US state secretary congratulates Poles on 18th-century constitution

Poland on Thursday marked Constitution Day, a public holiday celebrating the historic constitution.

“On behalf of President Trump and the people of the United States, I congratulate the people and government of Poland as you celebrate the 227th anniversary of the Constitution of the Third of May,” Pompeo said in a statement posted on the State Department’s website.

He added that the 18th-century constitution “was a landmark event in Poland’s history, making it among the first countries in the world to adopt a written constitution.”

Poles proudly point out that the progressive albeit short-lived document was the first modern constitution in Europe and the second worldwide, after the American Constitution, which was created in 1787.

Pompeo noted that this year “is also the centennial of Poland’s recovery of its independence on November 11, 1918, as well as President Woodrow Wilson’s Fourteen Points, which included a call for the restoration of ‘an independent Poland.’”

He said: “We recall our common heritage in the events of 1918 and affirm our strong alliance today.”

The US embassy in Warsaw in December launched celebrations of the centennials of Poland regaining independence and the establishment of US-Polish diplomatic relations.

Public broadcaster Polish Radio in February helped stage a historic reenactment in Warsaw to commemorate former US President Thomas Woodrow Wilson for his role in championing Poland's independence a century ago.

(gs)

Source: IAR, state.gov