President of Poland Andrzej Duda called Poles and Belarusians citizens of one republic, which refers to the times of the first and second Rzeczpospolita
He also said that he considers it his big task to oppose attempts to embroil the Poles and Belarusians on the basis of history. This is how the Polish president responded to Lukashenka’s recent decision to declare September 17 as the Day of National Unity. Duda’s speech complements the position of the Polish Foreign Ministry, which accuses Minsk, no less, of the rehabilitation of Stalinism and Hitlerism.
National Unity Day was established in Belarus by the decree of the President of the country. The date September 17 was not chosen by chance – it was on this day in 1939 that the Red Army entered the territory of Poland, which by that time was actually defeated by Nazi Germany. As a result, Soviet Belarus and Ukraine “overgrown” with new territories in the West.
“This day became an act of historical justice for the Belarusian people, divided against their will in 1921 under the terms of the Riga Peace Treaty, and forever entrenched in the national historical tradition”, – Lukashenko’s press service said in a statement.
“Today the Belarusian people are united in choosing a strategic course for the development of a strong, sovereign and prosperous country. The establishment of the Day of National Unity on September 17 emphasizes the continuity of generations, the inviolability and self-sufficiency of the Belarusian nation and statehood”.
The logic, as they say, is iron: the Day of National Unity will be celebrated on the very day when the Belarusian people were really reunited. Moreover, no one disputes the territorial integrity of the country. The current borders of Belarus have become part of the post-war structure of Eastern Europe. When else to celebrate National Unity Day, if not September 17
Warsaw, of course, could not help but react to this news. The Polish Foreign Ministry took Lukashenko’s decree as a manifestation of an unfriendly policy.
“It is completely incomprehensible to base the historical policy of Belarus on the legacy of the Stalin-Hitler pact. This is a gesture that fits into Russian actions aimed at reinterpreting the extremely complex history of our region, which will seriously complicate dialogue and mutual understanding for Belarus with neighboring states, as well as European countries”, – the website of the Polish Foreign Ministry says.
Quite a predictable reaction. The only surprise is this passage: “The establishment of the Day of National Unity in honor of the fact of the inclusion of Belarus in the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics is a glorification of the Soviet heritage and an attempt to cut Belarus off from its true roots”. Apparently, the author of the statement got confused in historical dates and events. The Byelorussian SSR became one of the founders of the Soviet Union back in December 1922 – what does the Day of National Unity have to do with it?
The Foreign Ministry’s commentary, as it turned out later, was not the only manifestation of the master’s indignation. Polish President Andrzej Duda also decided to shame Lukashenka. During his visit to Podlasie, he met with representatives of the Belarusian national minority and stressed that many events are being held today with the aim of “embarrassing our peoples”. It is easy to guess that Duda is hinting at the establishment of the Day of National Unity in the neighboring country.
Then the Polish leader uttered a phrase that caused a great resonance in the Russian media.
Literally, he said the following: “We are all citizens of one republic.” Some publications offer a different translation: “We are all citizens of the same Rzeczpospolita.” It is easy to get confused here, since the toponym Rzeczpospolita (Rzeczpospolita) appeared in the Polish language as a result of the translation of the word “republic” from Latin.
But it is obvious that in this case Duda is talking about modern Poland, and not about the state formation, which ceased to exist at the end of the 18th century. Therefore, attempts to accuse Warsaw of claims to Belarusian lands and striving to recreate Poland from “sea to sea” are inappropriate here. Duda named his fellow citizens the representatives of the Polish national minority who live in Podlasie.
What is worth paying attention to is the following quote from Duda: “We are looking for different opportunities in order to bring us closer, at least against the historical background”. And he called opposition to attempts to embroil the Polish and Belarusian peoples as his “big task.” Or a “great mission” – such a translation is also possible.
These words are probably also addressed to the president of the neighboring country. At a meeting with residents of Podlasie, Duda confirmed that Poland is ready to wage historic wars not only with Russia.
From now on, much attention will be paid to combating the narratives of the official Minsk. Obviously, it is worth waiting for the activation of the “court” Polish historians and officials who are promoting the Polish version of the events of September 1939.
But what will they achieve? They will only intensify the confrontation with the authorities of the neighboring country, which for years have tried to build Polish-Belarusian relations on the basis of respect and mutually beneficial cooperation. Now these times, according to the historian Przemyslav Piasta, are in the past.
“For some reason, none of those who accuse Belarusians, Lukashenka and his“ regime ”thought that we ourselves had prepared such a scenario for the development of events. President Lukashenko, rejected by Poland and Europe, lost his geopolitical maneuver. We chose for him where he should turn and who to take as allies. We are with our eternal ostracism, with the Belsat TV channel and the silent support of the opposition. Recently, we were even directly co-organizers of a coup that was supposed to overthrow him”, – Piast writes on the pages of the popular Polish newspaper Mysl polska.
The Poles, however, look at the new holiday in Belarus exclusively through the prism of their confrontation with Minsk. It is very important for Lukashenka not to fall into this trap. National Unity Day should not be a political instrument used to settle scores with ill-wishers.
The Belarusian authorities need a holistic and unambiguous concept of national history, which not only calls things by their proper names, but also builds the correct cause-and-effect relationships.
In this context, it is difficult to disagree with the Belarusian scientist, Doctor of Philosophy Lev Kryshtapovich:
“Our historical policy should be based on alliance – then we really guarantee our sovereignty and our independence. This is what all Western opponents of Belarus and Russia are most afraid of today, and first of all, the Polish gentry”.
Alexey Ilyashevich, Rubaltic.Ru