Celebration on December 5 2015

Anniversary  |  Celebration on October 26  |  Celebration on December 5

Special Jubilee Celebration of the Centre for East European Studies

(on the 25th anniversaty of the Centre’s creation)

A special jubilee Celebration took place on the 5th December 2015 at the Senate Hall of the Kazimierzowski UW Palace, on the occasion of the 25th anniversary of the Centre for East European Studies University of Warsaw.

It was exactly 25 years earlier, on the 5th December 1990 the University of Warsaw Senate unanimously passed a decision to establish a new institution – Centre of the National Problems of the Soviet Union and East-Central Europe. After some time the name was changed to the Centre for East European Studies.

The Celebrations of the Centre’s 25th anniversary were inaugurated, in accordance with tradition, with a special holy mass at the Visitationist Church in Warsaw, concelebrated by prelate Aleksander Seniuk.

_{In front of the Visitationists Church}

Prelate Aleksander Seniuk

A representative of the Ministry of the Foreign Affairs of Poland, Udersecretary of State Mr Konrad Pawlik presented a speech during the Ceremony. Adressing the audience Vice-Minister Pawlik undrelined the fact that the creation of the Centre for East European Studies was the realization of the goals and ideas of the opposition intelectual circles, who wanted to build the Eastern dimension of Poland’s foreign policy on the basis of humanism, solidarity and dialog between nations. –  Owing to versatility of the educational program the graduates of the Centre for Eastern Studies have a chance to become the leaders of change in their countries. By this the Centre’s activity encompasses the social dimension of the Eastern Partnership – Vice-Minister Pawlik stated.

See the coverage of the Ceremony at the Polish MFA website (link here).

Speech by Wice-Minister Konrad Pawlik

During the Ceremony we had the honor to host prof. Jerzy Buzek, former Prime Minister of Poland, who, while in office, in 1998 presented the first group of 17 students of „Eastern Studies” with their student registration cards. Professor Buzek presented a special lecture entitled „Eastern Policy of the European Union – Polish Perspective”. This Anniversary is taking place in extraordinary circumstances. Last year we celebrated the 25th anniversary of free Poland, next year we will welcome the 25th anniversary of the collapse of the Soviet Union. When a quarter century ago Poland was striving towards Europe scholars from the University of Warsaw lead by Jan Malicki decided that we can not turn our back towards the East. And for this I would like to thank the Director – said prof. Buzek.

_{Jerzy Buzek and dir. Jan Malicki}

_{Speech by Jerzy Buzek}

_{Sitting from the left: David Kolbaia, Giorgi Alibegaszwili, Leonid Krawczuk, Giennadij Burbulis, Stanisław Szuszkiewicz}

_{Speech by Jerzy Buzek. View from the holl of Kazimierzowski UW Palace}

During the Ceremony a special round table discussion entitled „Collapse of the Soviet Union – inner history” with participation of very special guests: Stanisław Szuszkiewicz (f. president of Belarus), Leonid Kravchuk (f. president of Ukraine) and Gennadij Burbulis (f. advisor to president Boris Yeltsyn). Our guests had the unique possibility to meet the direct participants of the historical summit at the Belavezha forrest on the 8th December 1991 which resulted in the collapse of the Soviet Union.

_{Round table discussion „Collapse of the Soviet Union – inner history”}

_{Sitting from the left: Stanisław Szuszkiewicz, Leonid Krawczuk, Giennadij Burbulis}

The Ceremony ended with the concert of a Georgian Choir „Sahioba” from Tbilisi (Beqa Kemularia, Tornike Kandelaki, Malkhaz Erkvanidzem and Soso Kopaliashvili) Director Michał Bogucki from the Ikon Museum in Warsaw introduced the ensemble.

_{Georgian Choir „Sahioba”}

On the occasion of the anniversary director Jan Malicki received congratulation letters:

Letter from the President of the Republic of Poland Andrzej Duda (view here and on the official website of the President – Prezydent.pl).

Letter from the Marshall of the Polish Sejm Marek Kuchciński (view here).

Letter from the Secretary of State at the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of Poland Aleksander Bobko (view here)

Letter from the President of the Supreme Audit Office of Poland Krzysztof Kwiatkowski (view here)

Letter from the Chairman of the Warsaw City Council Ewa Milanowska-Grupińska (view here).

Letter from the University of Warsaw Rector Marcin Pałys (view here)

Letter from the Adam Mickiewicz University Rector Bronisław Marciniak (view here).

Letter from Vice-Rector of the University of Warmia and Mazury Jerzy Jaroszewski (view here).

Letter form the Vice-Rector of the Wrocław University of Science and Technology Cezary Madyras (view here).

Letter from the Vice0Rector of the Maria Curie Skłodowska University Ryszard Dębicki (view here).

Letter from the Chernivtsi National University Rector (view here).

Letter from the Institute of Slavic Studies Polish Academy of Sciences Anna Zielińska (view here).