Tomasz Siemoniak, associate of the Council of Ministers, coordinator of peculiar services, spoke about security, importance of Polish awareness and function in Europe. The gathering at the initiative of the Rector of Warsaw University took place on 26 February in the legislature Hall of Kazimierz Palace.
– It is an honor to be able to host the Minister at the University of Warsaw. This visit fits perfectly into the image of our university, which is an open place for discussion, tolerant; 1 from which many representatives of the political and socio-economic environment originate," said the Rector of the University of Warsaw Prof. Alojzy Z. Nowak, adding: "The gathering will be a good chance to discuss the situation in Europe, security. From the position of the University, cognition of the planet is highly important.
Consciousness
Tomasz Siemoniak raised the issue of safety in the context of the current geopolitical situation during his lecture.
– Events in Ukraine changed history. It seemed earlier that safety issues would not absorb us. The large popularity of geopolitics late shows people’s interest in these issues. I would like to draw attention to the importance of consciousness. Politicians decide on the basis of an assessment of the situation. In the case of the Russian Federation and Poland, 2 consciousnesses collide: reasoning in categories of the results of planet War II and the position formed with the beginnings of the 3rd Republic. The situation is so serious," the Minister stressed.
He pointed out that the answer to the question whether Poland is threatened is yes.
– However, this is not the case of the last fewer or decades. This threat was already present in Lives I or before the Teutonic Knights invaded. The sense of danger is in our DNA. It comes from historical experience. The essence of policy is to see these threats and to effort to reduce them. Examples of specified efforts were entering NATO and then the EU," said Tomasz Siemoniak.
Emphasising how hard it is to foretell the course of future events, he pointed out the value of the debate, discussion and reflection – especially in places specified as the University of Warsaw.
“The failure of Ukraine would entail an increase in the threat in Poland. The function of our country is peculiar in the current situation. We must primarily take care of as many alliance relationships as possible," added Tomasz Siemoniak.
After the lecture, a debate took place with students, PhD students and employees of the University of Warsaw and guests arrived, moderated by Robert Grey, Chancellor of the University. Participants discussed, among others, the state's defence policy, the functioning of peculiar services, arms spending or peace alliances.
Tomasz Siemoniak is simply a postgraduate of the Faculty of abroad Trade of the Warsaw School of Economics and a fellow of the University of Duisburg.
He was, among others, manager of the First Polish tv Programme, manager of the Press and Information Office in the Ministry of National Defence, vice-president of the Supervisory Board of the Polish Press Agency. From December 2000 to mid-2002 he was Vice president of Warsaw. From 2002 to 2006, he was on the board of the Polish Radio, and then until 2007 he took up the office of Deputy Marshal of Mazowieckie Voivodeship.
In November 2007, he was appointed Secretary of State in the Ministry of Interior and Administration, and has served as Minister of National Defence since 2011. In September 2014, he took office as Deputy Prime Minister. Since 2015 he has been a associate of the Polish Parliament.
In December 2023 he was appointed Minister – a associate of the Council of Ministers and coordinator of peculiar services.
