Exactly 41 years ago the August Agreements were signed, which sparked democratic changes in Poland and Europe. Lech Wałęsa symbolically opened Gate Number Two at Gdańsk Shipyard. In was in that place where in 1980 he had announced the end of the protest and the establishment of the first independent trade union in a communist country. Two separate celebrations were organised by Gdańsk authorities together with the European Solidarity Centre, and the central government together with the current Solidarity.
On August 31, 1980, striking workers from the Gdańsk Shipyard signed an agreement with Poland's communist government which eventually led to the establishment of the first trade union in communist countries of Eastern Europe - Independent Self-Governing Trade Union "Solidarity".
The commemorations in Gdańsk began at 10 a.m. Among the participants were key figures of that time, including former president Lech Wałęsa, who symbolically opened Gate Number Two at the shipyard, where 41 years before he had announced the establishment of the Solidarity trade union.
"We felt huge victory, we must remember it and thank those who took part. We should also understand that those events ended a great era of divisions of Poland, Europe and the world in to blocs (...)," Wałęsa said.
"Back then we fought against the system for a system, today we fight the people who destroy this idea of ours," he added.
PM Morawiecki: Solidarity was the biggest social movement in history
Apart from taking part in festivities organised by today's Solidarity, Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki also commented on the anniversary in a Facebook post.
"To say Solidarity was only a trade union, would certainly be an understatement," Morawiecki wrote.
"Solidarity was the biggest social and national movement in the world history. This movement fought for a decent life in an independent and sovereign state, and whose ideals and heritage are being cherished in today's Poland," the prime minister added in his post.
Chancellery of the Prime Minister of Poland marked the occasion with a tweet.
Źródło: TVN24 News in English, PAP