The Open Day, held under the theme “Faces of Polish Diplomacy,” will focus on the people representing Poland around the world - diplomats, consuls, and cultural envoys working to build bridges between nations and support Polish communities abroad.
The event coincides with Foreign Service Day, observed each year on November 16 to mark the anniversary of a 1918 telegram sent by Józef Piłsudski - Poland’s chief of state at the time - notifying the world of the country’s regained independence after 123 years of foreign rule.
During the open day, visitors will meet ministry staff and learn about the history of Polish diplomacy, which now spans more than a century and includes over 160 embassies and consulates worldwide.
'Diplomacy is Poland’s first line of defence'
Poland’s top diplomat Radosław Sikorski, who also serves as a deputy prime minister, said: “Diplomacy is Poland's first line of defence, and skilled, courageous and effective diplomats sometimes mean at least as much to the state as armed forces.”
Sikorski recalled that in 2009 he launched Foreign Service Day to honour the efforts of colleagues who, both at the ministry’s headquarters in Warsaw and in over 160 missions worldwide, serve Poland and its citizens every day.
Visitors interested in touring the Polish Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Saturday, November 15, will be able to not only explore the building itself but also meet the people who work there daily shaping Poland’s foreign policy.
Admission is free, but registration through the ministry’s website is required.
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Source: Polish Radio English Service/IAR/MSZ