TRANSFER OF AUTHORITY OF POLISH MILITARY ON MISSION TO CRAIOVA

On Friday, 12 January 2021, starting with the hours 11.00, at the headquarters of the 26 Infantry "Neagoe Basarab" from Craiova, took place ceremony for the transfer of authority of polish military contingents , rotation I and rotation II. The Polish contingent is part of the joint initiative, having the mission to contribute to ensuring a consolidated presence in the South-East of the Alliance, in accordance with the measures adopted at the NATO Summit in Warsaw in 2016.

The Polish contingent is affiliated with the Battalion 26 "Neagoe Basarab" Infantry of the South-East Multinational Brigade, and the duration of a rotation in Romania for each contingent is approximately six months.

This event was attended by officials from the Ministry of National Defense, representatives of the Operational Command of the Polish Armed Forces and local public administration. https://www.gov.pl/web/rumunia/udzial-ambasadora-macieja-langa-w-przekazaniu-dowodzenia-vii-zmiany-pkw-w-krajowej

Polish Independence Day

In 1918, after 123 years of foreign occupation, Poland regained its independence by becoming a Republic at the end of the First World War. This event was possible in the favorable international context and was due to the struggle and efforts of a remarkable generation of patriots and statesmen., like Josef Piłsudski, Roman Dmowski, Ignacy Jan Paderewski, Josef Haller, Wojciech Korfanty, who kept their identity under foreign occupations, they developed a sense of national community and showed high patriotism.

On 4 March 1921 the Convention of Defensive Alliance between the Kingdom of Romania and the Republic of Poland was signed, the two neighboring states becoming allies until World War II, when Poland was devided, being occupied by Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union. In 1947 it became a Republic again, with a communist government. In June 1989 free elections were held and a democratic regime was adopted.

Poland is a member of the UN, NATO (from 1999), OSCE, to the EU (from 2004), in the Council of Baltic States, Visegrád Group, The Weimar Triangle and the Three Seas Initiative. In 2007 joined the Schengen Area.

The strategic partnership between Romania and Poland was launched during the visit of the Polish president, Lech Kaczynski, in Romania. Thus, a Joint Declaration of the Presidents of Romania and the Republic of Poland was signed (7 October 2009). The Joint Declaration sets out the main guidelines and directions for action in the following areas: political and security cooperation, energy and sustainable development, agriculture, regional development, shipments, climate change and other common goals of the two states in the region.

On 28 October 2010 the Action Plan for the implementation of the Strategic Partnership was also signed. At the moment, The Strategic Partnership is implemented through the Joint Action Plan for the period 2016-2020.

On the occasion of Independence Day from 11 November, honorary consul of the Republic of Poland in Brașov, Mr. Janusz Szalinski, together with the representatives of the Polish military contingent PKW VII present in Romania on an official visit to the Consulate in Brașov, together they paid homage and laid flowers and wreaths at the stone altar built in 1940 by polish refugees during World War II in Timișul de Sus, Brașov County.

Also, the Ambassador of the Republic of Poland, Maciej Lang laid a wreath under the plaque commemorating the figure of Marshal Józef Piłsudski, which is located in Ioanid Park in the center of Bucharest.

Harvest Festival 2020

On 5 September, in Solonețu Nou took place the 15th edition of the polish harvest festival from Romania traditionally organized by the Union of Poles in Romania and the church "The Descent of the Holy Spirit". This year, due to the coronavirus pandemic and a restrictions of the authorities, only the Holy Mass could be celebrated , in the whose was sanctified, bread,wreaths,vegetables and fruits were offered at the church altar by the participating communities.

At this year's edition of the Harvest Festival by the representatives of the Polish Union in Romania, was present Janusz Szaliński, honorary consul of the Republic of Poland in Brașov, PS Iosif Păuleț, bishop of Iasi, priests from the deanery of Bucovina, the military delegation of the 7th exchange of the Polish Military Contingent stationed at Craiova, together with the Major Krzysztof Słowik.

Fruit Holidays are holidays of farmers who give thanks for the fruits gathered during the year. An inseparable element of these is the Holy Masses during which the loaves and wreaths are consecrated., as well as the presentation of gifts in the form of fruits.

Since 2006 until last year, During the Road Festival, every locality in Romania where Poles live had a stand with specific fruits, products, own preparations, or dishes that were tasted by those present. Also, there were concerts and a picnic.

Photo: Union of Poles in Romania

100 th anniversary of the Battle of Warsaw

On 14 August, the soldiers of the polish military contingent in Romania celebrated the 100 years since the Battle of Warsaw and the Day of the Polish Armed Forces. The event began with a holy service officiated by the chaplain, Major Tomasz Szefliński. The ceremony was attended by representatives of the polish embassy in Romania, honorary consul of Poland in Brașov, Mr. Janusz Szalinski, representatives of local government authorities and soldiers of the Southeast Multinational Division, led by Commander. Cristian Dan |.

 On the hundredth anniversary of the Battle of Warsaw, known as “The Miracle on Vistula ", the commander of the polish military contingent, Major. Krzysztof Słowik, handed over to the soldiers certificates to a higher rank, medals and awards for their exemplary service.

Further, The Call for Appeal was subsequently read remember, and the ceremony ended with a parade attended by all sub units assembled at the event. On the last point of the day, flowers were laid by representatives of the polish contingent but also of the embassy of poles in Bucharest and Brasov at the monument commemorating refugees poles of World War II, at the cemetery in Craiova.

The Battle of Warsaw, also known under the name of the Vistula Miracle, it was a series of battles that led to a Poland's decisive victory in 1920, during the Polish-Soviet War, broke out shortly after the end of the First World War.

Photo: st. agent. Tomasz Kochanowski.

The third honorary consulate of Poland was opened in Romania, in Timisoara

On 6 August 2020, The Honorary Consulate of the Republic of Poland in Timișoara was officially opened . The consulate will be headed by the honorary consul, Mr. Adrian Albu.

The Ambassador of the Republic of Poland, Maciej Lang, inaugurated the activity of the Honorary Consulate of the Republic of Poland in Timisoara. The ceremony was attended by the Consul of the Republic of Poland in Bucharest, Jarosław Szkirpan, and the Honorary Consul of Poland, Adrian Albu.

On this occasion, the ambassador Maciej Lang met with the romanian local authorities – the prefect of Timiș county, Liliana Oneț but also with the president of the local council, Călin Dobra, with whom he discussed the areas of cooperation in the region.

The honorary consulate in Timișoara is the third polish mission of this type , Poland has two more honorary consulates in Romania, in Brașov, Cluj Napoca, while the Embassy of Poland is based in Bucharest.

Transfer of authority to the polish military contingent of the South-East Multinational Brigade

Tuesday, 21 th of July, from 11.00, at the headquarters of the 26 "Neagoe Basarab" Infantry Battalion , from Craiova, the ceremony took place on the occasion of the transfer of authority of the polish military contingent – between the sixth and the seventh rotation – within the South-East Multinational Brigade, that will be deployed to Romania for about six months.

We remind that, Poland participates with a contingent consisting of 225 military and 47 of technical means in the composition 26 of the “Neagoe Basarab” Infantry Battalion within the Multinational Brigade South East, thus materializing the commitments assumed by Romania and Poland at the NATO Summit in Warsaw.

From representatives of Polish diplomacy participated at the event: The Ambassador of the Republic of Poland in Romania , Maciej lang, the general Consul in Romania, Jarosław Szkirpan, Honorary Consul of the Republic of Poland in Brașov, Janusz Szaliński and Military Attaché at the Embassy of Poland in Romania, Colonel Jerzy Jankowski.

On behalf of the hosts, representatives of local and county authorities participated, the mayor of Craiova, Mihail Genoiu, but also the prefect of Dolj county, Nicușor Roșca. In his speech, the new PKW commander confirmed readiness of R7 soldiers to achieve mission objectives and to have a good cooperation with allied forces. The ceremony of handing over responsibility in the mission area was, also, an opportunity to reward the rotating VI soldiers, who in the recent 6 months have participated during the implementation of training tasks on training grounds and different construction sites.

The summary of the activity of the 6th PKW exchange in Romania , can be seen by accessing the attached link:

Voting abroad in the elections of the President of the Republic of Poland in 2020.

Based on the decision of Marshal Sejm of the Republic of Poland in 3 June 2020 on the ordering of the election of the President of the Republic of Poland and art. 39 § 2 of the Law of 5 January 2011 – Election Code in voting circuits abroad , established in the consular district of the Consular Department- Embassy of the Republic of Poland in Bucharest, voting in the elections of the President of the Republic of Poland will take place on Sunday, 28 June 2020, between 7.00-21.00.

All information on the vote abroad of the President of the Republic of Poland from 2020 but also about voting rules are available here: https://www.gov.pl/web/rumunia/glosowanie-za-granica-w-wyborach-prezydenta-rzeczypospolitej-polskiej-w-2020-r5

FITS - the first major festival in Central and Eastern Europe organized online

Edition of this year of the Sibiu International Theater Festival (FITS) will take place online , between 12-21 June,  having the theme ”Empowered”.

For 10 days , International Festival of Sibiu Theater brings online, 138 of events from 30 countries out of five continents. The program will also include three polish performances by renowned polish theater creators.

A real celebration for lovers of theater will be the meeting with the opera of Krzysztof Warlikowski, one of the most famous polish and european directors.

Wednesday, 17 June, from 11.00 a conference will be held with the participation of the Polish director, which will be coordinated by the Romanian theater critic, George Banu.

Wednesday, 17 June, from 23.30 “The Fragrance of Time” in the performance of the KTO Theater in Krakow. The show refers to the works of Gabriel Garcia Marquez, Hugo Claus, Emil Zagadłowicz, but also to the biographical motives of the director and the author of the script, Jerzy Zoń.

On Friday, 19 June, from 12.25 will be presented “Anty-Gone” of Pieśń Kozła Theater in Wrocław, directed by Grzegorz Bral.

Director Grzegorz Bral collaborated, in passed, to the famous Center for Theatrical Practices in Poland. In 1998, together with Anna Zubrzycka, founded, to Wroclaw, Teatr Pieśń Kozła, who obtained international recognition.

Between the years 2004-2012, received the prestigious Fringe First Award at the Fringe Festival in Edinburgh. From 2012, lead, to London, Bral School of Acting. In 2018, was invited to Sibiu with the show “Hamlet - comment”.

Sunday, 21 June, from 14.20 on the last day of the festival, the show will be directed by Krzysztof Warlikowski, “French”, performed by the Nowy Teatr team from Warsaw.

More than 14.400 minutes of theater, dance, music, contemporary circus, conferences, debate, reading shows and shows for children will be broadcast free of charge, from 12 to 21 June 2020 on the official site FITS, www.sibfest.ro, but also on the official Facebook page and channel official YouTube.

Detailed program: https://www.sibfest.ro/fits-online

100 years since the birth of Pope John Paul II

Monday , 18 th of May, marks the 100 th anniversary of the birth of Saint Pope John Paul II, a remarkable personality of the world, considered the most beloved Sovereign Pontiff in history. Pope John Paul II was unique, with his entire life dedicated to transforming the world, understanding between people, peace, which was exceptionally achieving his mission on earth.

Today, the Catholic Church, but also Poland, his native country, bring a homage to the man of peace, as well as the first pope in history to visit a predominantly orthodox country - Romania.

The polish representatives in Bucharest, by the presence of the ladies, Magdalena Szuber-Zasacka, Chargée d’Affaires of the Polish Embassy in Bucharest and Agnieszka Skieterska, director of the Polish Institute brought flowers at the monument dedicated to the Pope in Bucharest.

This monument was built in memory of the Pope's historic visit to Romania in 1999, the first visit of a Sovereign Pontiff to a predominantly Orthodox country, the monument is the bronze work of the slovenian sculptor, Mirsad Begic.