President of Russia in Poland - News - National Security Bureau

06.12.2010

President of Russia in Poland

Monday (6 December) saw the start of a two-day official state visit by Dmitry Medvedev, the President of Russia, and the Russian First Lady to Poland. It began with an official welcome ceremony in the courtyard of the Presidential Palace.

  • President.pl
    President.pl

After the ceremony, the presidents of Russia and Poland talked for some time, accompanied by their wives.

Bronisław Komorowski and Dmitry Medvedev then took part in a "small circle" discussion. Official talks by deputations of both countries followed, while later on Polish-Russian agreements were signed in the presence of the two presidents.

A press conference took place afterwards. "We are turning over a new leaf as far as Russian-Polish relations are concerned. This will also be a fine chapter in this book of mutual relations which we have been writing for a millennium," Komorowski said.

During the conference, Komorowski announced that he, together with Medvedev, will take patronage over commemorating the Smoleńsk crash at its site.

Komorowski expressed his firm conviction that Russia and Poland will jointly develop good bilateral relations. He said that he also believed the two countries could overcome the traumatic experiences of their shared history and turn over a new leaf with regard to the future of their relations.

Komorowski said that Poland counts on Russia's understanding of the need to fully disclose documents regarding the Katyń crime.

He also mentioned European and European-Atlantic issues. He emphasized that Poland, a member state of both NATO and EU, would like to maintain relations with Russia on as good a level as possible. "By doing this, we wish to sway the general course of EU and NATO politics regarding relations with our important Eastern neighbours," he remarked.

After the conference, Medvedev placed a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. Around 4:30 p.m., the Polish Russian Citizen Dialogue Forum (Forum Dialogu Obywatelskiego Polsko-Rosyjskiego) began, in which the two presidents took part.

The last point on the agenda for the first day of the visit was an official dinner held in honour of the Russian presidential couple.