PM Harper Visits Poland

First some background.

Prime Minister Stephen Harper is kicking off the next leg of his European travel today in Warsaw, Poland.

Harper is to take part in a wreath laying ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.

He then has meetings planned with Polish Prime Minister Eva Kopacz and President Bronislaw Komorowski.

Poland is a major European ally of Canada, which deployed 50 troops here on NATO training exercises last year.

Harper arrived from the G7 summit in Germany where the continuing unrest between Ukraine and Russia was a hot topic.

Harper enjoys strong relations with Poland, after forging a bond with Kopacz’s predecessor Donald Tusk, who became European Council president last year.

The Polish diaspora in Canada is estimated to be about one million.

“Once separated by an Iron Curtain, Canada and Poland now enjoy positive and longstanding defence relations. The Declaration of Intent signed today signals our desire to explore further collaboration in various areas, including training, military education, defence capacity building and information sharing.” – Prime Minister Stephen Harper

As a Canadian of Polish heritage, I’m glad to see that Poland and Canada are beginning to forge a stronger relationship. Furthermore, having a closer relationship with Poland insurers were helping out and ally and creating stability in the region.

“Lest we forget.” #DDAY

“On June 6, 1944, Canadian troops stormed Juno Beach in Normandy, France, as part of the Allied assault to break the grip of Nazi Germany on Western Europe and to restore peace, democracy and justice.

“During D-Day, Canadian soldiers bravely fought and overcame fierce enemy opposition to advance deeper inland than any other Allied force.

“Canada’s triumph came with great sacrifice—of the more than 90,000 Canadians who served in the Battle of Normandy, more than 5,000 gave their lives.

“Today, we remember the courageous Canadians who made the ultimate sacrifice and the countless others who came home wounded in body and in spirit. The freedom and opportunities of today would not be possible if not for their brave service to this country. We will forever remember the men and women who served and those who continue to serve for our freedom.

 

“Lest we forget.”