The date is a symbolic reminder of the emergence of Poland’s modern diplomacy.

The highlight of this year’s Foreign Service Day celebrations was a meeting of representatives of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs with President of the Republic of Poland Andrzej Duda. Addressing Polish diplomats, the president shared his position on the present and future challenges facing Poland’s foreign service.

President Duda thanked for the current commitment and contribution of the Polish foreign service to building Poland’s strong international standing and enhancing the country’s positive reception abroad. 

The president observed that Polish diplomacy must make it its priority for 2024 to maintain Poland’s firm position in international fora in terms of both bilateral relations with our partners and multilaterally, on a regional basis. In his address, President Duda also pointed out the significance of Poland’s upcoming presidency of the Council of the European Union, hoping for it to help forge closer ties between the EU and the US as well as to add momentum to the EU enlargement process and energy policy reforms. 

As he thanked the president for receiving representatives of the ministry, including diplomatic and consular trainees, Minister of Foreign Affairs Zbigniew Rau emphasised that the credit for Poland’s successful foreign policy largely goes to effective cooperation between the president and the Council of Ministers in pursuing that policy, and to close day-to-day cooperation between the Presidential Chancellery and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

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Later that day, acting on behalf of President Andrzej Duda, Minister of Foreign Affairs Zbigniew Rau awarded state decorations and distinctions to individuals distinguished for their special contribution to fulfilling the tasks of the foreign service and consolidating Poland’s international standing.

The following honourees were decorated:

with the Bronze Cross of Merit:

​Gabriel Piętka

 

with the Gold Medal for Long-Time Service:

Marek Orliński

Beata Słoma

 

with the Bronze Medal for Long-Time Service:

Maryla Otachel

 

with the Medal of the Centenary of Regained Independence:

Irena Lichnerowicz-Augustyn

 

Also, Minister of Foreign Affairs Zbigniew Rau presented Ambassador Krzysztof Szczerski, Permanent Representative of the Republic of Poland to the United Nations in New York, with the Honourable Distinction “Bene Merito” awarded by the Minister of Foreign Affairs.