The basic objectives of the Polish foreign policy are as follows:
1 . Integration with the Euro-Atlantic security structures and economic organizations;
2. Keeping and developing relations and mutually profitable co-operation with all neighbors of
Poland;
3. Strengthening of the Polish position in the region through active participation in the existing
structures of the regional co-operation;
4. Enhancing and boosting relations with all countries of the world and creating favorable conditions
for mutually profitable co-operation.
Realizing its own concept of the security, Poland is also ready to contribute to security and stability of
the European continent as a whole. It can be achieved through participation in the international
security structures, such as a NATO, but also the Western European Union. Poland considers
the North Atlantic Alliance the main mechanism guaranteeing the security of the state and
irreversibility of the democratic changes in our country. It is in the Polish interest that the North
Atlantic Alliance still remains a system of collective self-defense, based on a permanent presence
of the United States in Europe. Taking into consideration the fundamental changes in the
international relations, Poland actively supports the extension of hitherto prevailing Alliance's
activity into new tasks and new operating areas, not limited to the territories of its members only
as well as the NATO's readiness to cooperate with other institutions responsible for security and
peace in Europe.
Poland's road to NATO
After the collapse of the old structure of the Warsaw Pact (1991) Poland found herself in an area of
undetermined security. The heads of all Polish governments formed since 1989 have in their
Parliament exposes stressed the need to work consistently towards Poland's membership in
Euro-Atlantic institutions. On this particular issue, Poland's leading political parties have been
unanimous for long. Public opinion polls, too, have been shoving that the majority of the
population favors the country's quick adherence to NATO.
The NATO summit in Brussels in January 1994, published the Partnership for Peace Framework
Document. The next month, in February 1994, Poland signed this document. She was also the
first Central European country to prepare a Presentation Document to the NATO Headquarters
and to adopt an annually adjusted Individual Partnership Program.
In January 1995, Poland and the other Partnership for Peace signatories were included in the NATO
Planning and Review Process, involving two-year preparation programs for the selected military
units meant to upgrade their operational ability to Alliance's standards. The individual dialogue
according to the '16 + 1" (NATO's 16 plus aspiring countries) formula, begun in spring 1996, and
resulted in the staging of direct co-operation between Poland and the Alliance. Upon request, in
April 1996, Poland presented her Individual Discussion Paper on NATO enlargement,
visions of an enlarged Alliance and of a broadly understood new European security architecture; it
pointed out how Poland could contribute to the strengthening of NATO and the extent to which
she could meet the membership criteria.
In the beginning of July 1997, the NATO summit of the heads of states and governments in Madrid
decided to invite Poland, the Czech Republic and Hungary to begin talks on membership in the
Alliance. The decision was included in "Declaration on Euro-Atlantic Security and Co-operation'. The Declaration further determined that it was the aim of the Alliance to sign an
Accession Protocol at the next session of the North Atlantic Council (December 1997) and to
conclude the ratification process in time to allow the invited countries to obtain 'effective"
membership by April 1999.
In December 1998 the ratification process by 16 members of NATO had been completed. On 29
January 1999, the Secretary General of the Alliance, Mr. Javier Solana, sent formal invitations to
the governments of Poland, Czech Republic and Hungary. On 26 February the President of the
Republic of Poland, Mr. Aleksander Kwasniewski, signed the ratification document. This
document was conveyed to the US Secretary of State on 12 March, 1999. On that day Poland
became a full-fledged member of the North Atlantic Alliance.
Historical dimension.
On 12 March, 1999, a certain period in the European history was closed. The enlargement of NATO
finally cancelled and annulled the unjust order imposed by the Yalta Agreement (1945).
The enlargement of NATO will expand Europe's zone of stability and the family of democratic states.
The enlargement of the Alliance also has strategic value. It widens the NATO-controlled security
zone and rolls back its eastern border from the integration center. Poland also has military
significance that is important to NATO. Owing to its sizable economic and military potential,
Poland is not only a consumer of security but a state capable of effectively supporting the
implementation of the Alliance's tasks.
NATO is not a source of threat, on the contrary, it is a stabilizing factor in Europe. The future of
democracy in Eastern Europe has not been prejudged so far. There are many organizations in
Russia and Belorussia openly propagating slogans of restoration of the Soviet Union with its
former spheres of influence. There are also new kinds of threats: international terrorism,
uncontrolled transfer of mass destruction weapons. As long as the threat of destabilization exists,
a strong NATO is necessary.
As of March 12, 1999, Poland became an integral part of the new European order. The Polish
people, having been fighting for their independence for almost 200 years, need peace and
stability. Membership in NATO can be seen as a big success of the Polish foreign policy, which
creates a unique chance for future generations to live without a danger of external aggression.
Poland was and continuously is ready to develop co-operation with all its partners and in all
spheres, for mutual benefit, social progress and common well-being.
1999, Foreign Area Officer Association
Springfield, Virginia
Maintained by LTC Steve
Gotowicki.
http://www.faoa.org
