny in the hands of its people. Not unlike in the previous centuries, in the years between the two World Wars, and to a certain extent even after the Second World War, Poland as was the situation before, was coveted by surrounding nations who sought to exert their influence.
It was only in the early nineteen nineties when Poland managed to free itself from the Soviet yoke, that the Polish people came into their own as a free people, holding the reins of power in their homeland.
It is inspiring that the prolonged subjugation at times strongly apparent, at other times, hidden or furtive, did not erase the strong, steadfast character of the Polish people, who continued to fight steadfastly for their independence, both at home and also from abroad.
During the years of foreign occupation, the spirit and dedication of the Polish people endured. Their love for their homeland and devotion to their culture and values continued to be passed on from one generation to the next. Through their perseverance and resilience, the Polish people’s cherished traditions and national identity were preserved and strengthened.
The suppression that Poland endured ignited an indomitable spirit among its people, inspiring unity and a shared drive for independence and sovereignty. This led to a unified front to achieve real independence and real sovereignty for Poland once more, and Poland really emerged as a free country in the last decade of the past century. The culmination of Poland’s status as a free state came about when Poland became a member of the European Union in 2004 at the same time that Malta also became a European Union member.
Malta and Poland joined the European Union at the same time in the year 2004. This expansion of the E.U. brought new opportunities for citizens across Member States, strengthening the bonds that hold our diverse continent together. Our nations stand united in supporting the enlargement process and enhancing cooperation through the European Neighbourhood Policy.
On January 1, 2025, Poland will assume the presidency of the Council of the European Union, and we in Malta look forward to supporting and collaborating on shared priorities during this term. Malta. As it takes on the presidency of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe from May to November next year Malta, looks forward to being a committed partner.
Malta is grateful to Poland for hosting The Warsaw Human Dimension Conference last September, which was a resounding success and an excellent opportunity to discuss importance of safeguarding human rights and fundamental freedoms, whilst evaluating the implementation of the OSCE human dimension commitments.
The war on Ukraine by Russia has resulted in a human rights crisis. Indiscriminate attacks on hospitals and schools, and residential area, are blatant breaches of human rights leading to a mass displacement of civilians across Europe. Alongside Poland, we remain supporters of Ukraine’s sovereignty with a steadfast commitment to achieve peace by diplomacy, and in the meantime, providing the necessary humanitarian assistance.
Both as a non-permanent member the UN Security Council and as the current chair in office of the OSCE, Malta has shown commitment in its efforts towards a joint and secure future for Ukraine, and its citizens.
An essential step in this process must be the facilitation of dialogue to bring both sides of the conflict to the negotiating table, keeping in mind President Zelenskyy’s 10-Point Peace Plan, with the objective to bring an end to Russia’s war of aggression on Ukraine.
Similarly, the ongoing Israel-Gaza conflict, is degenerating into suffering inflicted on innocent civilians, including women and children. We are deeply concerned about the escalating tensions in the region, which tensions may lead to more human rights breaches.
Together with Poland, and all other EU Member States, we hope that United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNWRA) are allowed to carry on their operation to assist over 650,000 children to access education and basic human rights.
Excellencies, Dear Friends,
As a small island nation, Malta is determined to deepen its bilateral relations with like-minded partners such as Poland, grounded in democracy, freedom of expression, the rule of law, and human rights.
Diplomatic relations between Malta and Poland were formally established in 1971, and since then, we have worked to strengthen these ties through cooperation in trade, cultural exchange, and the ever-important people-to-people connections.
Poland is a significant trading partner for Malta, with commercial exchanges reaching new heights, surpassing €277.4 million in the past three years, bringing a positive trade balance for Malta.
Air connectivity between Malta and Poland has also expanded, with multiple flights weekly to cities such as Gdansk, Katowice, Krakow, Wroclaw, and Poznan. We look forward to welcoming Rainbow Airways as they begin chartered flights between our two nations in 2025.
Malta was favoured by Polish nationals in 2023, as a holiday venue when more than 143,000 Polish tourists visited Malta, an increase of 60% from 2019. Such visits enable first-hand cultural exchanges, enriching our nations’ relationship by deepening mutual understanding of our cultural heritage.
Our countries have worked together on several cultural initiatives. In 2023, the Maltese Embassy in Warsaw exhibited ten original paintings by Mattia Preti at the renowned Royal Łazienki Museum, alongside artifacts highlighting Malta’s rich 8,000-year history. We were honored by the patronage of President Duda for this event.
People-to-People relations are a cornerstone of our bilateral relationship. These interactions create genuine bonds that foster understanding and respect and provide a strong foundation for all bilateral relations.
In 2023, circa five thousand Polish students chose Malta to study English, while numerous Maltese students have studied in Poland through the Erasmus+ Programme. Furthermore, community twinning initiatives foster grassroots-level cultural exchange, shared projects, and mutual support between our citizens.
The enduring relationship between Malta and Poland exemplifies how two nations, through collaboration and shared values, can build trust, respect, and a brighter future for both our peoples.
I thank Ambassador Czyszek for his warm welcome and augur that the cooperation existing between our two nations continues to grow for the good of both our peoples.
On behalf of the people of Malta, I raise a toast to the wellbeing of the Polish people. I also kindly ask Your Excellency to convey my warmest greetings to the President of the Republic of Poland, His Excellency Andrzej Duda.
