Remarks prepared for the international conference in Poland on the 25th anniversary of the formation of the “Warsaw 90 Coordination Centre,” on Oct. 23, 2015.
[Poland] is today a beacon for the entire democratic/rule of law world—something that would surprise no-one who has read “No Greater Ally“ (2011), by Kenneth K. Koskodan, about your heroic role with so little recognition in World War II. Free and fair elections since 1990, privatizing some government-owned enterprises—these and other initiatives all seemed to help after a painful adjustment period. Your real economic growth has averaged nearly 4 percent a year since 2007, making your economy the EU’s sixth largest economy. Most Poles seem to be living more fulfilled lives.
A friend in Canada of family origin here stressed only this week your pride and continued efforts in growing positively. “(Poland) continues to thrive in terms of their economy, research, arts, science, and other aspects. While visiting some of the wonderful museums, I noticed how many groups of young children were also visiting ... From the Wilanow Royal Palace in Warsaw to the Planetarium in Torun ... even the very young ones were clearly focused on what was being said and asked questions—it was amazing to see all these children among a mix of international and local tourists groups.”
Democratic and economic reforms throughout east-central Europe proved difficult, but life for most appears to be significantly better now than in 1989. Real economic growth in the region, for example, is expected to maintain its momentum for the rest of this year and throughout 2016 above 3 percent.
Despite current problems, the EU, with 28 member countries and a population of 503 million and prospects for further enlargement, also continues to be a beacon for democracy, human rights, prosperity, and stability for many across the world.
A Glance Back
Permit me for context to repeat two points I made to a conference on “Totalitarianism and Family Life” held in the Czech Republic Senate earlier this year:
- A book published by Yale Press on family issues in Russia, Germany, Italy, Spain, and Turkey during periods of totalitarianism is Paul Ginsborg’s “Family Politics-Domestic Life, Devastation and Survival 1900–1950“: ”Stalinist Terror came in waves with different targets ... the French historian Nicolas Werth has only recently fully brought to light [that]...between August 1937 and November 1938 some 750,000 Soviet citizens were arrested as ‘enemies of the people’ and killed after summary trials. It was, according to Werth, ’the greatest state massacre ever perpetuated in Europe in times of peace' ...”
- A letter from a wife to her husband cited by Ginsborg, both deeply loyal to the [Communist] party, captures unintentionally the enormity of Stalin’s Terror: “Sofia Antonov-Ovseyenko ... was arrested in October 1937 and wrote to her husband from a Moscow prison, unaware that he had been arrested three days earlier: ‘My darling, I do not know if you will receive this, but somehow I sense that I am writing you for the last time ... Everything I know you know as well because our lives have been inseparable and harmonious ... So please believe me when I say that I did nothing wrong. One more thing: it is time for Valichka (Sofia’s daughter) to join the Komsomol. My arrest will no doubt stand in her way ... I beg forgiveness from everyone I love for bringing them such misfortune ... Forgive me, my loved one ... Your Sofia’.” Ginsborg continues: “Husband and wife were shot on the same day [Feb. 8, 1938]. Sofia’s daughter ... aged 15, was not only refused entrance to the Komsomol but sent to an orphanage ...”
I'll add here something well known by Poles, but perhaps forgotten by too many others today: the Katyn massacre. Approximately 22,000 Polish nationals were coldly murdered by Stalin’s secret police in 1940. All of them belonged to the best-trained of your military, as well as scholars, lawyers, and intellectuals. Stalin committed this crime against humanity to eliminate Polish nationalists in order to weaken the country. The movie “Katyn” by Andrzej Wajda, whose father was murdered at Katyn, was nominated for an Oscar in 2007.
