In 2023, we celebrate the 100th anniversary of the signing of the Treaty of Friendship between Poland and Türkiye. Poland was one of the first countries to conclude a Treaty of Friendship with Türkiye – this happened even before the Republic was proclaimed on July 23, 1923.
The 100th anniversary of the signing of friendship between Poland and Türkiye is a very important event, given the remarkable history of our peoples over the centuries. Not surprisingly, many distinguished guests were invited to such a special celebration of the National Day. The guests of honour from the Polish side were Wojciech Gerwel, Undersecretary of State at the Polish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and Andrzej Adamczyk, Minister of Infrastructure of the Republic of Poland.
The arriving guests were welcomed by H.E. Rauf Alp Denktaş, Ambassador of the Republic of Türkiye to Poland with the following words:
Thank you for joining us this evening as we gather to celebrate a momentous occasion – the centennial of the Türkiye Republic. Today it is a real honour for me, as the 29th Ambassador of the Republic of Türkiye to Poland, to stand before you, commemorating one hundred years of the remarkable history of our Republic. The honour is all the greater because this year we are also celebrating the 100th anniversary of the signing of the Polish-Türkiye Friendship Treaty.
As we reflect on the past century, we are reminded of the vision and determination of the founding father of the modern Turkish state, Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, and his friends. Their refusal to be occupied or colonized, their unwavering commitment to enlightenment, science, democracy, secularism and social justice laid the foundation for the vibrant and dynamic nation that is Türkiye today.
For a Türkiye citizen, the Republic is equality:
– it gave women their place in society, the right to vote and be elected, before most developed countries did,
– as a Türkiye teacher in a small town put it this week, it’s your parents going to the ballot box together,
– it is the dream of the girls, the schoolgirls who raise their hands in the classroom,
– to quote a well-known Türkiye businesswoman, it is believing and trusting young people, sharing their dreams and giving them opportunities,
– it’s seeing the arts as the driving force of the nation,
– it is our shared sacrifice and our shared future,
– is virtue, honour and pride,
– it’s a set of values that make us who we are.
The Polish people understand this best. That’s why it gives me great pleasure to celebrate this occasion here in Warsaw – said H.E. Rauf Alp Denktaş.
In his speech, H.E. the Ambassador also pointed out that the first exchange of ambassadors between Türkiye and Poland took place in the early 15th century, marking the beginning of more than 600 years of diplomatic relations between our nations. Moreover, he stressed that Poland was one of the first nations to recognize Turkey’s sovereignty and independence, signing a treaty of friendship just months before its proclamation. This was natural, he said, since the Ottomans had never recognized the partition of Poland and were unwavering in their support for the reestablishment of an independent Poland.
Then H.E. Ambassador once again referred to the shared history of our peoples, saying:
Today I would like to recognize the contributions of two Poles to the foundations of the young Türkiye Republic – Leon Ostrorog, for his significant contribution to the preparation of justice reforms in modern Turkey, and Jerzy Wedrychowski, one of the many engineers who sought refuge in Türkiye during World War II, for his role in the creation of the Etimesgut Aerospace Factory, an area of which we are particularly proud today.
In addition, H.E. Ambassador stressed that built on this heritage, today Türkiye and Poland, as two allies and partners, enjoy strong, multifaceted relations. Today, more than 20,000 Turks live, work and study in Poland. In turn, more than one million Poles visit Türkiye annually. There are 17 direct flights between our countries every week, and bilateral trade has reached more than €10 million this year. Türkiye construction companies are implementing 65 projects worth €5.2 billion in Poland. Thus, one can speak of a healthy flow of investment in both directions. Poland’s interaction with the G20 and the strong Türkiye-Polish military alliance within NATO and bilateral defence cooperation are also growing.
Turks and Poles have repeatedly proven their ability to overcome challenges and become stronger – creating nations that are not only proud of their history, but also optimistic about the future. So, as we look ahead to the next century, let us reaffirm our commitment to strengthening the bonds of friendship and cooperation between our peoples. – H.E. Ambassador said at the end of his speech.
Then H.E. Rauf Alp Denktaş invited guests to listen to a speech delivered online by Türkiye President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. The president’s speech was followed by a speech by Wojciech Gerwel, Undersecretary of State at the Polish Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
After the official part of proceedings, the host of the evening invited everyone to enjoy the spectacular music of Süleyman Osman, Ezgi Yalçınkaya and Can Kehri. The guests’ conversations were fostered by tasty Turkish refreshments and fine wines. The reception was also an excellent opportunity to exchange views on current issues in world and European politics.
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