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Dear Sir or Madam,
On August 31, I finish my work at the Consular Section of the Embassy of the Republic of Poland in Oslo. I would like to express my gratitude for the honor of working with you over the past six years for Poland, Poles and the Polish community abroad. Thank you for your support, for treating the work of the consulate with understanding and kindness. I would like to thank you very much for your initiatives, thank you for knowingly and rightly not forgetting about the roots, about what determines the strength of the nation as a whole - about Poland. Please accept my sincere wishes for maintaining this enthusiasm and many professional and personal successes in the future.
With your help and participation, we managed to implement a number of important projects. Unfortunately, the idea of establishing the Norwegian Polish Diaspora Council as a body representing the interests of the entire Polish community in Norway was not realized. I strongly encouraged you to establish the Council of the Polish Diaspora in Norway during meetings with the Polish community abroad, presenting the needs, but also the benefits that the Polish diaspora can achieve by establishing such a Council.
Concluding the mission of the Consul of the Republic of Poland in Norway, let me once again, sincerely, with full conviction and faith in the strength of the activities of the Polish community, ask you and appeal to take steps towards the establishment of the Norwegian Polish Diaspora Council – a “roof” organization associating representatives of Polish diaspora organizations, associations and representatives of unaffiliated Polish diaspora communities from all over Norway. The Norwegian Polish Diaspora Council would represent the common interests of the Polish community in Norway.
The Norwegian Polish Diaspora Council should be established, among others, by in order to:
– representing the Polish community in Norway before the Norwegian authorities, submitting postulates regarding the Polish community abroad,
– representing the Polish community in Norway before the Polish authorities, cooperation with Polish institutions whose statutory task is to develop cooperation and provide assistance to the Polish community and Poles abroad,
– representing the Polish community in Norway on the international arena, in the World Polonia Council, in the World Polonia Economic Forum, in the World Congresses of the Polish Diaspora and Poles from Abroad, and in all international initiatives of the Polish community abroad.
ladies and gentlemen,
W Only a few Poles sit on Norwegian municipal councils, Poles do not have a representative in the Norwegian parliament. Poles in Norway they support their compatriots who are running for local authorities to a negligible extent. This also proves the lack of strong supporting activities of the Polish community, especially since other, less numerous national groups, have such representatives and bodies representing them.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Despite the great examples of work and involvement of the Polish community in various spheres of activity in Norway, there are areas where the Polish community can achieve more if they work together - e.g. there is a lack of premises available to the Polish community in most towns in Norway, greater access would be desirable. Poles to free language courses Norwegian, there is no position of your representation in relation to comments and critical articles about Poles published in the Norwegian media - these are just examples that prove about the need to take actions that would strengthen the position of the Polish community in Norway and would allow the Polish diaspora to take its rightful place in Norwegian political, social, economic and cultural life.
Actions towards vocation The advice of the Norwegian Polish community should be taken up by the Polish community itself.
The effectiveness and strength of actions on the part of the Polish community - they can never replace action on the part of institutions, because your voice is always perceived as more audible and more effective. The Council of the Polish Diaspora in Norway should take into account all possible spheres of activity, regardless of worldview, beliefs, based on the democratic principles of mutual respect, political and religious tolerance. Within the structures of the Polish Diaspora Council, it would be advisable to separate specialized departments, headed by representatives with appropriate professional background and experience (e.g. education and training, culture, economy, contacts with the media, contacts with foreign countries, etc.). Representatives of Polish diaspora organizations, associations and representatives selected by groups of unaffiliated Poles from various parts of Norway, selected by you, should organize the first meeting, e.g. in accordance with Norwegian law.
Attempts to establish the Polish Diaspora Council in Norway were made as early as the 90s. Currently, the number of Poles living in Norway has definitely increased, as well as the needs, opportunities and areas of activity.
I believe that the Polish Diaspora in Norway, with full understanding and a sense of the seriousness of the situation and needs, will take action to establish its own representation. The Polish Diaspora in Norway deserves its voice and demands to be heard, its presence noticeable, which is important for the position of the Polish diaspora in Norway to be strong. I cordially encourage you to take appropriate action and once again I would like to thank you most sincerely for your cooperation and support, which I experienced during my work. I wish you further success and fulfillment of your plans.
Together - you are strong, acting together - you are effective.
I pay respects,
Anna Śmiałek–Grzyb
Consul of the Republic of Poland in the Kingdom of Norway
