Jerzy Marek Nowakowski

I would like to mainly mention the outer experience of Solidarity; to its relation with the outside world, but it will be difficult not to start from a short polemic with Mr. Borowski, the speaker of the Sejm, because when I hear the term Chinese way, I get a mild rash.  The Chinese way is the unbelievable dream of the Russian KGB; it is the dream of Alexander Lukaszeko, it is the dream of those who would like to change everything in a way that nothing will change.  Speaking about the Chinese way perspective for Cuba is wishing her not the very best. 

I think that going back to a simple remedy:  more investment, much happier Cubans, and more peaceful ways of development is making a certain kind of intellectual mistake.  If today I speak about Belarus, the first task which I say in Belarus’case is this:  “Let us not repeat the Cuban mistake of the Americans.”

If we have to speak about the Solidarity lesson in this international context, then I will remind you perhaps of a basic thing.  Well, the environment of the opposition beginning with the Workers’ Defense Committee (KOR) or the opposition, the Movement for Defense of Human and Civic Rights (ROPCiO) through the experience of Solidarity and the experience of the first years of Prime Minister Mazowiecki’s rule, is experience, which could be summarized with a certain simplification, based on the experience of the message to the countries in Eastern Europe which was prepared by the Solidarity convention.  Strictly speaking, not only this message, but with much clear consciousness that you cannot close off freedom in the borders of one country.

Solidarity’s first public statement, even long before 1989 that Poland or Solidarity, mentioned that it would be against the unification of Germany.  

The next important message for Cubans is that freedom does not come from beyond the border.  Freedom is not gotten from the outside.  Freedom is not gained from emigration regardless how wonderful it is.  Freedom is happens here.