President of KPA Frank Spula among speakers in the Polish Parliament during the 6th planet Convention of Polonia and Poles from abroad (WIDEO)

dziennikzwiazkowy.com 2 years ago

President of the legislature of American Polonia (KPA) and the National Union of Poland (ZNP-PNA) Frank Spula spoke in the Polish Parliament on Thursday during the 6th planet Convention of Polonia and Poles from abroad. The deliberations will last until Sunday. The convention is organized by the Association “Community of Poland” and the Council of the Polish World. The honorary patronage of the convention with the participation of about 350 delegates from over forty countries was taken over by president Andrzej Duda.

In the delegation of the American Polish legislature to the Congress, in addition to president of KPA and ZNP-PNA Frank J. Spula besides includes Alicja Kulińska (P), manager of KPA and national secretary of ZNP-PNA, Bożena Kamiński (L, at the poster), vice-president of KPA for Polish affairs and Małgorzata Margo Schultz (L), vice-president of KPA for external contacts and Łukasz Dudka, manager of KPA and CEO of the "Union Journal". A large delegation of the Polish Teachers Association in America and the local branch of the past halt besides went from Chicago to the reunion.

From the inaugural session, chaired by Deputy Marshal of the Sejm, Małgorzata Gosievska, the 6th planet legislature of Polish and Polish people from abroad began on Thursday in the Sejm. president and legislature of American Polonia (KPA) and the National Union of Poland (ZNP-PNA) Frank Spula took the level in the Sejm. In his speech he referred to the issue of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. "We are arrogant of the function played by Poland, helping Ukraine, accepting its inhabitants according to the tradition of our fathers: the guest in the house, God in the house. We hope that our Ukrainian neighbors and the full planet will always remember this motion of Poland," he said.

"I am besides arrogant of the legislature of American Polonia – it helped rise $250,000 to aid Ukraine and Poland. The legislature of American Polonia exists almost 80 and played an crucial function in the process of liberation of Poland from communism and the creation of a democratic Polish state," said Spula, pointing out, among others, the support for Poland's membership of NATO or the introduction of visa-free tourist movement from the country over Vistula to the US.

Spula added that "Poland is simply a politically and economically strong country and Polonia is undergoing a transformation". "There is simply a lot to do," said the president of KPA, noting, among others, the issue of Polish-American economical relations with the participation of Polonia.

Janusz Tomczak – president of the legislature of the Canadian Polonia – pointed out that "Polonia shrinks due to the deficiency of further waves of emigration". “This makes us wonder what Polonia will look like in 20 or 50 years. Therefore, I think that at this convention we should make a method to encourage our children and young people to join in the activity and work for the Polish people" – he said, calling for participation in the discussion besides representatives of the Polish government.

Edward Trusewicz – president of the European Union of Polish Communities, associate of the Polish number in Lithuania, in the past Lithuanian Deputy Minister of Culture besides spoke in the debate. “The days of our complicated, hard but boastful past dictate a affirmative future for us. At a time of globalisation, in the modern world, absolutely nothing can break the spirit of Polishness," he said.

Government typical for Polish and Polish affairs abroad Jan Dziedziczak stressed that "the reunion is an excellent form of contact between our countrymen from all over the planet and Poland, with the Polish authorities".

"It is an chance for us, as an environment of Poles abroad, friends and co-workers of our fellow countrymen abroad here in the country, to consider how we can work together, how we can usage 20 million of our fellow countrymen abroad as best for Polish affairs" - said Minister Dziedziczak.

In the beginning session on Thursday morning in the Sejm, the president of the Polish Council Jarosław Narkiewicz and the president of the Association “Community of Poland” Dariusz Piotr Bonisławski took part.

The debate was besides attended by Małgorzata Kwiatkowska from the ultimate Council of the Australian Polonia, a typical of the Polish Latin America Fr Zdzisław Malczewski, the nostor of the Polish movement Tadeusz Adam Pilat, president of the Union of Poles in Lithuania, associate of the European Parliament Waldemar Tomaszewski.

Prior to the session in the Sejm, a mass was held in Warsaw in the Archatedal Basilica of St. John the Baptist. The wreaths were laid under commemorative plaques in the Sejm: president Lech Kaczyński, John Paul II, parliamentarians – victims of the Smolensk catastrophe, and besides in front of the plaque of Marshal Maciej Plażyński, who died in this catastrophe.

Participants of the legislature – representatives of Polish organizations, government members, politicians and experts – will discuss in 4 thematic blocks by Sunday: “Polish organisations abroad”, “Culture, education, pastoral ministry, warrant of Polish identity”, “Polish youth – commitment and patriotism”, “Sport, tourism, entrepreneurship”.

On Thursday evening, in the Podwarszawskie Otrabusy, a performance of the State People's Song and Dance Band “Mazoszowsze” was held.

According to the programme on the Polish Community website, participants of the convention are to meet with representatives of the Polish authorities on Friday. It was besides planned to present honorary badges "For Merit to Polish and Poles Behind the Border".

In the Chancellery of the Prime Minister there is besides a thematic panel on the support of the Polish government for Polish and Polish people abroad, which is to be led by Jan Dziedziczak. According to the programme, the Minister of Culture and National Heritage Piotr Gliński, Head of the Ministry of abroad Affairs Zbigniew Rau, Head of MEIN Przemysław Czarnek and Minister of National Defence Mariusz Błaszczak are to participate in the debate.

Also on Friday, a gathering was planned for delegates of the reunion with the presidential couple: Andrzej Duda and Agata Kornhauser-Duda.

As the Association of “Community of Poland” reminds, after Poland gained independency in 1918, the state authorities of II of Poland conducted a pro-emigration policy. In 1922, a Council of Cultural Welfare was established on the initiative of the MFA, which included national institutions dealing with Polonia and representatives of ministries. In 1924 the Association for the Defence of Western Borders put forward the thought of convening the Polonia convention, and in 1925 the Organizational Committee of the Polish legislature from abroad was established, which began efforts to make an organization bringing Poles together abroad.

The association states that the first planet gathering of Poles from abroad took place on 14-18 July 1929 in Warsaw. It was attended by 98 delegates from 18 countries (e.g. 25 from Germany, 22 from the USA) and 5 from the Free City of Gdańsk; delegates from the USSR were not allowed; delegates from Lithuania did not receive exit visas; 38 mandates for Polish people in the USA were not used.

Previous, the 5th Polish and Polish legislature from abroad, was held in Warsaw in 2018. More than 600 participants from 44 countries took part in this meeting, representing nearly 200 organisations, who sat in 7 thematic forums on crucial matters for the Polish community.

(inf./PAP)