„We should avoid entanglement in current political disputes with the symbols of saints for all Poles, such a place and such a symbol is Westerplatte, ”wrote the president of Gdańsk Aleksandra Dulkiewicz in a letter to Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki.
Dulkiewicz’s letter to Morawiecki
The letter is related to the announcement by the head of the Ministry of National Defense that this year the celebration of the 81st anniversary of the outbreak of World War II in Westerplatte will be organized by the army.
The content of the letter to the head of government, dated Friday, was presented to the media by the press spokesman of the president of Gdańsk, Daniel Stenzel. The letter was also addressed to the Minister of National Defense, Mariusz Błaszczak.
Gdańsk is a place of dialogue, consensus, seeking compromise and national consent. We want to be worthy heirs of those who, in Gdańsk, in 1980, jointly forged the assumptions for the August Agreements. Unfortunately, there are clearly delineated dividing lines in our homeland. Polarization and the dispute between our countrymen raise concern and should prompt politicians to be ready to seek agreement beyond divisions. All the more, we should avoid entanglement in current political disputes with symbols of saints for all Poles. Westerplatte is such a place and such a symbol
– wrote Dulkiewicz.
She recalled the slogan “No more war” located in Westerplatte.
This meaningful quote, situated on the ground sanctified by Polish blood, has not lost its relevance and prompts us to conduct a constructive and peaceful debate
– she added.
This was the spirit of my invitation to the 81st anniversary of the outbreak of World War II, which, as every year, we wanted to celebrate with the participation of combatants, veterans, the army, scouts and the most important people in the country. In 1999, he initiated these celebrations of the late Paweł Adamowicz and for 21 years the city of Gdańsk has been constantly organizing celebrations inviting the most important representatives of our country to participate, regardless of who is currently in power
The letter reads.
Dulkiewicz emphasized that after the end of the presidential election, she “immediately” sent an invitation to President Andrzej Duda, and in mid-June she addressed invitations to the Prime Minister, the Speakers of the Sejm and Senate of the Republic of Poland and the head of the Ministry of National Defense.
The more I was amazed by today’s post in the social media of the Minister of National Defense – Mr. Mariusz Błaszczak. This tweet cannot be treated as reaching out to consent, and should be seen in the category of delineating a new field of conflict. An even greater surprise is the attempt at real influence and pressure exerted by the constitutional minister on the ongoing administrative proceedings
– we read in the letter.
She explained that the process related to the implementation of the special act on the Westerplatte area is currently underway.
Pursuant to its provisions, the Museum of the Second World War has applied for a permit to implement part of the investment in the construction of the Museum of Westerplatte and the War of 1939. It is currently being assessed by interested parties, including the city of Gdańsk. According to the act, getting acquainted with these opinions is preceded by the issuance of a decision by the Pomeranian Voivode. Despite this, Minister Błaszczak is deciding on a decision that has yet to be reached and which will be decided by another body
– wrote the president of Gdańsk.
In her opinion, it “violates the rules of a democratic state of law.”
I hope that together, without unnecessary disputes and across divisions, on this day we will commemorate the heroic defenders of Westerplatte and the millions of civilian victims of this terrible war. Once again, I invite the Prime Minister to the ceremony organized by Gdańsk at Westerplatte on September 1, 2020. I am open to dialogue and I would like to be able to expect a similar openness from the Prime Minister of my homeland and his associates. Let us not lose the chance that the memory of the defenders of Westerplatte will unite Poles, not divide them, and that it will not be a source of scandalous disputes
– Dulkiewicz finished her letter.
The head of the Ministry of National Defense: This year, for the first time, I hope it will always be like this, the Polish Army will organize the celebration of September 1 at Westerplatte
Błaszczak announced on Friday that the celebration at Westerplatte on the occasion of the 81st anniversary of the outbreak of World War II will be organized by the Polish Army. So far, the main host of these celebrations has been the city of Gdańsk.
This year, for the first time, I hope it will always be like this, the Polish Army will organize the celebration of September 1 at Westerplatte
– the head of the Ministry of National Defense announced at the press conference, emphasizing that he wanted the celebrations to be national in nature and not to be only a local event.
In turn, on Twitter, Błaszczak wrote: “(…) We will depoliticize Westerplatte. It is a place where combatants are the most important, not politicians like F. Timmermans. I invite everyone on September 1 at 4:45 to Gdańsk. Let’s commemorate the heroism of Polish soldiers together.
The initiative of the head of the Ministry of National Defense was supported by the director of the Museum of the Second World War, Karol Nawrocki. In a statement sent to the media, he wrote, inter alia, that the museum is “ready to support the Ministry of National Defense in commemorating the 81st anniversary of the outbreak of World War II.”
A year ago, the Sejm adopted a special act providing for the construction of a museum on the Westerplatte peninsula, which is to be a branch of the Museum of the Second World War in Gdańsk (MIIWŚ). The institution would operate in areas that are currently in the hands of, inter alia, army and Border Guard. However, most of the land (9 ha) on which the Military Transit Storehouse operated in the interwar period belongs to the city of Gdańsk. There are relics of defensive structures that used to be part of the repository, as well as a hill with the Monument to the Defenders of the Coast.
For the purposes of the construction of the Museum of Westerplatte and the War of 1939 – in accordance with the special act – some of these urban areas will become the property of the state or a new facility.
tkwl / PAP
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