Kosiniak-Kamysz attended commemorations in Olyka, Ukraine, where he said building the future of Polish-Ukrainian relations requires truth, dignified remembrance of victims and forgiveness. He said memory of the tragic events should serve both as a tribute to victims and a warning for future generations.
"What does a good future need? It needs truth, it needs remembrance, and it grants forgiveness. These three values are eternally and inseparably linked", Kosiniak-Kamysz said.
Addressing Ukrainian representatives, he said he had come to Volhynia "with a sign of peace", since genuine friendship is built on honesty and mutual understanding. "In light of today, being truthful, remembrance, exhumation and a dignified burial are matters of extraordinary importance to us", he said.
"Friendship means telling each other the truth"
Kosiniak-Kamysz said the goal was not to reopen old wounds or seek revenge, but to preserve memory and build a shared future, adding that reconciliation is impossible without honestly confronting history. "Friendship means telling each other the truth, even when it's difficult", he said.
He argued that mutual hatred must not be allowed to grow, and said both Poland and Ukraine should show readiness for dialogue and openness to presenting a full picture of past events. He also proposed a symbolic "eleventh commandment" tied to July 11, Poland's National Day of Remembrance for Poles killed in the atrocities perpetrated by Ukrainian nationalists.
"The eleventh commandment, July 11 of every year: 'Do not cause pain, do not glorify those who inflict pain and suffering on your friends'", he said. He concluded by saying that memory of the Volhynia victims should remain a permanent part of Polish history, calling for the anniversary to be a day of reflection, a change of heart, and tribute to all the innocent victims of those events.
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Source: Polish Radio