Polish PM says November 11, 1918, marked a day of unity for Poles
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk said on Poland's Independence Day that November 11, 1918, when the country regained freedom after 123 years of partitions, was a miracle of unification prayed for by Polish writers and poets.
"It was the greatest miracle that the Polish people had been able to unite and build one state that had to be 'glued together' from three partitioned pieces," Tusk said while addressing a gathering in Gdansk, northern Poland, on Tuesday as the country celebrates the 107th anniversary of regaining its independence.
Tusk praised Marshal Jozef Pilsudski, the father of Poland's independence, and described him as a symbol of this miracle and unification for the Polish people.
Tusk also said that independence was for all the people. "Just like 107 years ago, just like today, everywhere where you can hear the Polish language, we are celebrating this day being united, with joy and pride in our hearts," he added.
Having admitted that the main Independence Day celebrations were held at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Warsaw, Tusk said that he wanted all of Poland to recognise that day as a celebration of unity from the Baltic Sea in the north of the country to the Tatra Mountains in the south.
"Independent Poland is our common cause; no one can claim a monopoly on patriotism. We are a community when we are united," Tusk said.
He also stated that we could be proud of Poland's achievements as "we have become the world's 20th economy, we have overtaken many traditional superpowers, we have been building the EU's strongest armed forces and have become an unquestionable regional leader."
"Together with other countries, we have been effectively supporting Ukraine in its defence against Russia's aggression," Tusk added.
Poland won back its independence on November 11, 1918, in the aftermath of World War I, after 123 years of partitions by its neighbours, Russia, Prussia, and Austria-Hungary. (PAP)
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