Polish foreign ministry signs agreement with IPN

“We must make sure history regains its proper meaning, both at home and abroad,” Foreign Minister Witold Waszczykowski said during the signing of an agreement between the ministry and the IPN on Monday.

The IPN is in charge of prosecuting crimes committed against the Polish nation by Nazi and communist powers and hold the archives of communist-era police and secret services.

“In recent years, important facts about Polish history have often been overlooked, ignored and sometimes even falsified. This cannot continue. One of our government’s priorities is to protect the good name of Poland,” Waszczykowski said.

He said that “when skilfully employed, the existing cooperation experience and intellectual potential of both institutions will make it possible to better foster awareness of Poland’s most recent past, and thus make a meaningful contribution to enhancing Poland’s image around the world”.

IPN President Jarosław Szarek said that the two institutions have already worked together, as exemplified by a historical publication prepared for last year’s World Youth Day in Kraków.

“Thanks to today’s agreement this cooperation will take new forms,” Szarek said.

The Foreign Ministry-IPN cooperation agreement, which sets out measures to commemorate Polish political achievements, establishes a formal framework for joint activities of both institutions.

They will continue to pursue joint projects, such as exhibitions, conferences and multimedia presentations, with a view to promoting knowledge of modern Polish history abroad. (rg/pk)