‘Wroclaw became the centre of trans-Atlantic policy for two days,’ remarked Witold Waszczykowski, Minister of Foreign Affairs, during his speech.
The 7th edition of the event organised by the American think tank Atlantic Council, the Polish Institute of International Affairs and the City of Wroclaw attracted a few hundred persons, politicians, diplomats, political scientists, political and economic analysts, economists and journalists from all parts of Europe, from Russia, Ukraine and Georgia; as usual, many participants in debates arrived from the United States, including representatives of the U.S. Congress.
After successful #WGF16 & few hrs off, wheels up 4 Vilnius & @AtlanticCouncil conf on Sustaining #NATO's Strength & Deterrence #usualSunday
— Sławomir Dębski (@SlawomirDebski) 5 June 2016
Freedom – a fundamental human right
The traditional culmination point of the Wroclaw Global Forum was the gala during which Atlantic Council’s Freedom Awards were granted.
This year’s Freedom Awards went to Rev. Maciej Zięba – a Dominican priest, Horst Telschik – a German politician and an advocate of European integration, the Syrian charity organisation White Helmets, and Nighat Dad – a Pakistan activist campaigning for the freedom of speech and women’s rights.
When receiving the award, the Dominican priest referred to John Paul II, Władysław Bartoszewski and Tadeusz Mazowiecki, whom he called his friends and mentors. ‘I learned wise patriotism from them,’ he said. ‘They also gave a testimony that you always must opt for truth and take care of the weak.’
Freedom Awards Horst Teltschik, a German politician and diplomat, stated unpretentiously that he had deserved this award. He remarked that already in the 1970s West Germany’s policy against the Communist GDR and other Eastern bloc countries had been aimed at bringing about the German reunification and harmonious co-operation with Poland. ‘It’s a miracle that we could reunite Germany in a peaceful manner,’ said Teltschik. ‘I am receiving this award in Wroclaw. This is particularly important because Poles have shown many times that they do love freedom.
The list of most important challenges about which participant in WGF often talked was a wave of migrants arriving in Europe from behind its Southern and Eastern border.
Vice-Minister Konrad #Szymański na #WGF16 takes part in the discussion panel ‘The future of Europe’. #Wrocław https://t.co/5uQ3pyrV6W
— MSZ RP (@MSZ_RP) 3 June 2016
Konrad Szymański, Vice-Minister of Foreign Affairs, argued that the Polish labour market and society are open to migrants from the East, including Ukraine. ‘It does not pose any threat to our security,’ said Konrad Szymański. He stated that migration policy should take account of differences in social and cultural experience in the treatment of migrants, e.g., between countries from the Iberian Peninsula and Eastern Europe. ‘The sense of insecurity will be a source of internal problems, so Europe should have a more balanced approach to how individual countries should treat migrants,’ added Szymański.
Before the NATO summit in Warsaw
Expectations before the summit of heads of NATO states scheduled for July were an equally hot topic. Participants in the Wroclaw Global Forum stressed many times that it should result in making decisions that will be a response to Vladimir Putin’s aggressive policy.
NATO’s Warsaw Summit: ‘Failure is Not an Option,’ says @NATOdsg Vershbow. Pls read → https://t.co/5xjIPP5zyv #WGF16 pic.twitter.com/H2tboNEcAh
— AtlanticCouncil (@AtlanticCouncil) 3 June 2016
Alexander Vershbow, NATO’s Deputy Secretary-General, announced an increase in the number of troops from various countries in the Eastern flank of the NATO. ‘This is how we can show Putin that aggression will meet with response not only from local forces,’ he explained. Apart from that, a hybrid war prevention strategy will be created. More extensive support will be provided to the NATO’s border countries, including Ukraine and Georgia. Paweł Soloch, Head of the National Security Bureau, said that not only Poland, but also the Baltic Countries, Romania and the Visegrad Countries made efforts to reinforce the military support of the Eastern flank of the NATO. ‘They were caused by the annexation of the Crimea and the War in Donbass,’ said Paweł Soloch, who indicated also other threats, such as cyber attacks and the undermining of the NATO’s unity.
About the race for the White House
Extraordinary competence was shown by participants in the discussion on the consequences of results of the November presidential election in the USA. The rivalry for the White House is taking place between Donald Trump – the candidate of the Republicans and Hillary Clinton – the candidate of the Democrats.
Jan Schakowsky, a Democrat from the U.S. House of Representatives, pointed out the advantages of Hillary Clinton, the Democrats’ candidate for the White House. ‘Clinton recognises Europe’s problems and immigration issues and is aware of the Russian threat. That’s why we particularly need a predictable international policy today.’ Senator Joe Manchin pointed out that regardless of who will take up residence in the White House in January the following year, it is not possible to undermine the political system of the USA, which is based on the distinct separation of powers. ‘America will not separate itself from the world,’ he stressed.
The challenges of modernity
During his speeches at the 7th Wroclaw Global Forum, Frederic Kempe – President and Director-General of the Atlantic Council – referred a few times to an important historical moment that we experience today. ‘The crises that affect Europe and are faced by the NATO today are the biggest challenges since World War II,’ said Frederic Kempe.
The head of the Atlantic Council thanked the co-organisers of the Wroclaw Global Forum for their commitment to the preparation of the event. ‘I would like to thank particularly the Mayor of Wroclaw Rafał Dutkiewicz and his crew and volunteers – our angels,’ he spoke.
The Wroclaw Global Forum 2016 project is co-financed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
