embassy events 2009

Commemorating 90 Years of U.S.-Polish Diplomatic Relations

3 April 2009

Senator Richard Lugar

On April 1, 2009, the U.S. Senate unanimously passed a resolution (S.Res.9) commemorating 90 years of U.S.-Polish diplomatic relations.  The resolution, praising Poland for having been “an exceptionally strong partner to the United States in advancing freedom around the world” for the past 90 years, was introduced in the U.S. Senate Committee on Foreign Relations by Senator Richard Lugar of Indiana on January 7, 2009 and co-sponsored by Senator Richard Durbin of Illinois.  "I express my appreciation to the U.S. Senate and to Senator Lugar for the sponsorship of this resolution,” said U.S. Ambassador to Poland, Victor Ashe.  “The resolution comes at a time when Americans together with Poles celebrate the close and continued relationship between our countries.”  Please follow this link to read more on the 90th Anniversary of U.S.-Polish diplomatic relations. The U.S. Embassy in Warsaw, in cooperation with the Foreign Affairs Institute Foundation launched a special 90th Anniversary website commemorating the occasion.

In January 2009, upon introducing the resolution, Senator Richard Lugar, the ranking Republican in the U.S. Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, congratulated Polish people on their great accomplishments as a free democracy and expressed appreciation by the United States for Poland’s steadfast partnership.  “Poland today remains the closest of our allies, having contributed great wherewithal to combating global terrorism and brining stability to Afghanistan and Iraq,” he said. Sen. Lugar pointed out several remarkable milestones in the U.S.-Polish partnership including the emergence of a vibrant democracy in Poland after the fall of communism, the 50th anniversary this year of the Fulbright Exchange Program in Poland, and the 10th anniversary of Poland’s accession to NATO.  In his statement issued on April 2, 2009, Sen. Lugar stated that Poland “exhibited great energy in undertaking economic, political, and military reforms.”  He further noted that the U.S.-Polish friendship – which formally began in 1919 – has endured through extremely difficult times including two world wars, the Cold War, and the emergence of democracy after 1989. Full-text of Sen. Lugar’s 90th Anniversary Resolution is available here.