FROM: U.S. STATE DEPARTMENT
Remarks at the Innovation Framework Agreement Signing Ceremony With Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski
Remarks
John Kerry
Secretary of State
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Warsaw, Poland
June 3, 2014
MODERATOR: (Via interpreter) Thank you so very much, Minister, and thank you, Secretary of State, and now, if I could please ask you to deliver your statements. The first to speak is going to be Minister Radoslaw Sikorski.
FOREIGN MINISTER SIKORSKI: (Via interpreter) Mr. Secretary of State, John, it’s so very good to see you back in Warsaw, and we’re extremely happy that the United States of America have sent the strongest possible delegation to our celebrations of the – of freedom and the presentation of the freedom award to Mr. Mustafa Dzhemilev. Our concentrations were concentrated on the country of origin of Mustafa Dzhemilev, Ukraine, and it is with great satisfaction that we welcome the situation that the international scene is agreeing on wanting to support Ukraine, and the question – and seeing – and the situation of sending in the support to Ukraine – or the support for these efforts to Ukraine, this is something that should – and Poland and the United States should continue to cooperate for democracy in the world, for transatlantic security.
But we’ve also talked about issues pertaining to climate and also things pertaining to how we can save the climate of the planet for future generations. We also do count and would also be happy if we can continue the strengthening of the presence of American troops in our region so as to – so that the feeling of safety and security in the entire NATO territory becomes a balanced one. We do have a lot of expectations vis-a-vis tomorrow’s speech by President Obama as well as the NATO Summit in Wales in September.
So again, thank you so very much for your visit to the ministry. We’re so very happy to see the American delegation in Warsaw.
MODERATOR: (Via interpreter) And now the statement is going to be delivered by Secretary John Kerry.
SECRETARY KERRY: Thank you very much, Radek, Mr. Foreign Minister. It’s a pleasure for me to be here. I’m particularly pleased to be able to join President Obama, who will be with us momentarily, in order to celebrate a remarkable 25 years. And there’s a reason that so many leaders are coming here to Poland to join in this celebration today. It really marks a moment in human history where people were able to embrace their future, to choose for themselves, to liberate themselves from the yoke of oppression and tyranny, and to define their future.
And no country has grabbed that mantle with as much energy and excitement and focus and vision as Poland. Poland was a leader in this effort and remains a leader in this effort. So we are here today because this remains a new moment of challenge for all of us. Events in Ukraine have unfortunately unleashed forces that we had all hoped had been put away, were behind us. And so it requires new vigilance and it requires clear commitment. President Obama will speak very, very definitively to that in the course of his meetings here and tomorrow in his address celebrating these 25 years.
It’s a pleasure for me to be able to come back here and join with my friend Radek not just in this reaffirmation of U.S.-Polish solidarity, but also to make clear that we have a vision that we are going to be working on that will bring us still closer in the future. It is not a vision against anyone or anything; it’s a vision for – for the Polish people, for Europe, for the world, for how we deal with the creation of full democracy, full respect for people and their rights, and most importantly, all of us together meeting our responsibilities to each other. Whether it is the security of Ukraine, the energy stability of Europe, our response to climate change, no one nation can respond to any of these things alone.
So we’re particularly pleased to have signed the U.S.-Polish innovation program today. When I was last here, I met a bunch of young researchers, innovators, who showed me what they had done with robotics to create a rover capacity for exploration, whether in outer space or elsewhere. And this is the future of Poland, it’s the future for all of us. What we signed today will bring U.S. and Polish researchers, entrepreneurs, innovators, financers, educators together in an effort for us to be able to encourage the discoveries that will make life better and create jobs for our people.
We’re excited about it. We think that building on the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership, the TTIP – this has the opportunity to provide new jobs, new economic energy to Europe, the United States, and to set higher standards for trade. So what we sign today is really part of this larger vision for the economic future, and I’m really delighted to be back here and to celebrate these extraordinary 25 years. Thank you.
MODERATOR: (Via interpreter) Thank you, gentlemen. Thank you to you all, and this will be the end of our meeting.
