Afghanistan and Poland relations

 HISTORY OF AFGHANISTAN AND POLAND RELATIONS

 

Friendship Tractate

Between the Republic of Poland and the Afghan Kingdom

Signed in Angora November 3rd 1927

According to the decisions, article IV of the Tractate came into being in May 15th 1982.
The text was published in the Book of Laws in1928 No.55 §523

The president of the Republic of Poland and His Royal Highness of Afghanstan 
- equally want to create bonds of friendship between the Republic of Poland and the Afghan Kingdom,
- convinced that enforcing these relations is significant for both countries,
- they agreed to accept the friendship tractate and nominated their representatives:
President of the Highest Republic of Poland:
Mr. Jozef Wierusza-Kowalski, Doctor of Philosophy, Extraordinary Deputy and the Authorized Minister of Poland in Angora,
His Excellency General Gulami Djailani Chana, Extraordinary Deputy and the Authorized Minister of Afghanstan in Angora,
 agreed for further decisions

Article I

Uninterrupted peace and eternal friendship shall last between the Republic of Poland and the Afghan Kingdom and between citizens of both countries.

Article II

High governing sides agree on establishing diplomatic relations between both countries based on laws of the rights of nations. They agree that the diplomatic representatives of both sides and their legal staff, the contingent will be determined later by mutual agreement, will benefit pursuant to international public law.

Article III

High governing sides agree on completing the Trade Tractate and Consular Convention as soon as possible.

Article IV

The hereby tractate will be ratified and ratifying documents will be listed in Angora as soon as possible.

It will come into effect on the 15th day after exchanging the ratifyed documents.

Article V

This tractate will be presented in two copies in three languages: Polish, Persian and French.

In case of difference, the French text will be the authoritative one.

Prepared in two copies in Angora, November 3rd (at 12 o'clock) 1927.

 

After WWII, Poland and Afghanstan renew diplomatic and economic relations. Poland sent to Afghanistan mainly road and bridge construction experts and later some architects. Many doctors and economists worked in Afghanistan within NATO in the seventies and eighties. Lots of Afghans came to Poland to study. In the eighties the number of Afghans studying in Poland surpassed 400 students.

On the 16-19.VI.1986, "PZPR DAYS" were held in Kabul during which, the general inspector of PRON, J. Jaskiernia, discussed the actual political situation in Poland.

On the 18th of August the academy on the occasion of the National Day was held in Kabul in which a delegation of Polish soldiers, together with the Deputy Defense Minister, General A. Jasinski, participated.

In November, a PRON delegation with the vice president of the National Council, J. Kukułka, and the president of the Polish Afghan Friendship Company, A.S. Sorchabi went to Afghanistan, where they signed a cooperation protocol.

8-15. XII the KC PZPR delegation with W. Mokrzyszczak arrived in Kabul and the agreement, related to the cooperation between PPR and LDPA was signed for the period of 2 years. Additionally, an agreement on the cooperation between the PZPR Social Sciences Academy and LDPA Social Sciences Institute was also signed.

In 1986 the trade between the two countries was insignificant.

When Taliban took over the power, all relation were broken. After the Taliban collapse, Poland and Afghanistan begun to talk again about renewing the political and economical relations. The best proofs were visit of the Polish President in Kabul and the President Karzai in Poland.

Due to big troubles with educated personnel, lack of experts, Poland offered to the provisional government scholarships for 15 young Afghans. Moreover, a few non-governmental organizations sent some volunteers to help the needy, most of all children, widows and other aggrieved by the war. The humanitarian organizations: Caritas, Polish Humanitarian Organization, and Doctors Without Borders were welcomed with a great thankfulness, not only by the government but also by ordinary people. After earthquake in Nahrin in March 2002 all the Polish humanitarian organizations were gathering money and other needed items for the cataclysm victims. At this moment the Ministry of Defense decided to increase the military contingent in Afghanistan and open a Polish embassy in Kabul.

POLISH PRESIDENT'S VISIT IN THE ISLAMIC REPUBLIC OF AFGHANISTAN


October 23rd 2002, the Polish President Aleksander Kwasniewski, who went with an official visit to the Central South Asia, paid also a visit to Afghanistan.

He met with President Karzai. After discussions both presidents took part in the press conference underlining more over the need of expanding the Polish - Afghan cooperation. Aleksander Kwasniewski emphasized that his visit in Kabul is a sign of strong support for the country's transformation, President Karzai's politics and very difficult way of country's reconstruction. He stated that Poland will actively join the reconstruction process to rebuilt Afghanistan, destroyed by 23 years of war.

Afterwards, President Kwasniewski visited an Art-Music school in Kabul, which was built by the Polish Humanitarian Organization. He visited also Bagram base, where he met with the Polish soldiers and had a chat with the American general Dan McNeill. Polish President underlined that the supreme commander of antiterrorist forces is very satisfied with the work of the Polish contingent. "What you do is worth the highest esteem", said the President to Polish soldiers.

 

THE OFFICIAL VISIT OF THE AFGHAN PRESIDENT IN POLAND 


In June 26th 2003 President Hamid Karzai arrived in Poland at the invitation of the Polish President Aleksander Kwasniewski. After the welcome ceremony, both presidents met in the narrow circle. Then they lead the plenary discussions with delegations from Poland and Afghanistan.

During press conference they made short statements.

The Polish president said: "...This visit is very special because is takes place after many years. The last visit of the Afghan chief in Warsaw was in 1928 and I am very happy that we can meet again today to emphasize that our relations have not only a historical character, but also contemporary dimension. This contemporary dimension is, most of all, the presence of our soldiers and Polish non-governmental organizations in Afghanistan. I heard many excellent opinions about them and their activity and I promised to Mr. President Karzai that we will continue our mission towards Afghanistan stabilization, towards peace in the whole Central Asia region.

We also talked about our bilateral relations, stating that meetings on the presidential levels are a very important beginning of a new chapter. Last September I had an opportunity to be in Kabul and Bagram. Mr. President Karzai is in Warsaw today, there will be a visit of Minister Włodzimierz Cimoszewicz and Polish economical experts in Afghanistan; we want to start a very active political and economical dialog between our countries.

We also agreed to increase a trade exchange, investments and cooperation as Afghanistan is a very interesting and important partner in this world region. This is a country with big trade tradition. I think that Polish companies may find there good opportunities for investment. We will try to provide to the Polish business as much information about economic possibilities as we can, because the main problem at this moment is a lack of information.

We are very happy that there are some Afghan students in Poland; we will try to develop this cooperation. We made agreement with Mr. Karzai that under our patronage we will increase the number of Afghan girls and boys studying in Poland, and at the same time it will create serious group of unofficial Polish ambassadors in Afghanistan in the future. During our talks we also discussed a possibility of cooperation in the areas in which Poland may share its experience. Mainly it regards economical transformation, law, experts trainings. We have 15 years of successful democratic transformation and we are ready to share our experience with our partners from Afghanistan.

The last issue we discussed is our common activity against terrorism, drug smuggling and drug production. As Poland we are ready to support all initiatives, which Mr. President Karzai undertakes. We are convinced that it must be a common, very loyal effort, otherwise we will not be able to deal with such plagues.

One more time I would like to express my big satisfaction that Mr. President Karzai is here in Poland. I am convinced that we are starting new, very interesting for both our countries possibilities of cooperation."

Mr Karzai

President Karzai said:

"... It is a great privilege for me and my delegation to visit this old, beautiful country. Poland is not an unknown country for us. Afghan people know Poland very well. They know that Poles are a very proud, attached to independence nation.

In the 1980s our both nations were fighting for independence and autonomy. It took place parallel - there was Solidarność in Poland and resistance movement against Soviet occupation in Afghanistan. Afghanistan in Poland, as you have mentioned Mr. President, has a 75 years old tradition... This is a long time. During a war with terrorism Poland was one of these countries, which pointed changes in the modern world, when we fought together against threats even in the farthest parts of the world. Poland sent its military forces to help to bring safety and stabilization and fight terrorism in Afghanistan. I have to say now that we are very grateful for your help.

Your visit in Kabul was a tribute to the interest of the Polish public opinion with the Afghan problem. I have to tell that these friendship knots keep enforcing.

Poland helps us also by the scholarship program for the Afghan youth. I met with the students this morning. These are students, who now study journalism, medicine, law, mathematics and they are the Afghanistan future. Afghanistan is a country open for business and investments possibilities so I invite you to invest in our country. Investments will be profitable for both parties. We fight together with drugs and terrorism. We must fight the drug production as it harms the whole population.

Mr. President, I am very happy that we could be here. Yesterday when I arrived here I felt at home and I do not want really to leave Poland - you will have to simply turn me out. Thank you for your hospitality and your warmly welcome."

After the press conference Hamid Karzai took part in the ceremony of wreath lying at the Tomb of Unknown Soldier.

At the end of the official visit in Poland, President Kwasniewski gave an official breakfast in the presidential palace for the Afghan guests.

During this breakfast both presidents gave toasts.

The Polish President said:

"We prepared a very important toast, its text is in front of your eyes. But because I know that President Karzai prefers less official meetings, I think you will find time on the plane to read it. I want to say from the bottom of my heart that we welcome you Mr. President in Poland. It is second official visit after 75 years, when the Afghan king visited Poland in 1928. This visit in very exceptional for us because we have as a guest a man, who is our friend, who is very open, warm hearted and wants to develop our mutual relations now and in the future. I say that on my behalf and on behalf of the Defense Minister, who was lately in Kabul. We wish you all the best, because we realize how difficult work you have in front of you and we do whatever we can to help. Our soldiers, officers' station in Bagram and we would like to use this situation not only to ensure safety and peace in Afghanistan, but also to develop our bilateral relations. I believe that these soldiers are the best Polish ambassadors.

This is situation for present moment but we are ready to develop our relations more and more, we would like to help in many fields and cooperate with Afghanistan in different international forums. We, presidents, are under diplomatic protocol pressure and I have an impression that protocol in our lives is almost like terrorism, but still here in Warsaw and in Kabul we found few hours for each other, which does not happen often. I want to say it is good to have such partners like Mr. Karzai and that is why I would like to make toast for the friendship, good cooperation, and especially for peace in Afghanistan and in the whole world, for peace for us all."

 

MEETING BETWEEN MRS. ANNA FOTYGA, THE MINISTER OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS OF POLAND AND MR. RANGIN DADFAR SPANTA, THE MINISTER OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS OF AFGHANISTAN, OCTOBER, 3RD 2006.

 

Mrs. Anna Fotyga, the Polish Foreign Affairs Minister met with the Afghan Foreign Affairs Minister, Mr. Rangin Dadfar Spanta during his visit in Poland.

During the meeting the Ministers discussed matters of bilateral political and economical relations, as well as Polish activities related to stabilization and rebuilding of Afghanistan. Mrs. Minister stated that Afghanistan was recognized as the priority country in the Polish development program.

Mr. Spanta presented the current situation in Afghanistan in the safety and threats area resulting of the drug production. Mrs. Fotyga informed him about the Polish government decision about enforcing the Polish military presence in the ISAF forces in Afghanistan.

Mr. Spanta invited Mrs. Fotyga to visit Afghanistan. The invitation was accepted.

 

Heads of Afghan Diplomatic Mission in Poland:

 Lista szefów misji Islamskiej Republiki Afganistanu w Rzeczypospolitej Polskiej:

1. Pos. Sardar Gholam Mohammed Khan Sleiman (since 24.08.1955r.)

2. Ch. d'aff. Abdul Bagui (since 22.08.1956r.)

3. Pos. Mohamed Arif (since 12.04.1957r.)

4. Pos. Sayed K. Rishtiya (since 12.09.1960r.)

5. Amb. Mir Mohammad Youssof (since 17.08.1961r.)

6. Ch. d'aff. Abdullah Nawabi (since 01.04.1966r.)

7. Amb. Mohammad Akram Parvanta (since 14.10.1966r.)

8. Amb. Mohammed Amin Etemadi (since 15.08.1970r.)

9. Ch. d'aff. a.i. Din Mohammad (since 23.05.1975r.)

10. Amb. Abdul Karim Mustaghni (since 13.05.1976r.)

11. Amb. Mohammad Ayan Ayan (since 24.05.1980r.)

12. Amb. Mohammad Farouq Karmand (since 15.04.1983r.)

13. Amb. Abdul Qader (since 03.11.1986r.)

14. Amb. Nur Ahmad Nura (since 13.04.1988r.)

15. Amb. Khodaidad Basharmal (since 30.08.1990r.)

16. Amb. Azizullah Karzai (Karzi) (since 16.12.1992r.)

17. Ch. d'aff. a.i. Abdul Haider (since 10.09.2000r.)

18. Amb. Abdul H. Haider (since 17.05.2002r.)

19. Amb. Ziauddin Mojadedi (since 05.07.2007r.)

20. Ch. d'aff. a.i. Sayed Ghazanfar Hussainy (since 21.12.2012r.)

21. Amb. Abdul H. Haider (since 11.02.2014r.)

22. Amb. Gul Hussain Ahmadi (since 13.09.2017r.)