Presidential Delegation Joined the 70th Anniversary Commemoration of World War II Outbreak in Gdansk

2 September 2009

General Jones and Poland’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Radoslaw Sikorski, answer media questions (more photos)

The Honorable General James L. Jones, USMC (Ret), National Security Advisor to the President, lead the U.S. delegation appointed by President Barack Obama to attend the 70th Anniversary Observance Ceremony of the Outbreak of World War II on September 1, 2009 in Gdansk.  After the official commemoration ceremony, General Jones met with Poland’s Foreign Affairs Minister, Radoslaw Sikorski, and presented him with a special statement President Obama wrote on the occasion of the anniversary. The President sent his warmest wishes for continued friendship between the United States and Poland and said: “We celebrate together the determination of the people of Poland to fight authoritarianism and to choose democracy and freedom.” This anniversary reminds us that the United States and Poland have long been bound by the deep ties among our people, our shared values of democracy and human rights, and our commitment to partner on behalf of our common security and prosperity. Please click here to read the official statement from the White House. Additional members of the Presidential Delegation included: the Honorable Victor Ashe, U.S. Ambassador to the Republic of Poland, the Honorable Marcy Kaptur, U.S. House of Representative from Ohio, Dr. Elizabeth Sherwood-Randall, Special Assistant to the President and Senior Director for Europe, National Security Council.