Tomasz Siemoniak, Minister, Member of the Council of Ministers and Coordinator of Special Services of the Republic of Poland, called on President Asif Ali Zardari at Aiwan-e-Sadr today.
While talking to him the President stated that Pakistan values its cordial relations with Poland based on mutual respect and expressed hope that this visit would further strengthen the existing bilateral cooperation into a multifaceted partnership for the mutual benefit of the two countries and their peoples.
He appreciated Poland’s recognition of Pakistan’s diplomatic efforts during the recent US-Iran crisis and reiterated Pakistan’s sincere efforts as a responsible state for the resolution of disputes through dialogue for the sake of regional and global peace and stability.
Encouraging Poland’s remarkable economic transformation since 1991, culminating in a trillion-dollar economy, the President stressed the importance of transforming this historical friendship through enhanced interactions among the business communities and frequent people-to-people and leadership-level exchanges.
President Zardari appreciated Poland’s support to Pakistan on the EU’s GSP Plus scheme and expressed confidence that the two countries would reinforce their existing coordination at regional and multilateral fora.
Tomasz Siemoniak appreciated Pakistan’s constructive role in promoting regional peace and stability and expressed Poland’s desire to further strengthen bilateral cooperation with Pakistan, particularly through enhanced engagement at the political, economic and people-to-people levels.
He conveyed warm greetings from the President and Prime Minister of Poland to President Zardari. He said that Poland and Pakistan have strong and traditional ties, including in the field of defence, particularly through the contribution of Polish Air Force pilots and technicians. He said Poland is exploring different possibilities for cooperation, especially in the fields of security, immigration and combating terrorism, and want to further expand defence and economic ties with Pakistan.
The President was also informed that one of the streets in Islamabad is being named after Air Commodore W?adys?aw Józef Marian Turowicz, who had served with the Polish Air Force and later with the Royal Air Force during the Second World War. He came to Pakistan in 1948 at the invitation of the Pakistani authorities, along with around 30 other Polish pilots, engineers and technicians, and contributed to the development of the Pakistan Air Force.
From the Polish side, Ambassador of Poland to Pakistan Maciej Pisarski, Head of the Military Counter-Intelligence Service Gen. Jaros?aw Stró?yk, Deputy Head of the Foreign Intelligence Agency Col. Waldemar Mularczyk and Director of the National Security Department, Chancellery of the Prime Minister, Col. Maciej Matysiak attended the meeting.
Federal Minister for Interior Mr Mohsin Naqvi, Senator Sherry Rehman, Senator Saleem Mandviwalla and Former Federal Minister Mr Naveed Qamar were also present during the meeting.
