The Foreign Service Day is particularly important in the MFA’s calendar. It provides an opportunity to bring closer to the public the history of the Polish foreign service, the foreign ministry’s promotion of Poland in the world and the nature of diplomatic work. The day was proclaimed to honour the telegram that Józef Piłsudski sent on 16 November 1918 to world leaders to inform them about the establishment of an independent Polish State. The Foreign Service Day was launched in 2009. “The tasks of Polish diplomacy today are similar to its goals at that time, but the circumstances are different: both in the European Union, in the North Atlantic Alliance, on the global stage and in the region,” said Minister Czaputowicz.

On the occasion of the Foreign Service Day, on 15 November Polish President Andrzej Duda and First Lady Agata Kornhauser-Duda hosted a ceremony at the Presidential Palace.

“I wish you a lot of joy and satisfaction with your work and your good service for our homeland,” Minister Jacek Czaputowicz told the representatives of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs gathered in the Palace.

In his speech the minister outlined the most important tasks of Polish diplomacy in the near future. They include consolidating Poland’s position in the EU and pursuing Polish vision of European integration, enhancing Poland’s security, involvement in the Warsaw Process launched this year, activity in global forums, and more engagement in our region. “We have been consistently modernizing foreign service to adapt it to new challenges,” said Minister Czaputowicz.

During the ceremony, fifteen MFA officials received high state decorations.

“It is a wonderful moment in our personal lives. Our service has been appreciated,” Director General of the Foreign Service Andrzej Papierz said on behalf of the decorated officials. “Polish diplomacy is the flower of Polish administration. This is because people wishing to join foreign service need to have a great deal of competence,” he added.

On the occasion of the Foreign Service Day, the ministry opened its doors to the public. The main theme of this year’s Open Day was “2019 – the year of important anniversaries.” Visitors who are interested in the history and everyday work of Polish foreign service toured the MFA’s premises, including the cabinet of the minister, Jerzy Giedroyć hall, and the Press Room. They learned about the activities of Polish institutes and embassies to promote modern Poland, Polish culture and history. They visited two thematic exhibitions devoted to the anniversaries marked in 2019: the 15th anniversary of Poland’s accession to the European Union and the 20th anniversary of Polish NATO membership. On display were also accession documents confirming Poland’s entry into the EU and NATO.

The 2019 Open Day’s special guests were representatives of Western Balkan embassies. In 2019, Poland has the presidency of the Berlin Process, an initiative to take forward the European integration of the Western Balkans.

The documentary “Passports to Paraguay” was screened during the Open Day. The movie, directed by Robert Kaczmarek, presents the history of the so-called Ładoś Group (Bern Group) – Polish diplomats working in the Polish Embassy in Bern during World War II who were issuing forged passports to save Jews from German Nazi persecution. 

MFA Press Office

photo: Tymon Markowski, Sebastian Indra / MFA

video: Gabriel Piętka / MFA