Lech praises relationship between UK and Poland

10:56am Friday 9th May 2008

Comments (0)   Have your say »

• Play Video

FORMER Polish president Lech Walesa yesterday praised the relationship between the UK and his country and sent his greetings to his compatriots in the North-East.

Mr Walesa, who is one of the most influential figures of the 20th Century, was speaking after addressing students and business leaders at Durham University.

The Gdansk shipyard electrician, who stood up against Communist rule, said: "The relationship between Great Britain and Poland has been strong before. It was really strong before the Second World War.

"Now it is a reaction between the old relations and that we are building the European Union together."

Asked about economic migration, Mr Walesa - invited to Durham by the North East Chamber of Commerce - said the mass movement of Polish workers to the North-East and rest of the UK was of benefit to both countries.

He said: "It was really a great help to our country that our skilled workers - instead of being unemployed - were able to travel somewhere to make some money, to make a living, for the benefit of all Europe.

"We are grateful for that, and although it may have been to a certain loss of our economy, it was to the benefit of yours.

"You can pay tax to the European Union and we will get it returned in subsidy."

Mr Walesa was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1983 for his work as the figurehead of the free trade union Solidarity, which played a key role in the overthrow of Communism in the Eastern Bloc.

After the fall of the Berlin Wall, he went on to serve as President of Poland from 1990 to 1995.

Mr Walesa said while many left the country after the collapse of Communism, the EU had allowed the Polish economy to recover and many Polish workers were now returning.

Mr Walesa's message to Polish workers in the region was: "Rejoice about the common Europe we are now constructing. Very shortly Europe will offer equal opportunities throughout Europe.

"You may be suffering some hardship at the moment, but your children will be grateful for your hardships, because they will enjoy good luck."