Grzegorz Gawin, Minister Counsellor, Embassy of Poland, has said that this year the National Day of Poland coincided with the 35th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Qatar and Poland, and the two countries now share strong bilateral relations.
He was addressing the gathering on the National Day celebrations of his country at Hotel Sheraton Grand Doha. The dignitaries who were present on the occasion included HE Ibrahim bin Ali Al-Mohannadi, Minister of Justice and Minister of State for Cabinet Affairs, State of Qatar; HE Ibrahim Yousif Fakhro, Director of Protocol, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, State of Qatar; HE Mrs Irena Lichnerowicz-Augustyn, Head of Diplomatic Protocol, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Poland; Marcin Łapczyński, Director of the President’s Office of Poland; ambassadors, guests and members of the Polish community in Qatar.
Gawin said the upcoming visit of the President of Poland Andrzej Duda, to attend Qatar Economic Forum, is the best proof of the intensity of Polish-Qatari relations and an expression of sheer appreciation for Qatar’s efforts to de-escalate tensions in the Gulf region.
He said they were hoping for a tangible and peaceful solution to the current conflict in the Gaza Strip, where the catastrophic humanitarian situation can no longer be tolerated by the international community.
Highlighting Qatar’s global significance, he commended the successful hosting of EXPO 2023 Doha, noting its pivotal role in shaping the Qatari economy towards innovation and eco-friendly initiatives.
Regarding bilateral trade relations, he stressed the importance of Qatar’s LNG deliveries for his country’s energy security, underscoring the priority of investments on their economic agenda.
He also announced the recent unveiling of a significant infrastructure project—a deep-water container terminal in the city of Świnoujście by Qatari QTerminals, showcasing the collaborative efforts to enhance Polish-Qatari economic ties.
He lauded the contribution of the Polish community to Qatar’s development, citing Poland’s reputation as a modern nation with highly skilled individuals poised for a promising future.
Talking about the significance of the celebrations, Gawin highlighted the significance of the 233rd anniversary of the adoption of Poland’s first constitution, the first constitution in Europe, along with marking the 20th anniversary of Poland’s accession to the European Union.
He said the Constitution of 1791 was adopted when Poland needed comprehensive changes for stability, and to make it a modern and strong country. “It laid the foundations for political and social changes, which gave hope to earlier generations, and is still a source of pride today,” he added.
The adoption of the first constitution in Europe in 1791 aimed to guarantee Poland’s development and prosperity. Nowadays, peace, stability, common understanding and constant dialogue are essential for the prosperity and development of a country.
He said the adoption of the Constitution was met with aggression from the European powers of the time, who decided to divide Poland among themselves. As a result, Poland disappeared from the map of the world for more than 120 years.
Talking about the current political situation in Europe, Gawin said that Poland has been helping neighbouring Ukraine from day one of the Russian aggression because Poles have experienced the loss of independence and understand well how important freedom and Independence are.
The artwork of Doha-based Polish artist Ewa Macheta was on display at the event.
