- Andrzej Duda recalled that the Smolensk disaster consumed the lives of many prominent people, including president Lech Kaczyński, and noted the tragic Polish destiny on Russian soil
- The president referred to Lech Kaczyński's political will, pointing to his mission to reconstruct historical truth
- In the message, the president besides hit the president of Warsaw. “It is impossible to accept that to this day the Warsaw authorities have failed to name 1 of the streets in the city as late prof. Lech Kaczyński,” he said.
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The article is updated.
Andrzej Duda in the message admitted that although 15 years have passed since the Smolensk disaster, it inactive has “there Warsaw” before its eyes and the coffins of the presidential couple, Lech and Maria Kaczyński, standing in the Presidential Palace, “and my dead friends”.
— They created a mourning avenue, which walked on the endless march of Poles who paid tribute to them. Lech Kaczyński's office was empty, at the door of the offices of those who left were burning candles. The Presidential Palace, usually vibrant, resounding with conversations and meetings abruptly froze. It was filled with silence and despair, as president Duda recalled.
— I besides have in front of my eyes the large building of the prosector in Moscow and its dark rooms, where the bodies of the victims of the Smolensk tragedy were located," he added.
The Smolensk disaster is simply a “untwined wound”
Duda estimated that “the Smolensk disaster is inactive a large unrepentant wound in the hearts of families, relatives and friends of the dead.”
— The full Republic of Poland, all Poles, suffered a immense loss. The outstanding statesman, the president Lech Kaczyński, his wife Maria Kaczyńska and the president of the Republic in exile Ryszard Kaczorowski died. Representatives of the President's Chancellery, the Council of Ministers, representatives of all political forces died. Officials, social activists, state-owned public servants died. Generals, armed forces commanders, excellent scholars, clergymen, people of culture died. Government safety officers and the full crew of the plane died. Russian land again absorbed Polish blood said Duda.
“The next leaders chosen by us must unite around the priorities of the Polish state’s rationale, which president Lech Kaczyński left us in his political will,” said the president. Andrzej Duda pointed out that for president Lech Kaczyński, who died in the Smolensk disaster, an crucial part of the public mission was restoring the fact about our history. — He gave his life to those whom the Soviets and communists tried to erase from national memory. He went where in the intention of enemies and traitors of Poland the lie was to triumph over the fact forever," the president emphasized.
He besides recalled a fragment of Lech Kaczyński's speech in 2010 at Katyń ceremonies. “In the way to reconciliation, partnership, dialog equal to equal and not imperial longing,” Duda quoted.
— Katyn crime will always remind of the threat of enslavement and demolition of people and nations, the power of lies," added the president.
As Andrzej Duda emphasized, Lech Kaczyński was the president of the future based on fact and concern for the destiny of subsequent generations of Poles. — A visionary who could admit geopolitical challenges and threats. Now. in 2008 at a rally in the besieged Tbilisi in prophetic words he warned the planet against the rebirth of Russian imperialism. He said: “Today Georgia, next day Ukraine, the day after next day Baltic States, and later possibly it is time for my country, for Poland,” Duda recalled.
— Unfortunately, the dangers he warned against were ignored by many politicians in Poland and those who ruled in Western Europe. The naive reset policy with Russia dominated. present everyone knows that Lech Kaczyński was right,” said Duda.
The president admitted that this for him a large honour and a large commitment that he could work closely with Lech Kaczyński, and in 2015 sit in the same office and proceed his mission.
— Realise visions of a strong Poland, hard to prosecute its interests. I have no uncertainty that, especially in these turbulent times, we must proceed to do so, he pointed out.
“The next leaders chosen by us must unite around the priorities of the Polish state’s rationale, which president Lech Kaczyński left us in his political will,” said Duda.
President Duda stressed that 15 years ago in the radiance of thousands before the Presidential Palace, mourning the victims of the top tragedy in the post-war past of Poland, “we saw again in the Republic of Poland our most precious common thing.” — Far more crucial than our differences and immediate disputes. We could and we wanted to be together. “He said.
— In the chronicles of that time there will be a memory of the awakening of the tremendous force of solidarity, but unfortunately besides of those who tried to break it. However, I believe that attempts to destruct that unity by the so - called contempt manufacture will yet cover the veil of shame,” he noted.
— present we know that the legacy of those who died in Smolensk has not been erased. The memory of Poles, strong, worthy and faithful, proved to be more powerful than any effort to fight her," stressed president Duda.
Andrzej Duda hits Warsaw authorities
President Andrzej Duda in Thursday's message said that it is impossible to accept that to this day the Warsaw authorities were incapable to give 1 of the streets in the city the name of late Lech Kaczyński.
President Duda noted that for many people that time remained an open wound, but for the youngest generation it was history. “ Those who only took their first steps in 2010 are now entering adulthood. Therefore our work as witnesses of those days is to defender this memory and pass it on to the descendants “ He pointed out.
Duda noted that during his presidential service on the 10th day of the month, the Smolensk disaster is commemorated in the chapel of the Presidential Palace. “I trust that my successors will proceed this tradition as an expression of respect for those who died,” he said.
He besides thanked all those who fought over these 15 years to guarantee that this tragedy was not silenced only with honor. “The respect for her victims is and will stay a measurement of respect for Poland and ourselves,” he said.
— That is why it is impossible to accept that to this day the Warsaw authorities have failed to name 1 of the streets in the city as late prof. Lech Kaczyński “The president of Poland and the president of the capital,” said Duda.
— I remember perfectly well the minute erstwhile the plaques with the inscription of Lech Kaczyński Avenue were removed, replacing them with the Avenue of the People's Army. Communist tradition has been preserved and the achievements of the president elected in democratic free elections have been ignored. The creators of the Warsaw Uprising Museum, 1 of the most crucial institutions for the identity of the capital. In this context, a word of shame can be used, but all you gotta say is that it is so humanly unfair, according to Duda.
“The disaster... took Poland distant from 96 prominent compatriots, yet a community was born from this large loss. On those memorable days, many people decided to engage in public affairs. The bottom-up social initiatives and levels of cooperation for the common good were created, said Duda.
He stressed that "such Poland — ambitious, assured place in Europe and in the world, aware of its history, strong solidarity of citizens and building the power of its army, is the best consequence to modern threats and reborn Russian imperialism".
— Only in this way will we fulfill the will of the murdered in Katyn and the will of those who died on 10 April in Smolensk. Hi to their memory," said the president.
