Parliamentary Assembly

Ladies and gentlemen, I have often heard it said that there is only one Europe. So, I decided to have a look out of the aeroplane’s window. True. There is only one Europe.

This is the kind of impression I still had until quite recently. Today, I regret to say that the vision of one Europe has faded somewhat. And yet it used to be a beautiful and wise one. Strongly immersed in history. Designed with the future in mind.

Reality, however, has had a sneering effect on all those who thought that the overthrow of communism would move the eastern world closer to its western counterpart; that it would come together again as one unity. But now Europe is moving apart. True, the Berlin Wall has disappeared. True, communism has fallen. True, there is no iron curtain any longer. Political divisions have finished. The countries of central and eastern Europe have already joined or are now in the process of joining the community of democratic states. And yet, we still have a long way to go to achieve unity. Europe continues to be divided by the level of economic development of its states. This is becoming very clear and definite. There are rich and poor countries in it. We, citizens of the poorer part of Europe, are getting the impression that the richer and more prosperous part of Europe is closing itself shut against us, that it is becoming a posh club for those who are better off and live in stable conditions. Poland, finding herself in the middle between the west looking intently into and after yourself and the changing Soviet state, is now bound to look forward to a time with no friends. But that does not apply only to Poland. It applies equally to our neighbours, those from the south and those from the east.

Poland has always been in Europe, in terms of its culture and civilisation. Having accomplished its revolution by peaceful means, she has joined Europe politically as well. Through her own experience, she has attracted the other countries of the central and eastern part of our continent. Putting it in a more graphic way – Czechoslovakia, Hungary, the Soviet Union and other countries have translated the script of the Polish way to freedom. They have turned it to their own use. And now they are carrying it into effect as their strength, possibilities and aspirations allow for it. Freedom and democracy have become a thing of everyday life in the states of eastern Europe. They are now a standard over there.

In Poland, we have now a democratically elected parliament. Human rights and the rights of national minorities are being respected. We are establishing ever better contacts with all our neighbours. Poland, the Czech and Slovak Federal Republic and Hungary have been linked by the treaty on co-operation. We have proved that we are able to act jointly, to overcome stereotypes and do away with prejudices. We have ratified a bilateral treaty with Germany. We are engaged in negotiating similar treaties with the countries of the Commonwealth of Independent States.

Freedom and democracy are beautiful ideas. I am confident that nothing can threaten them in those countries where the traditions of democracy are old and firm enough. And nothing will threaten them. For the Council of Europe keeps watching out. However, the young democracies are not very sure about it. They are worried about their own destiny. They have lived and are now living through too many risks. Those that are internal and external. Years ago, the Council of Europe predicted the course of events in Europe. So, now we continue to rely on its shrewdness, foresight and wisdom.

Prosperity is the foundation of peace and happiness. This truth is older than our old continent. Development has to follow the achievement of democracy. Economic success has to follow it. Only a well-fed and healthy man can feel safe and secure. Free and democratic Poland is now going through a hard and specific economic crisis. We have to build everything from scratch, sometimes in a quite different way. The communist, planned economy, has got to be transformed into a free market one. This may look like turning the river backwards. And this has turned out to be difficult.

We have been relying on the west; on your interest: on big capital flowing in as wide a stream as possible. We have hoped for investment capital to support our enterprises in their production and modernisation efforts. We know what your requirements are. We approve them. Nonetheless, the benefits ought to be shared mutually. It means business for you, growth and development for us. Our country is grateful for the remission of its debts. However, there is still a lot we have to pay. That means that taxes have to be kept at very high levels. This is also an enormous burden on the people of Poland. It causes the mechanisms of development to get stuck in the growth of the economy.

We are now at the outset of the second stage of getting the economy transformed. Our objective is to establish a free market economy. Having kept inflation down and having strengthened the currency, our first priority task now is to fight recession. This calls for enormous sacrifices on the part of the people. This also signifies that state financial resources will have to be appropriated more actively, so that this stage, even more than the first one, needs to be supported by the states of the west.

Europe is leaving the door half open for us. But the threshold is still very high. The bar was raised still higher at Maastricht. For our countries, for the young, newly born democracies, trade with the countries of the rich west is the best way to raise the standard of living. Meanwhile, the west is opening itself to us with caution. It is being jealous in making its markets accessible to our goods. This is wrong. Poland’s market, one of forty million potential customers enlarged by those of our neighbours, remains open to your products. Indeed, we are importing a lot of them now. You are making good money. But is this fair? Is it like being partners? Is this the kind of vision of Europe that it is all about? Bearing in mind our young democracies, is it consistent with the idea of equal opportunities?

We share a common tradition and common European roots. Now is the right time to give evidence that this is so.

We have our own advantages, qualified-staff, well-educated society. We have many pragmatic, hardworking people.

Two years have passed. Let us therefore make an assessment of our co-operation. Foreign capital investments in Poland are still few. The west was supposed to help us in getting organised on new principles. So far, it has limited itself to draining our own market. Polish shops have been inundated by waves of your products. You have made good business on the Polish revolution. We were useful as an instrument to crack the old regime threatening Europe. Now, we have lost your affection.

I think that western Europe should support the countries of our region, also in its own interest. You have to realise that your opening to eastern Europe will help this continent’s economic potential to grow. Why have I taken this opportunity to speak about it at great length here, in the forum of the Council of Europe? It is because I am privileged to be in the heart of democratic Europe, because it is here that I can hope for un understanding of the obvious truth: it is that without prosperity democracy will have a precarious life, and a difficult one too.

Prosperity will strengthen the newly won democracy. Otherwise, the citizens of the eastern states will start wondering why they have ever fought for it. Democracy is not an aim in itself. It is a means to a better, more secure and more prosperous life.

Nowadays, however, our own people are not getting the feeling that they are any better off. The fruits of victory have turned sour. Already, one can hear some people asking why we have ever done it. Democracy is losing its supporters. Some other people say: "All right, let us go back to the authoritarian rule."

We are witnessing events that send a warning signal. The vision of a peaceful Europe is breaking up. Yugoslavia is an example of it. While the west is moving towards integration, the east is breaking apart. Aggressive nationalisms, even chauvinisms, are becoming more and more prominent. Conscious of our own historical experience, we know what we have to fear. We are in the middle and Poland may yet again find itself on the front line. This is what we are afraid of. We want peace. Freedom is not moving hand in hand with the long-awaited prosperity. Conflicts may wreck the young democracies. Well-fed Europe may be taken aback by destabilisation. One has to be aware of this kind of threat.

Some are able to discern it already. Western diplomacy is making efforts to neutralise the nuclear forces of the former Soviet Union. In exchange for food, it is looking forward to a military disarmament. In this way, the countries which have nuclear warheads are able to force the west to provide economic aid by means of a nuclear deterrent. But not all the states of the former Soviet bloc have such arguments at hand. Poland certainly has no such arguments.

Let me just give you a quick reminder. The Polish revolution has reached inside the Kremlin walls. We have cracked communism. We have freed the western world from the threat of Soviet totalitarianism. We have done it smoothly, we have handled it with velvet gloves, without a drop of blood having been shed. And yet, we have risked a great deal. Today, the difficult task of building a new system lies ahead of us.

So, we are working. We are making an enormous effort. But, on our own it is going to be difficult for us. We need your help.

We share common interests. Therefore, let us cooperate. Our own prosperity will support your feeling of the certainty of tomorrow. Our difficulties may turn out to be a disaster for the whole of Europe.

The Council of Europe is a great achievement of our peoples. We regard it as the guardian of democracy, freedom and human rights. Its role is one of being the conscience of the continent. It has always given proof that there is only one truth – one and the same for east and west.

So, let us overcome those limitations that continue to keep us apart. Europe, I am making an appeal to you to use your imagination. Our success will be a guarantee of the certainty of your own tomorrow, of our common tomorrow, for the west and for the east, on behalf of which I am taking the liberty of addressing you here today.

Our difficulties may be a threat to all of us. And this is something for which our sons and daughters will not pardon us.