WARSAW, 26 June 2007 — Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah was given a warm welcome by President Lech Kaczynski and other senior Polish officials as he arrived here yesterday on the last leg of a European tour which has already taken him to Spain and France.
The two leaders later witnessed the signing of five accords for promoting cooperation in educational, scientific, technological, security, health and sports fields. The king said Saudi Arabia and Poland were making speedy progress in their relations. Kaczynski conferred on the king the Order of the White Eagle, Poland’s highest honor, and Abdullah reciprocated by awarding the president the King Abdul Aziz Medallion.
“This visit will lead to developing our political, economic and cultural relations, giving them greater dimensions,” the king told the president at the start of their official talks at the presidential palace.
“Saudi Arabia with all its potentials has been seeking to realize cooperation and closer relations with all nations and peoples... Being an active member of the European Union, we believe that Poland will have strong voice in support of truth. Every honorable country works for the victory of truth and justice,” the king told the meeting.
In his welcome speech, Kaczynski voiced his country’s intent to boost ties with Saudi Arabia. “King Abdullah’s visit is an extraordinary event considering the Kingdom’s important position as the custodian of the two holy mosques and its political and economic weight in the Middle East and the world,” he said. “We have been waiting for this visit with great interest for quite a long time.”
Kaczynski described Islam as a great religion, adding that a large number of Polish people had embraced the religion since the 15th century. He also underscored the Kingdom’s progress in health services. “This has helped Polish conjoined twins to get separated and lead a normal life,” he added, referring to the separation of the conjoined Polish twins in Riyadh in 2005.
It was an unusually hot day in Warsaw with temperatures reaching 25 degrees Celsius, reflecting the warmth of relations between the two countries. The royal visit is significant as it comes at a time when Poland has established its ascendancy in the European Union’s geopolitics and has become an important economic and political player. Saudi Arabia wants to improve its relations with the predominantly Roman Catholic country of 40 million.
After reviewing a military guard of honor at the presidential palace, the king shook hands with a number of ambassadors from different countries. He also shook hands with a group of photographers and other media persons.
President Kaczynski said the royal visit would take Saudi-Polish relations to new heights. “We consider Saudi Arabia a friendly country and an ally. We want to strengthen our relations, dialogue and coordination,” the president said.
He reiterated Poland’s support for reviving the Middle East peace process. “We appreciate the pioneering role played by the Kingdom in the peace process,” he said. “Saudi Arabia is an important and strategic country in the Arab and Islamic world and has established strong relations with many influential countries around the world.”
The Polish president commended Saudi Arabia’s efforts in fighting terrorism. “The Kingdom has dealt with terrorism sternly and resolutely and has been able to destroy efficiently the terrorists infrastructure,” he added. He said Poland would support every Saudi initiative in combating terror and rejected the move to link terrorism with Islam or any other religion.
Abdullah, who became widely popular in Poland with the separation of the conjoined Polish twins, is to receive the “Order of the Smile,” a medal awarded twice a year by Polish children to an adult who has helped improve the lot of youngsters. Recipients of the order are traditionally expected to drink a cup of lemon juice without losing their smile, and are then supposed to pledge to keep smiling for the rest of their lives.
“The children chose King Abdullah because he showed through this act that the problems of children are close to his heart. He saved the life of two Polish Siamese twin sisters, as well as other children around the world,” said Marek Michalak, founder of Child Friendship Center.
Abdullah is due to receive the medal — a small sun with a broad grin — from the separated twin sisters Olga and Daria Kolacz, their mother and Polish officials at a ceremony at Warsaw University today.
In January 2005, then-Crown Prince Abdullah financed the surgery for the 17-month-old Kolacz twins. A 50-strong medical team successfully separated the twins after a 15-hour operation.
Saudi business leaders traveling with the king are due to discuss trade ties with Polish Economy Minister Piotr Wozniak. This is the first visit by a Saudi king to Poland.
