Warsaw - 4 June 2014
On June 4 2014, Prime Minister Stephen Harper welcomed the following Warsaw Declaration of Freedom which was issued by the Polish Government on the 25th anniversary of Poland’s emergence from communism.
The Prime Minister was in Warsaw, Poland, to mark the occasion.
We, the citizens of the free and united Europe, in solidarity in our passion for freedom and other common values which unite the representatives of the peoples, gathered in Warsaw on 4 June 2014 on the 25th anniversary of the electoral victory of Polish Solidarity, which initiated the groundbreaking change of the political systems in the countries of Central and Eastern Europe.
Aware of the historic significance of that breakthrough, we express the firm conviction that freedom and solidarity represent fundamental values on which the relations between people should be based.
We declare our profound devotion to the values that represent the common heritage of our free nations, including respect for human rights and the rule of law which constitute the foundation of democracy.
We share the deep conviction that respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms is an indispensable factor that fosters peace, justice and stability worldwide.
We oppose any manifestations of hatred and any forms of discrimination. We condemn all acts of violence that accompany them.
Bearing in mind the tragic past of our continent, we express confidence that the annexation of Crimea undermines the foundations of the political and legal order in Europe and hampers the functioning of the entire international system. The effective way to peace and security is through good neighbourly relations between nations and states, based on the rules of international law, namely the respect for sovereignty, territorial integrity and the political independence of states.
We are united in our hope for a further broadening of the spheres of freedom and solidarity in relations between peoples and nations.
Warsaw, June 2014
