Diplomat visits UCLA to accept accolades

Wednesday, February 24, 1999

Diplomat visits UCLA to accept accolades

AWARD: Foreign affairs minister of Poland speaks of NATO, plans
for future

By Brian Fishman

Daily Bruin Contributor

Troop movements and the nature of democracy were the topics of
discussion in the Faculty Center Tuesday morning as Public Policy
administrators bubbled over their guest speaker, the Polish
minister of foreign affairs Bronislaw Geremek.

Geremek arrived at UCLA to receive the School of Public Policy’s
Distinguished Policy Leadership Award and to give a policy address
on Poland’s impending admission to NATO.

A staunch supporter of Poland’s admission to the alliance,
Geremek persuaded the audience that the nation’s admittance will be
good not only for NATO, but also for Poland.

"(After the Cold War), Poland became an example of successful
economic development and now boasts the fastest growing economy in
Europe," Geremek said.

Poland, together with the Czech Republic and Hungary, is slated
to join NATO on March 12.

Geremek said he looks forward to a time when Poland will help
other nations move toward democracy.

"Democracy and freedom have extended beyond domestic politics
and now extend to foreign relations," he said.

The renegade Yugoslav province of Kosovo represents the
international community’s commitment to democracy and the rule of
law. There are many similarities between Kosovo’s drive for
independence and Poland’s democratization ten years ago, Geremek
said, suggesting those lessons be heeded now.

"You must obtain the minimum of trust. The trust lacked ten
years ago and it lacks now in Kosovo," he said.

Explaining that an impartial observer at negotiations seems to
build trust, Geremek supports continued NATO mediation of the talks
in Kosovo. However, he warned against trusting Serbian president
Slobodan Milosevic.

"Milosevic is a very clever politician. He will wait until the
very last minute to respond," Geremek said.

But since talks seem to be failing, NATO ground troops may be
necessary to ensure peace in the region, he said.

He also made the assurance that upon NATO admission, Polish
troops will be available for missions like Kosovo.

"We are ready to participate in all NATO initiatives, including
Kosovo," Geremek said.

But Geremek said the United States should also continue to play
a major role in European security issues.

"(The Polish people feel that) American troops in Europe are the
proof that America fought for our freedom and their freedom," he
said.

American troops in Europe support Article 5 of NATO’s charter,
Geremek said, which ensures solidarity if any NATO country is
attacked.

Meanwhile, former UCLA chancellor Charles Young lauded UCLA’s
position as a world university that can also contribute to world
unity.

"UCLA is a world contributor (and) a major contributor to the
well being of global society," Young said.

Geremek joked about the Polish people’s continued admiration for
the United States, going so far as to suggest that Poland would
like to become a state.

As Geremek debated policy issues, Dean Barbara Nelson glowed
over the award’s first recipient. A lifelong diplomat and scholar,
Geremek escaped from the infamous Warsaw Ghetto as a child and has
since seen his share of high level negotiations as part of the
Polish delegation to the Organization for Security and Cooperation
in Europe.

"Dr. Geremek is an outstanding example of the rare level of
achievement we want to exemplify in this award," Nelson said.

Geremek ended his speech in a very upbeat manner.

"To see the Polish flag together with the American flag – that’s
a moment of happiness," he said.BAHMAN FARAHDEL/Daily Bruin

Bronislaw Geremek, Poland’s minister of foreign affairs,
receives an award from UCLA.

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