Poland wants to maintain close ties with US: President Duda

During a meeting with the diplomatic corps in the presidential palace on Wednesday, Duda said that “the transatlantic bond brings tangible benefits to partners on both sides of the Atlantic."

In his speech, Duda also focused on the problems of the European Union. “Today we need to reflect on the principles of European integration. To ensure balance between preserving the unity of the EU on the one hand and the social need to influence the course of European affairs on the other,” Duda said.

The president also said that “it is of utmost importance... that all decisions taken by the Warsaw NATO summit are implemented to the full extent: both on the military level, as well as the political one."

Duda said that the 2016 World Youth Day in Kraków along with the visit of Pope Francis to Poland and the NATO summit, held in Warsaw in July last year, should be regarded as indicators of Poland's direction in the international arena in 2017.

“On the one hand, the World Youth Day represents building a community through respect, dialogue and cooperation of the representatives of different nations, based on similar values.

“On the other hand, the NATO summit in Warsaw reflects the striving to build security and peace in the Euro-Atlantic space,” Duda said.

The president also appealed to foreign diplomats based in Warsaw to support Poland's efforts to be chosen as a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council for the period 2018-2019.

Duda argued that a place on the council is important for Poland as the country "wants to actively participate in global efforts aimed at ensuring security and peace in the world."

(tf/pk)

Source: IAR