Tuesday, November 4, 2014

Poland

Poland is now some 25 years free of Soviet domination. I entered Poland to work in 1995, and my partner, Peter Mroczyk, a former Solidarity leader had come back and we created a pan Central European business, from the Baltic to the Balkans. I saw the potential of Poland through the eyes of Peter and of those other Poles who saw that they could recreate Poland to its former glory.

It was hard work, some politics, but it lacked the cronyism of Russia and the rigid controls of France. In a sense Poland was allowed to expand because they did what was necessary, and have pulled together splendidly.

In Project Syndicate there is a laudatory article on Poland well worth reading. He states:

Last month, Donald Tusk, Poland’s former prime minister, was appointed President of the European Council, thus becoming one of Europe’s three top leaders. This decision not only reflected Tusk’s successful leadership in Poland, where he ensured political stability and oversaw impressive economic progress; it was also a clear signal that EU leaders fully acknowledge Poland’s political and economic importance. It also signaled to the other new member states that they are true equals in European decision-making. Again, it was Poland that paved the way, reminding the old member states from the outset of the accession process that it was not an outsider or a poor relative in need of charity, but rather a source of inspiration in the European integration process, its impact delayed only by World War II and its aftermath. Now, after ten years of EU membership, a new Golden Age for Poland may be on the horizon. Poland has the potential to become a European leader again. Firmly anchored in the community of Western democracies, its role transcends the technical aspects of the European integration process, for it bears the responsibility of ensuring that no new barrier excludes our Eastern neighbors from taking part in this process.

Poland is what Russia could have become. The irony is that the tower in downtown Warsaw built as a "gift" of Stalin to the Polish people still stands in all is Soviet "beauty" while across the street is the Marriott, a western hotel built by Russian investors. In between springs forth a new Poland, looking westward and growing economically as an example to the rest of the Free World.