2 November 2001
Prime Minister Blair
Right, first of all I can I welcome to Downing Street Prime Minister Miller and say how delighted I am to see him here. And obviously to congratulate him on his elevation to the post of Prime Minister. Secondly, to state on record our deep appreciation for the strong relationship we have with Poland today. And also to pay tribute to the tie between our two countries that are, as I said, strong today but of course based on a great deal of common history and not least the enormous sacrifices and bravery of Polish servicemen and women in the Second World War.
And that strong sense of partnership is been reflected in the support, both practical and political, that has been given by Poland following the events of 11 September, and I can assure the Polish people that support is deeply appreciated right across the world.
Obviously, we are discussing the issues arising out of those terrible events of 11 September but we’re also spending a considerable part of our discussion too on Europe and Poland’s position in Europe and the future of Europe.
We are strong supporters of fellowship especially for European union as part of the first wave of countries coming into Europe based on the conditions of entry, and we welcome very much the enormous progress that has already been made in closing the various chapters of those negotiations.
I have decided to make two points about that: The first is that I believe that when Poland becomes a member of the European Union this will be an enormous boost for prosperity and living standards and jobs and economic growth for the Polish people. Whatever the difficulties of economic reform, those difficulties will pale into insignificance beside the enormous gains that will be made in the future and for Poland as part of the European Union. And we can tell that very clearly from the experience of other countries that have joined the European Union and prospered in that way.
And secondly we publish today a joint Polish-British contribution on the debate about the future of Europe. We have a lot in common here in our attitudes because both Britain and Poland believe in a Europe that moves closer together but does so firmly anchored in the nation and in our own nationhood of which we are proud. And I think in this area, as in so many other areas, Britain and Poland could work closely together. We want to be part of Europe, we understand the benefits Europe brings, but we are proud of our own national identity and wish this to be a Europe of nations, not a federal super-state that blurs our national identity.
So, welcome here, it is wonderful to see you. Thank you very much for your support and your solidarity at this difficult time internationally, and I know I speak on behalf of the British people when I send my very best wishes to you, to the Polish people and thank you for the contribution your making to the world at this time.
Prime Minister Leschek Miller (via interpreter)
Thank you very much, Prime Minister, for your words. They reminding about our joint fight during the Second World War. The fight of Polish soldiers for our common freedom is one of the most beautiful chapters of our history. I am very grateful too, that the memory of the Polish servicemen fighting here during the Second World War in the British force(?) is very well kept and is part of our common history.
This historic past is a very moving remembrance to all of us, but, as you, we are also trying to concentrate on the future. I am very glad that we are also in the same front together, exactly as during the Second World War, now in the anti-terrorist coalition. Poland is a member of NATO and we (inaudible) all the commitments resulting from our membership in the Alliance and we fully support all the activities, which are conducted by the US government and your government in this time of greatest threat to the modern world, terrorism. I am very glad that we are seeing in the same way and that we can act together against this threat.
Poland faces the next big challenge: the accession to the European structures. I emphasised it in my own country, and I want to emphasise it also here in London, that there is no alternative for Poland. We will either become a member of the European Union or we will simply be left outside somewhere on the margin of the European civilisation(?) and technological progress. I don’t realise whether you realise very well that Poland wants to become a member of the European Union and not the European Union wants to join Poland, that I have assured you in this meeting that there is no possibility of the enlargement of Europe without Poland.
We were also discussing the vision of the future United Europe and I was thinking it is also reflected in this statement we are publishing together. I think that the idea that the future united Europe should take into consideration the national identity of each and every member state; the national character of this state is the few things we have in common. Our own(?) position in the (inaudible) in this very big debate would, in the future, define the shape of this united Europe.
I ask Prime Minister Blair for assistance in solving the problems which Poland is facing; the most difficult, the most controversial. I see that we can count on understanding and support. The Polish government wants to give new dynamism in the negotiations with the European Union, we want to be flexible but we also expect the European Union member states to be flexible. We wish to conclude the negotiation process by the end of next year, so that Poland could be accessing(?) the European Community in the year 2004. Let me remind you that Prime Minister Blair, when he was in Warsaw in autumn last year, was one of the first European politicians who very strongly decided that Poland should become a member of the European Union in the year 2004 and in the year 2004 Poles should have the possibility to elect their own representatives to the European Parliament. These words have been remembered well and I am also very glad that they have been confirmed here when I am in London.
We are also interested in economic co-operation and intensification of the economic co-operation, and also co-operation in all other areas. Poland can the see the United Kingdom as our greatest ally, the ally in the modernisation of our country, in modernising our economy, in increasing(?) of the lifestyle of our citizens. A great ally also will help us to make our future better and which will allow the aspirations of Poles to be fulfilled.
Thank you very much.
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