WPROST 35 YEARS SPECIAL ISSUE

organized by:

strategic partners: WWW.WPROST.PL

The Honorary Patronage of the President of the Republic of Poland Andrzej Duda over the #PALS conference on Feb 9th, 2018 February 8-11, 2018 2018 8-11, February

POLISH-AMERICAN TIES THE SHAPE OF THE FUTURE Politics

Poland – USA. A New Opening

We are emerging as one of the key allies of USA and its main partner in Central-Eastern Europe. These relations are so far even immune to the Poland – Israel crisis. Anna Gwozdowska

2 FEBRUARY 8-11, 2018 „WPROST” STRATEGIC ALLIES

American Secretary of State Rex Tillerson visited Warsaw at the end of January. In the picture: a meeting with Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki

„WPROST” 3 Politics

hen at the end of September charge him with suspicious connection to This was confirmed by Tillerson, who met 2016 Donald Trump – then Russia and even accuse him of a secret agree- in January in Warsaw with President Duda Wstill a republic candidate for ment with Vladimir Putin, who supposedly and Prime Minister Morawiecki and assured the president office – met with American helped him win the election, the American that US is opposed to Nord Stream 2, second Polish Diaspora in Chicago, probably no one president clearly strengthens NATO’s east line of gas pipeline connecting Russia with suspected that soon he will move into the flank and not only in the military sense. Germany. Previously, the topic of energetic White House. He made a great impression Not half a year after the inauguration, diversification was touched by President on the gathered. – I will never fail you – he he came to Warsaw, where he delivered the Trump in Davos, when he convinced that no said on leaving and asked to spread infor- most important speech in his presidency country should be made dependent on only mation about the meeting to the Poles in to the point, in which Poland’s history was one source of energy. – Americans are aware Ohio and Pennsylvania. As it later turned presented in an extraordinarily positive light. that Nord Stream and TurkStream [which is out, these were the states that decided As professor Pease convinces, who has been supposed to pump gas from Russia to Turkey about the most unpredictable victory in the invested in history of Polish-American rela- – Ed.] are projects of strictly political nature modern electoral history of USA. However tions for years, no American president has and that they will weaken Europe’s safety, the American establishment was not, to put it mildly, pleased with the outcome of the presidential elections, a new streak began for Polish- American relations and – as proved by the recent visit to Warsaw by the Secretary of State Rex Tillerson – it is a winning and a lasting one. – I have a feeling that an awareness of Poland’s importance has emerged in American politics and it is a new phenomenon - Neal H. Pease, a history professor on Wisconsin-Milwaukee University and an editor-in-chief for „The Polish Review”, convinces in an interview with “Wprost” weekly. – The current administration treats Russian threat very seriously, which is why Poland is perceived in America as a foundation of European defense, its buffer – he adds.

DIVERSIFICATION Orzysz. President Andrzej Duda welcomes American soldiers Few years back, it would have sounded from NATO’s Multinational Battle Group improbable, but nowadays, in view of nu- merous American analysts, Poland emerges expressed himself about Poland in such a especially of our allies in Central-Eastern as a main player in Central-Eastern Europe manner. After all, Obama happened to use Europe – explains Daniel Kochis, an analyst and as one of USA’s the most significant the term “Polish concentration camps”, for the American think tank Heritage, in an allies. – That is why United States wish to during his laudation in honor of Jan Karski. interview with „Wprost” weekly. sell Poland weapons and share with us new Trump has also expressed support about So far the American pressure has turned technologies –Adriano Bosoni, an analyst for the Three Seas initiative, which aims at out to be ineffective. Nord Stream 2 has in- the American think tank Stratfor. strengthening nations of Central-Eastern formed last week that they have been granted President Obama’s administration took a Europe both politically and economically, permission for construction and exploitation rather different approach. It reacted slowly as well as given green light for exporting of the marine section of the gas pipeline on to threats coming from Russia and made American liquefied natural gas into Poland. German territorial waters. – I remain skepti- the mistake of resetting its relations with It did not end on words. The first ships cal whether Nord Stream will be held off but Moscow. Everybody in Poland remembers with American gas have already reached United States will remain opposed – Kochis the day, when president Obama nullified the Świnoujście and, although – as explained comments newest information. project of creating an anti-ballistic shield for by Adriano Bosoni from Stratfor – the real Construction of the Russian-German Poland and Czech Republic, exactly on the sale price will eventually be set by producers, gas pipeline is also opposed by the Con- anniversary of Soviet aggression on Poland. who will opt for the best market option, the gress, which plays a major role in shaping The White House woke up only when Rus- current American administration clearly American policies. Trump and the Congress sian troops invaded Crimea. Meanwhile, cares about diversification of the energy don’t see eye to eye on everything. So far,

although Trump’s political adversaries market in Poland. the president has managed to agree with IWAŃCZUK/REPORTER ANDRZEJ NEWS, WIŚNIEWSKI/EAST PAWEŁ PHOTOS:

4 FEBRUARY 8-11, 2018 „WPROST” STRATEGIC ALLIES

REDZIKOWO The Ballistic congressmen only in terms of the tax reform, Missile Defense The presence Americans accepted at the end of 2017. The President installation of American will be activated treat the and the Congress differ – at least in view of this year troops in Poland: the liberal media – in the matter of sanc- SKWIERZYNA 4 thousand Russian tions imposed on Russia. The senators soldiers stand strongly behind them, while Trump POWIDZ threat very ŻAGAŃ POZNAŃ 3rd Armored apparently remains ambivalent. Brigade Combat Tea m seriously ŚWIĘTOSZÓW DETERRING RUSSIA Task Force for the and perceive Sanctions are but one element of the BOLESŁAWIEC Battle Aviation Brigade political puzzle piece, which is supposed Poland as Mission Command to convince Russia that it’s not worth to Element of the a foundation mess with NATO. This year, in the face of Atlantic Resolve the Russian threat, the White House has operation of European gained Congress’s approval to spend almost 5 billion dollars (1,4 billion dollars more than defense. previous year) for the so-called European Deterrence Initiative (Eng. European Deter- Of course, it is not without importance Can the crisis in relations with Is- rence Initiative, during Obama’s presidency for the current enclosing relations between rael actually jeopardize our connection known as European Reassurance Initiative), Warsaw and Washington that Polish and to America? The answer coming from which aims at supporting Europe’s defense American governments have a lot in com- commentators is unanimous: because capabilities, especially its Eastern flank. mon: both emphasize the role of patrio- Polish-American alliance is based on a This means that there will be funds for tism, protection of national interests and similar approach to security matters and allocating American troops in Poland, on traditional values. – I think, that the current American soldiers station in Poland, it which the Polish government counts very administration also shares with Polish is safe from harm. – Quite the contrary, much. government a rather skeptical approach to during Trump’s presidency these relations At the moment, over 4 thousand Ameri- the European Union – Daniel Kochis adds. will become even stronger – claims Daniel can troops are stationing in Poland, among One more matter brings both administra- Kochis. which are 3.5 thousand from the 3rd Ar- tions together. Both Trump and Law and The critique in American media, such as mored Brigade Combat Team, whose troops Justice (PiS) have to ward off media attacks. „Washington Post” or „New York Times”, in station in Żagań, Świętoszowo, Skwierzyna That is why a good rapport with the White which a lot is written about authoritarian and Bolesławiec. In Powidz stations also a House is a gift for the Polish government, and nationalist government in Warsaw, task force for Battle Aviation Brigade. The whose image was lately tarnished by frictions also hasn’t caused any irreversible dam- Americans decided to move the so-called with Brussels and Berlin, as well as by the age. In Kochis’ opinion the bad press could Mission Command Element of the Atlantic recent crisis with Israel. During his visit, Til- permanently worsen our image only if the Resolve operation, which commands Ameri- lerson has given Warsaw his strong support. media offensive would go on and accusa- can troops in Poland and other countries in He referred to Poland as a glorious, demo- tions against us start to become buried the region, from Germany into Poznań. This cratic ally. – In comparison with Obama’s in America’s mind. – Which has not yet year, an American BMD (Ballistic Missile presidency, Trump’s administration seems happened – Kochis convinces. And adds: Defense) installation will be activated in little interested in internal affairs of countries - Since the moment, Matuesz Morawiecki Redzików, which will provide NATO with within Central Europe – says Bosoni. – The became the prime minister, I have noticed defense against ballistic missiles. – And Department of State, with its previous staff, a slightly more delicate tone in the press, this is a concrete move, which Poland has as well as American diplomatic outposts when discussing Poland. requested for a long time, presenting it as were more outspoken in matters of current That is why, as professor Pease says, an effective way of deterring Russia – says political situation, in countries such as there is actually one way of challenging professor Neal H. Pease. Poland, Hungary or Romania. Having said the Polish-American Alliance: testing its It is exactly the presence of American that, USA might want to speak up when they durability. The US-Poland partnership may troops near Vistula that strengthens the fell like the countries of Central and Eastern not last if a real threat to the west NATO relations between USA and Poland. – Quite Europe cross that thin red line. flank will not be met with an unhesitating few congressmen have soldiers, who station Which is what happened last Wednesday. response from the American ally – How- in Poland, in their families. It is an amazingly United States Department of State has re- ever, I am under the impression that the strong signal, which is why the awareness leased a declaration, in which it called for a steps, undertaken within last months, lead of Poland’s importance in NATO keeps repeated analysis of the IPN bill novelization to avoiding such confrontation –professor increasing in Congress - Daniel Kochis from and warned that the new law may influence Neal H. Pease calms down. g Heritage explains. the relations with Washington. © All rights reserved.

„WPROST” 5 Event

The information meeting about Polish-American Leadership Summit took place in the Warsaw Stock Exchange (WSE). Polish delegation has their flight planned for 8th of February. In the photo is the initiator of the summit, Michał M. Lisiecki

Summit of friendship Despite some setbacks, the Polish-American relations are increasingly better. Now, the time has come for a new dynamic in economic relations. The summit taking place in Miami will be a significant impulse in this field. Grzegorz Sadowski

n the scenario, when in 30 years Ger- can Leadership Summit – PALS) in Miami. president of PMPG („Wprost” publisher) many will no longer be perceived as an The plan for the session is impressive. 300 and initiator of the summit. – The event Ieconomical power, when Russia will participants, nine discussion panels, three has strategic value to Poland, as it facilitates be in shambles, Poland, with an amazingly days of discussions in plenary, networking dialogue on both highest government levels educated society, will rise to the role of a and evening sessions, plus an award gala and and business fields, including knowledge regional power, with ambition of playing a grand Polonaise bal. And, as a final treat, transfer between enterprises – says Zbigniew an important role on multinational arena a special exclusive VIP session, which will Pisarski, president of the Casimir Pulaski – said by a famous American political sci- take place in Mar-a-Lago, called by Donald Foundation, which co-organizes the summit. entist George Friedman, during the recent Trump „The Winter White House”. Invited guests are representatives of Pol- European Forum for New Ideas. He will be It is a first initiative to connect political ish establishment. Among them are Jerzy a guest of the plenary session dedicated to and economic relations between the two Kwieciński, the minister of investment and strategic economic cooperation between countries. – The idea of the meeting is a development, Anna Maria Anders, the secre- United States and Central Europe, espe- strong support on the lever of business deci- tary of state in the Chancellery of the Prime cially Poland as a leader of the region. It sion makers of various political declarations, Minister of Poland, Adam Hamryszczak, the will take place this week within the scope which span between Poland and US. We under-secretary of state in the Ministry of of the first Polish American Leadership would like – through this meeting – to put Investment and Economic Development,

Summit: Investment Zone (Polish Ameri- them into practice – says Michał M. Lisiecki, Mariusz Orion Jędrysek, the leading geolo- IMAGES STUDIOS/GETTY DAVIDOFF SA, MEDIA POLSKIE NAWROCKI/PMPG RADOSŁAW PHOTOS:

6 FEBRUARY 8-11, 2018 „WPROST” PALS IN MIAMI

gist in the country, Andrzej Piotrowski, the Luxurious vice minister of energy, or Paweł Soloch, the residence Mar- director of the National Security Bureau. But a-Lago in Palm Beach, Florida. the directors of biggest Polish companies are Donald Trump’s going to be present as well: President of PGE associates call Henryk Baranowski, President of KGHM it „The Winter Polska Miedź Radosław Domagalski, Filip White House”. Grzegorczyk, president of Tauron, Marcin Jastrzębski, president of Lotos, or Mirosław Kowalik manager of Poznań Enea. Paweł Borys, president of Polish Development Fund, will be present as well. The conference has been put under the honorary patronage by President Andrzej Duda.

POWER INDUSTRY IS THE KEY the construction the new atomic power national mineral policies, will discuss the Despite the recent crisis connected with the plant. Who will build it? Unofficially it is extraction works. IPN bill novelization, economic and busi- known that currently there are two offers ness relations between Poland and USA are on the table, including one from USA. It was SECURITY AND TECHNOLOGY very good. Over the last 25 years American supposedly presented personally by Donald Second key topic for discussion is secu- companies have invested 91 billion zloty in Trump during a visit in Poland. rity. The ongoing modernization of Polish Poland. – High level production, technology – USA might be a valuable supplier military is a grand opportunity for exploiting and innovations are a big plus of the Polish of technology for Poland’s atomic power the potential of American arms industry. market– says Tony Housh, president of plant, as well as an excellent technological The purchase of antimissile Patriot system American Chamber of Commerce in Poland. partner in the scope of new technologies might be an example. Unofficially, Americans Krzysztof Szczerski, presidents’ foreign and branches such as energy storage, electro say they are willing to lower the price and policy advisor, says that Poland - US rela- mobility or block chain technology - says shorten the delivery period. The offset tions are already an „advanced partnership”. Zbigniew Pisarski from Pulaski Foundation. negotiations, which are supposed to be a – This will result in positive effects for the The matters of importing liquefied natu- technological transfer for Polish companies, security of our region, for the security of ral gas LNG from US are no less important. are still ongoing. – The offset document is Poland, for Poland’s economic development Last year Poland brokered a long-term over 5 thousand pages long and contains and may even radiate all over the region and contract for its supply between PGNiG and detailed projects descriptions, as well as Europe – he explains. American Cheniere Energy. It is the first precise letters of intent, containing names of At the end of January, Poland was visited contract of this kind between United States technological transfer receivers. These letters by the US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, and a country in Central Europe. Owing to include a wide range of technologies, from whose business experience is vast. For years this, Poland – as evaluated by the experts command and control systems to missile he has been a director for a petrochemical – may become an export window for the launchers – as assured by John Baird, the company ExxonMobil, one of world’s leading US for supplying and transporting natural vice president for integrated antimissile and corporations. The talks – including those gas to Southern Europe. antiaircraft systems for the region of Poland with Jarosław Kaczyński – revolved around It is increasingly louder about the in Raytheon Integrated Defense Systems. military and energy cooperation. Tillerson cooperation in terms of supplying oil for The president of BBN Paweł Soloch will assured that US is ready to supply Poland Polish fuel concerns, as well as spot supply- discuss political aspects of Polish security with liquefied natural gas LNG. He also ing of coal, of which first shipments from at the summit, while the American military reiterated that United States is opposed to US were carried out by Węglokoks. There presence in Europe will be covered by Susan construction of the northern gas pipeline are other topics, which, although without Elliot, a deputy commander of US military Nord Stream 2. such a broad media coverage, are crucial forces in Europe in years 2015-2017. This is why two out of three key discus- from the perspective of new technolo- „The forum of entrepreneurs, politicians sion topics on the summit will be devoted gies. Poland has, for example, plots in the and media representatives organized by you to power industry and military cooperation. Atlantic and Pacific Ocean. Polymetallic will constitute an excellent opportunity nodules with key elements, such as man- for discussing and strengthening Polish- POLISH-AMERICAN ATOM ganese, vanadium, molybdenum, nickel and American economic relations” – as was Among the expected participants of the copper, are situated there. Mariusz Orion written in a letter from the Chancellery of the summit is the Vice Minister of Energy Jędrysek, Poland’s leading geologist and a President to the organizers of the summit. g Andrzej Piotrowski, who is responsible for government representative in matters of © All rights reserved.

„WPROST” 7 president’s representative for international dialogue 8 Anna Maria Anders, since January 2016, been has People FEBRUARY 8-11, 2018 „WPROST”

PHOTOS: MACIEJ ZIENKIEWICZ/FORUM INTERNATIONAL DIALOGUE

America needs Poland Our people’s image in United States is very much different than from years ago – Anna Maria Anders ensures.

INTERVIEWER: Eliza Olczyk

This week you will be an honorary guest at the Polish- that Americans of Polish decent are doing -American business conference in Miami. excellently on their own. Or, since they do The interest for Poland in America is very big and the attitude not speak Polish, they are basically Ameri- very positive. Recently, owing to the work of my office, the state of Anna Maria can. It is a faulty way of thinking. One can Nevada has signed a proclamation of cooperation with Poland. I Anders speak hardly any Polish and still be a patriot. was in Atlanta and Georgia, where same talks are being held. I wish Such often is the case in the USA. that other states would follow in these footsteps. There is a group She is the Poland was recently visited by daughter of General of several dozen of congressmen in the American Congress, who Rex Tillerson, American Secretary Władysław Anders, take a particular interest in Poland. It is possible that they will visit commander of of State. Was it an important visit, our country in March. I encourage all American to do the same, as 2nd Polish Corps in your view? it is the best way of building proper relations. Those, who come to during the years of Absolutely. In my opinion, this visit Poland, are under a great impression of what they saw. II World War. She was supposed to show that the words of What will be the nature of the conference in Miami? was born in London. the President Donald Trump about the It is a business conference. But not only businessmen have been After the death of Polish-American friendship, delivered in invited. A few politicians will attend on Poland’s behalf, i.a. the her mother Irena Warsaw, were not just a summary courtesy. Minister of Investment and Development Jerzy Kwieciński and Anders became the Those mutual relations are being deepened. myself. There will be a number of politicians on American side as president of the bo- We are connected with America over two ard of the General well. The whole point is to allow businessmen to lead talk within key matters – military safety, due to a NA- Władyslaw Anders their own as well as political lieu. Such meetings and back room Foundation, which, TO contingent stationing in Poland and talks are invaluable. among others, energy affairs. Such as a common, skeptical Isn’t it so that for a common American Poland and funds scholarships position on the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline. Holland sounds all the same? for students of I think Poland hopes that (laughter) Surely, it is changing. It has changed to a great degree, Polish descent from Americans will help us block that since Donald Trump’s last year visit to Poland. During his campaign, the countries of investment. he met with the Polish American Congress and some commentators former USSR. In The construction of this gas pipe, in view even emphasized that it as owing to the Poles that he won the 2015 she ran as a of our American allies, is precarious, as it election. Aside from that, the image of our people is different than PiS (Law and Order) endangers many European countries to the candidate for the in years before. Once, they used to be perceived as poorly educated dependency on Russian supplies of gas and, Senate, yet didn’t immigrants but nowadays they often hold very high positions. We succeed. She has in result, a possibility of energetic extortion. have to remember that we have a huge Polish diaspora in the US. won the mandate in In the context of relations with the United My office would like to start a discussion on how to convince them the by-elections in States, it is important that America also to invest in Poland. 2016. needs Poland. Most of countries within the How does the Polish diaspora perceive our country? European Union are not so pro-American, In my opinion, American Polish diaspora takes a great interest in so we can be sort of a bridge between US Poland and would like a closer relationship with the country, while and EU. g sometimes there is no reciprocity. Poland lives with a conviction © All rights reserved.

„WPROST” 9 People

10 FEBRUARY 8-11, 2018 „WPROST” AN INTERVIEW WITH MARCIN GORTAT

My wife must be Polish I want to divide my life between US and Poland. I am Polish and proud – says Marcin Gortat, basketball player, the most known Pole living in the USA.

INTERVIEW BY Szymon Krawiec

„WPROST” 11 People

I got a bit sad reading your last Commercials? interviews. You say basketball I don’t want to spread myself too thin stopped being you passion, that you and put my face on every product. Or to don’t have as much energy as you endorse with my name just about anything. used to and that your time in the I prefer to focus on developing my own NBA runs short. Schools of Sports Mastery, of which I Physically, I feel great. I’m doing currently have four. everything to stay in shape for as long as Marcin Gortat, the coach? I can, but I’m not getting any younger. I will help young basketball players in Basketball is a very straining discipline. honing their skill but it won’t be a full time During the season, I play almost every two job. I also want to do something for my days. Sometimes I can play even 120 games home town of Łódź. I’d like to have some in a couple of months. Add to that everyday influence on city’s development. I defi- training in the gym and on the court. I nitely don’t want to be Mr. CEO, governing don’t know what is going to happen in a from behind a desk. Simply because I can’t year or two. It is important to remember sit long in one place. Even on vacations that my future in the NBA doesn’t fully after laying on the beach for an hour I feel depend on me. My current contract runs I need to vent my energy. out in a year plus some. Then, it will turn Perhaps a position in the Polish out whether some team would like to Basketball Association? sign a new one with me. NBA itself has I am not going to spoil my retirement changed over the last few years. There with involvement in the PBA. It is a rigid are no centers, which means players like organization that should be rebuilt from me – playing cover and staying near the the ground up. But I have a feeling it isn’t hoop. Nowadays everyone throws for three, doable for now and it still won’t be for something that is outside my repertoire. some time. The era of players playing in the old style You have been saying for years slowly becomes history. that a family is your biggest dream. Michael Jordan finished his To have a wife, four children who career, when he was 40 years old. run around and pull your beard. This month you will be 34. Isn’t it This house and the family – do you too soon to quit? imagine them in the US? Why shouldn’t I say that Marcin Gortat I want to divide my life between Poland won’t be running on the court for the best and the US. I conduct my business in the league in world forever? I have my years USA, which won’t end with my retirement American television talking about and my own dreams but it’s hard to keep from the NBA. Besides, I can’t imagine a Poland, show America our history, them both together with this pace of work. wife that isn’t Polish. We really have intel- invite and introduce Polish veter- Besides, I have been playing professionally ligent, exceptional, beautiful women who ans. What’s the point in all this? since I was 19. I have dictated my whole life share similar values. I also want for the Why wouldn’t I do that? I am Polish and to basketball but life isn’t just work. I have kids, if they ever come around, to speak proud. The yearly Polish Heritage Night is other goals and non-basketball ideas, I’d perfect Polish and know their parents the best proof that Americans take interest like to realize. country very well. in our country, yet still know little about Then why NBA? You are probably the biggest it. Every year, during the Night, the stands Surely, I won’t be doing anything that private Polish ambassador abroad. are filled with more and more people from requires my dedication 365 days a year. You organize the Polish Heritage the US, which is why it’s not only a sport Unless we’re talking about family. Night in Washington, appear on event, but also a lesson about Poland, its history and tradition. Other Poles, who made a career in the States don’t promote Poland One of the first things I had to learn, so willingly. They say that they have full filled their „American dream”, after earning my first million dollars, that America has given them suc- was the word “no”. cess, as they start speaking Polish with an American accent. Where does it come from?

12 FEBRUARY 8-11, 2018 „WPROST” AN INTERVIEW WITH MARCIN GORTAT

This January, Gortat organized the Polish Heritage Night in the US, for the seventh time. In the picture with minister Anna Maria Anders and a veteran of the battle for Monte Cassino - major Wincenty Knapczyk, with his wife Helena And how are we perceived by the Americans? Contrary to the popular opinion, which I have heard many times in Poland, Ameri- cans see us in a great light. They take us for reliable partners. But they also see the divisions, which are getting stronger for some time. Looking at the Polish Diaspora living in the US, I see that Americans ap- preciate us more than they used to. Poles start to work at higher positions, owing to which they live better than ever. You, playing for the Washington Wizards, earn over 45 mln zloty per season. You invest your money in real estate, joint-stock Wall Street companies, even in horse racing. Do you have managers whispering into your ear: “Mr. Marcin, it would be wise to invest here” or do you make these decisions yourself? For years, I have been working with trusted people, but when it comes to busi- ness, the last word has to be mine. Also, I will never invest in some business on a whim, because that’s just burned money. Do you remember you first job and first earned money? My first job was de facto playing bas- ketball. In school I focused on learning and training. I didn’t have the time to work somewhere else. Even during summer. I had some pocket money and an occasional job at helping a family move, which was On the one hand, I want to laugh at surfers mocked that Gortat has enough opportunity to earn some cash. this, on the other - I grind my teeth millions and he’ll probably donate When did you make your first pretty hard when I hear about such cases. a hundred zloty. You paid the whole million? I have met many such people personally remaining sum of 125 thousand First million – dollars, not zloty – ap- but I don’t stay in contact with them. zloty. This donation shut their peared on my account when I was barely The „American dream” doesn’t exclude mouth. 25. Of course I bought myself my dream being Polish. It is owing to the help and Hate is all over the world, but I have car, but I stuck most of the money under support of many people from Poland a feeling it is more brutal in Poland. If I the mattress. I knew from the start that that I managed to achieve professional were to care, I wouldn’t go anywhere in I could be a professional sportsman for success. I met a lot of helpful people in my whole life. If somebody sees me as an some 10-15 years max, so I tried to spend the US too, but motherland always comes enemy, because I help those in need and my money wisely. I didn’t waste them first. These Poles, who forget Polish after promote my country the best way I can on unnecessary things, though certainly a few month or hide their origin must that means ,it’s them who’s got a problem, things have happened. have some big personal issues. I pity not me. What I am actually seeing for some And what was the case with the them, but I won’t tolerate stupidity, so time now, are more divisions among Poles. restaurant you bought in Orlando? I keep my distance. And I’m not only talking about politics. I You just walked in for a meal, liked You say you’re a patriot but you hope we’ll finally understand that strength it and said to yourself: “Ah, I’ll buy have experienced the Polish hate comes with unity and that if we do not myself a restaurant. After all, I al- first hand. It was when you were start to take care of our country, the effects ways wanted to have my own joint”. asked to participate in the fund might be dramatic. But I believe in Poles, I would have never decided on the raiser for sick Antoś. Polish web we have spunk. gastronomy branch on my own but I met

„WPROST” 13 People

Gortat funds trips to the US for the most talented kids from Poland. They have a chance of playing basketball with NBA players and go sightseeing in Washington and New York.

a man, who has successfully stayed in it for spent sending couple dozen of kids to The NBA has been organizing seminars the last couple dozen of years. I received a sports camps. for years, where we learn the stories of properly crafted business plan. I convinced Over half of NBA players end up those who went bankrupt, but we also meet myself to this investment. It was risky, but, their career in bankruptcy. Why? with people professionally handling fi- on the other hand, there aren’t any risk They entrust their finance to wrong nances. They teach us how to make proper free businesses. people. They are often cheated by their use of the money we earn. Thanks to these What was your best-spent managers, even by bankers. They decide meetings I know that in my case, I probably money? to keep their whole families on their won’t fall into the wrong category. Besides, Those invested in real estate in the salary. They invest badly in real estate I had the luck to meet really rich people, US and in Poland, obligations, shares of or waste their fortune on incredibly during my NBA career, whom I gladly technological companies. expensive, unnecessary things. Luckily, spoke with about how to invest, what to Worst-spent? nowadays these cases are fewer than avoid, when to risk it and when to let it go. Tuning my beloved BMW, which I drove before. Now, I think three times before investing very shortly, for instance. Nowadays I look Do they train you how to avoid my money somewhere. at it this way: I wasted money I could have going bankrupt? What is money to you? An addition to life. It can be very pleas- ant and give joy. Definitely not health, but surely joy. Money is also strictly tied with If you’re afraid that girl is a gold responsibility and teaches assertiveness. One of the first things I had to learn, after digger, give her a sandwich with pate earning my first million dollars, was the and cucumber and watch her react. word “no”. When everybody knows how much you make, everyone wants a piece

– an investment in their business, a loan PIETRUSZKA PAP/RADEK KUCZA/FOTOPYK, PIOTR MIKOŁAJCZYK, DOMINIK DC, WASHINGTON IN POLAND OF EMBASSY SERGE/WWW.AGATASERGE.COM, AGATA PHOTOS:

14 FEBRUARY 8-11, 2018 „WPROST” AN INTERVIEW WITH MARCIN GORTAT

Marcin Gortat to finish an apartment or to pay off loans Media made in a casino. speculate about Have you ever felt lonely because a relationship between Gortat you are rich? and an actress I have never felt lonely, at all. Well, named Alicja unless I needed it. I mean here both the Bachleda-Curuś. girlfriend and the friends. I have plenty They both appreciate their of friends, but these are the people I know privacy and do not since childhood or met at the beginning comment on these of my career in NBA. It’s owing to their rumors. support that I am, where I am, and I know they didn’t stick with me for my money, because I simply had none, back then. Do you know now, how to see if a girl likes you for yourself or for your credit card? There is no golden rule. If you’re afraid that she is a gold digger, take her for a ke- bab as a date or give her a sandwich with pate and cucumber and watch her react. (laughter) Have you ever felt used for money? It has never happened to me. I’ve got enough brains to see when someone is in my corner because he likes me or because of some financial gain. You engage yourself strongly in charitable work. Have you ever summed up how much you spend on charity, in a year? Yearly, if it’s through my foundation or from my private assets, we allocate around 2-3 million zloty for veterans, education, orn 1984. The only Polish NBA player. He wanted to be become a soldier or a helping those in need or supporting the Bmechanist. He became a soccer player, as a goalie. Due to his height of 213 cm he families of the fallen soldiers. wasn’t much suited for the job, so he began to play basketball. His debut was in 2002, in Your e-mail box must be explod- a local club ŁKS Łódź. Then came a move to Germany, where he played in Köln RheinE- ing with letters from people in need. nergie (today RheinStars Köln). In June 2005, he took part in the NBA draft, where the These are hard decisions: I’ll help best basketball league in the world acquires players. He was picked by Arizona Phoenix Suns but quickly transferred to Florida Orlando Magic. He played for them till 2010 this one, but not that one? and then came back to Phoenix. Since 2013, he has been playing for the Washington For over 11 years of the MG13 „Aim Wizards, a club, where the basketball legend Michael Jordan finished his career. High” Foundation, we learned to me- Gortat engages himself strongly in charitable work and representing Poland. He ticulously verify each request. There were helps sick children, equips hospitals, supports constructions of hospices. For the many cases, when someone fabricated a youngest, he organizes camps under his name, where gifted students from the whole tragic story, just to wheedle some money. Poland can train with the NBA players. He supports financially the veterans and families People think that we will help by directly of fallen soldiers. Every year, he organizes the Polish Heritage Night, where NBA fans can transferring a sum of money. It doesn’t learn about Polish history and culture. work like that. We need to keep invoices, He owns two estates in US: two houses in Arlington, in the suburbs of Washington hospital bills and stay in direct contact and another two in Windermere, Florida. Year and a half ago he invested in the Urbain 40 restaurant, in Orlando. He also locates money in shares of American companies. with the facilities that are engaged in, e.g. In Poland, he bought a few real estates in Łódź and Warsaw. He has signed contracts the treatment of a sick child. Nowadays with construction ceramics producer Röben, an international car rental company we check every request very carefully, Hertz, curated meats producer Sokołów and water company Primavera. In total, these to avoid getting scammed by cons, who contracts earn him around 5 mln zloty a year. Add to that a prolonged contract with unfortunately appear increasingly often. g Nike, worth a million dollars. He was featured on the last year’s list of 40 richest Poles, © All rights reserved. who are less than forty years old, as 15th - with a fortune of 251 million zloty.

„WPROST” 15 Politics

To the States without visas When it comes to abolishing visas to the US, we take the matters into our own hands. A new campaign is supposed to help Poland to enter the Visa Waiver program.

Artur Grabek

Thousands of Poles living in the US take part in the yearly Pulaski Parade on New York Manhattan.

dollars, a photo, a filled are no political counter arguments, removes encourage to apply for an American visa out on-line form, few the visa requirement for these countries, and will clarify the rules of acquiring one, 160 days of waiting and an where the number of rejections does not so that complicated application will be hour and a half long visit to the US con- exceed 3 per cent. Since 2004, there has successful and boosts our statistics. If we sulate in Warsaw or Krakow. This is the been a significant progress in this matter, find ourselves below the 3 percent bar, we shape of the visa application procedure as earlier each fourth motion was denied and will join the Visa Waiver program and be for the United States. Statistically, one can nowadays it is less than each sixteenth, but able to travel to US visa-free. So far, we are say that almost everybody goes through still we exceed the standard set by American one of few outcasts in UE – a country, whose this process successfully. According to the authorities. citizens, next to Bulgarians, Romanians, latest data, 94 percent of Poles applying for The social campaign by PLL LOT and Cypriots and Croatian, need to apply for a visa were granted one. 5.9 percent were other five non-government and business an US visa. rejected. Unfortunately, the whole fight is partners aims at changing this situation. – There are a lot of emotions and myths for these few per cent. Among those are: Poland Innovative Fo- connected to visas. Our goal is to debunk For years, our country leads a debate as undation, The Polish Promotional Program these myths and encourage Poles to apply to why Poles – such close partners of the Foundation, Cichociemni (Eng. The Silent for a visa within the next months but to do United States – need to have a visa, to visit Unseen) Foundation, Schuman Thought it thoroughly, as each incorrect application this country. The whole affairs boils down to Institute and MasterCard Company. For ends in denial. Meanwhile this disrupts the

one simple and clear regulation. USA, if there the next few months, this coalition will statistics and causes Poles to travel to US SOLAR CHALLENGE WORLD FOR IMAGES KLERK/GETTY DE MORNE NEWS, ŁASKI/EAST WOJTEK PHOTOS:

16 FEBRUARY 8-11, 2018 „WPROST” P O L I S H VOYAG E S Diploma made in USA

A group of students from MIT (The with a visa in their passport – says Adrian Massachusetts Kubicki, director of LOT Communications Institute of Technology) Office and the initiator of the action. PLL and their self- LOT intends to include all passengers in constructed solar their informatory campaign, as well as place vehicle appropriate information in the airports. As it turns out, rather a small amount of rejections is connected to formalities. Americans, as a rule, deny entrance to any- one, who has committed certain offences. Those, who had previously committed visa infringements, such as, remaining in the US for a longer period of time, than was settled diploma from an American university paves the path for career. As shown by by a civil servant upon entry, can lose their Aincreasingly more examples, graduates from Polish high schools should have no hopes of getting a visa. A motion may also complex, when applying to top universities. American universities mean not only the be denied if the applicant has any relatives prestige of learning at the same place where Noble Laureates, the contact with top that reside illegally in the US. research facilities or the possibility of having practices at world’s biggest corporations. Above all, they possess an enormous budget for scientific experiments involving According to prof. Zbigniew Krysiak, the students. MIT – America’s most known technological school – allocates over 2 billion director of Shuman’s Thought Institute, our dollars, every year, for this purpose. It is more or less as much as the Polish government visa statistics are lowered by another factor. allocates for all our national scientific sector. – Usually, it is errors in forms. Applications Yearly cost of living and tuition in United States settle around 200 thousand zloty. given on a wrong form, errors when declaring It does not mean that financial issues stand in the way of extraordinary students the purpose of the journey – says Krysiak in when applying at best universities in the world. Eight out of these, including Harvard, a conversation with “Wprost”. He adds that Princeton and MIT, carry out enrollment in the need-blind form, which means that only in such cases, applicants are usually granted skill-related aspects are taken into consideration. If a candidate passes the enrollment the visa when re-applying. – For them, it process, yet his family income does not exceed 65 thousand dollars a year, he will be means additional costs, as every next motion granted a full scholarship, not only to cover tuition fees, costs of food and living, but also pocket money and costs of flights. Scholarship offer for students from abroad can be is another 160 dollar fee. For Poland, it means found here: www.internationalstudent.com. Preparation for enrollment into an American worsened statistics. – he emphasizes. university should be began even two years ahead. One has to pass language certificates It is not hard to make a mistake. The most and the SAT exam (American high school finals) early, which are necessary for studying common touristic visa is a B1/B2 form. But the US. The SAT exam may be taken repeatedly, without the need of leaving the country. students who would like to connect leisure In Poland, three centers organize this exam: in Warsaw, Cracow and Gdansk. There are travel with a possibility of work should fill out six available dates in a year. another, especially designated, Work&Tra- vel form. In the past year, most rejections concerned motions from Subcarpathia, nessmen – as Krzysztof Przybył, president We have until September to change these Lesser Poland and the Eastern Wall. A high of the board for The Polish Promotional disreputable statistics. Then, fiscal year ends percentage of rejections applied to motions Program „Teraz Polska” Foundation, tells in the US and with it come yearly recapitu- from the Polish Diaspora in UK. Denied us. The Poland Innovative Foundation lations. Similar campaigns were previously applications most often contained formal follows a similar lead but aims at reaching launched in the Czech Republic and South errors. The Institute of Schuman’s Thought the youngest among entrepreneurs and Korea, where they turned out to be suc- considers creating a guide, as a part of the start-uppers. Both foundations have no cessful. Above all, the number of motions, informatory campaign, which would help doubts that Poland entering the Visa Waiver delivered by applicants with the greatest avoiding the most common mistakes. program would mean a great chance for chance of receiving a positive answer, was Meanwhile, Poland Innovative and The business to develop and for young business- raised. Our southern neighbors travel to the Polish Promotional Program Foundations men – to gain an unlimited access to newest US without the need for visas since 2008. aim at popularizing visas among Polish technologies and research data. Our participation in the visa free movement entrepreneurs, thus increasing the number MasterCard Company has also involved is supported by the European Committee. of approved applications. – Over the next itself in the campaign, wanting to promote This February, another round of talks with few months we will join forces in promoting tourist travels to United States. – We will Donald Trump’s administration, regarding USA visas motions and clarifying the rules be encouraging to pick USA as a travel this matter, is scheduled. In May, there will of application. As a foundation, which, destination this year, thus creating more be a meeting between ministers of justice every year, rewards Polish entrepreneurs positive visa applications decisions – says and internal affairs of EU and US, where the in the „Teraz Polska” competition, we are Marta Życińska, marketing director of the matter will be discussed. g able to address directly that group of busi- Polish division in MasterCard. © Wszelkie prawa zastrzeżone

„WPROST” 17 Opinion

Time for a strong alliance The Polish-American relations are better than ever. It is worth mentioning that we share over two hundred years of common history. Ryszard Czarnecki

illions of Poles – emigrants „over the great water” – have Mbeen building America’s eco- nomic position, even before there were United States of America. First ships arrived there already in the 17th century. Washington has played an important role on the international area, helping Poland in returning to the maps as an inde- pendent state. President Woodrow Wilson’s declaration was of grave importance, which is why he was justly made a patron for a square in Warsaw’s Żoliborz during the 2nd Republic of Poland and has returned as one to his place, after the communist era.

DIFFICULT TIMES, HARD MEMORIES But there were also difficult moments in our common history – of two nations adoring freedom so much. One of the most exceptional presidents in American history, assassinated in 1865, Abraham President of United States Donald Trump came with his first ‘national’, Lincoln, unfortunately bet on a close co- bilateral visit to Poland. Crowds gathered to listen to his speech. operation with tsar Russia. John Appleton, his ambassador in Petersburg, praised the „enlightened reform” of Tsar Alexander II, who deserted and joined Confederate decades later, another president, also a as well as understood Russian frustration army, was given away to the Russian by the Republican– Ronald Reagan - became a with the ‘stubborn Poles’. The Secretary of Americans. Our countryman was hanged. symbol of what is best in American history. State William Seward ill-spoke about the Whereas, the 20th century black dates The former actor, frowned upon by the Polish people after the January Uprising in Polish-American history were Novem- New York and Washington elites, as much and refused to support the French idea of ber-December 1943, January-February as their successors frown upon Donald sending out a diplomatic note to Russia’s 1945 and June-July 1945 r. During the Trump, has been justly perceived as a authorities; the note called for a peaceful conferences in Teheran, Yalta and Potsdam, conqueror of communism and the Soviet resolution to the „Polish Question”, guar- US President Franklin Delano Roosevelt, Union, on par with the Polish Pope John anteeing independent Polish education, with acceptance from Her Majesty’s Prime Paul II. Meanwhile, America has once again justice and administration systems, as well Minister Winston Churchill, gave away become a symbol of freedom for many na- as granting freedom of religion. Lincoln the Polish ally to Stalin and the Soviet tions fighting Moscow’s influence. himself has welcomed Russian fleet of- influence. At the time, the author of the ficers into the White House, revisited their New Deal and the only president in the COMMON HEROES: MILITARY ship „Aleksander Newski” and raised a American history to be elected thrice for MEN AND…. AN ACTRESS toast to the tsar. Aleksander Milewski, a the same office, was a synonym of betrayal We, Poles and Americans, have common na-

Pole and a sailor for the tsar naval fleet, of friendship. However, three and a half tional heroes. Does it stem from the mutual NEWS KOWALCZUK/EAST PHOTOS: MARIUSZ GRZELAK/REPORTER, STANISŁAW

18 FEBRUARY 8-11, 2018 „WPROST” POLISH-AMERICAN RELATIONS

love of freedom? When, in September 2017, younger virtuoso of the Polish piano. In- Newport, was a breaking point when it Donald Trump passed October 11th as Ka- stead, I will write how Paderewski, a pianist comes to the presence of American troops zimierz Pułaski’s Day in USA, we reminded from Europe, became a celebrity among in this region of Europe. Their number ourselves about the role this extraordinary music connoisseurs of the United States. systematically rises and their stay shifts soldier and strategist, who died in 1779 un- American girls passed out during his con- from “temporary” to more “permanent”. der Savannah, has played in both countries certs, years before their granddaughters did USA and allied forces also station in other on two continents. His short life was like a the same druing another European group’s three Baltic countries. It has significant Hollywood movie scenario, which caused concerts – the Beatles. Who, among the meaning, knowing that Russians can our countryman, who died for America, fans of the first pop culture American star, take the Estonian capital, Tallinn, within to fall deeper into American memory than knew that they were listening to the future less than twenty hours. This American builder of West Point, Tadeusz Kościuszko, Polish Prime Minster? military shield is beneficial to both sides. It strengthens Polish safety and American area of influence but also opens up the Polish arm market, with its great demands and offers, to the offers of our ally. They are an obvious priority but it does not mean that we will buy everything for any price. Friends can and should negotiate hard, as far as their interests go.

COMMUNITY OF BUSINESS Because nothing brings closer than com- mon business. We are also close in mat- ters of energy security. The Republic of Poland wants a diversification of energy resources, which – when translating from the language of diplomacy into concretes – means independence from Russia. And USA wants to sell Europe its natural gas: today liquefied, tomorrow shale. The new, 45th American president came with his first „national”, bilateral visit in Europe precisely to Poland. It is also important that the American Secretary – Both our countries are tied with a special bond – said President Trump, under of State Rex Tillerson visited our country the Warsaw Uprising Monument, at Krasińskich Street, on 6th of July 2017. as the only one in the region. But also canceled Donald Trump’s visit to London, planned for February. In the language of who came back to Europe unharmed. It is BETTER THAN EVER politics, this means one thing – Poland characteristic that in 18th century our com- Talk about the devil, let us move into poli- has replaced Great Britain as the ally no mon heroes were great Polish military men, tics. Our bilateral relations are better than 1 on the Old Continent. This strengthens while in 19th century it was an artist and a ever, I am writing this both as a historian the position of our state very much – also great actress. Helena Modrzejewska (or, as and a politician. Warsaw and Washington within the European Union: they won’t pat Americans put it, Modjewska). On a side have a common ground not only in terms us on the back, as the limit was reached note, her son, Rudolf (Ralph) Modrzejewski, of geopolitics but also economics. After a by their predecessors, but we can count although born in Bochnia, Poland, became, period of “errors and perversions” in the on more respect. It also facilitates our at the beginning of the 20th century, the foreign policy of the first term of President leadership in the region of Central-Eastern most renowned bridge constructor in USA– Barack Obama, which saw a fatal reset Europe. he created almost 40 of them. in the American-Russian relationship Polish-American alliance has a stra- The impressive life biography of the and, consequently, lack of interest in the tegic character. It constitutes a solid great lady of American theatre brings us Central-Eastern Europe, came a return frame of a picture, which remains to be to another great character in shared history from the virtual into the real world with painted with our everyday proceedings. – Ignacy Jan Paderewski. I will refrain from the second term. Warsaw NATO sum- The conference in Miami is an example writing about the affair of the American mit, whose arrangements exceeded of just that. g star of the stage of the 20-s with a 20 years those accepted two years earlier in Welsh © All rights reserved.

„WPROST” 19 Opinion

On January 1st Poland has taken a non-permanent membership in the UN Security Council, where we will reside for two years. President Duda’s speech during a debate concerning anti-spreading of weapons of mass destruction.

Mission amongst the global players Poland taking a part in the US strategy would be beneficial for the country. The membership in UN Security Council opens up additional opportunities. gen. Waldemar Skrzypczak

he world is gaining momentum and NEW WORLD ORDER economic, and in consequence political, the competition between global President Trump foresees changes, in his influence. Tsuperpowers – gains severity. It new Security Strategy from December, The US President sees hazards for his is already visible that tools and political and warns not only Americans but also country. Yet they are not just confined to the operations will not influence the economic all those, who hold dear the democratic United States. They apply to Europe, which expansion of new global players or the ideals of the Western civilizations. Next to has been living in relative peace for the last accompanying arms race. The problems economic expansion, he emphasizes the 70 years. The faith in everlasting peace has of the newly developing world order over- threat accompanying military conflicts weakened our continent. Without a doubt, it shadow the authors of the order that lasted of big magnitude, which can be strictly is a consequence of believing in the “politics

practically since the end of World War I. connected with fights over new zones of of love”, created, as one can conclude from LANE PHOTOS: PAP/EPA/JUSTIN

20 FEBRUARY 8-11, 2018 „WPROST” A STRATEGY FOR POLAND

the past decade, for the need of imperialistic I am convinced we can do much more in wishes to use its low price as a weapon in politics of Putin. relations with that region than Americans. the fight for European markets. Poland Which is why the West has practically Additionally, there is the problem of millions has taken its first step. We have a reloading disarmed itself. Consequences of which of refugees in the area. Poland can become base in Swinoujscie. As few nations in the may be drastic. Sobering up, apparently, is an author and a leader of an international world, we have developed the technology a slow process. The European Union cannot long-term program of rebuilding Syria, Iraq of production cisterns used for transporting follow the world trends, busy with itself and etc. We could set up an international shield liquefied gas. Polish companies invest in its internal affairs, created as an effect of of security over this region. This would go the technology of devices used to reduce Western inefficient policies, over the last along well with the policy of solving the the pressure of gas and its distribution. It two decades. Let me just mention the failed emigration problem, so much expected by would be beneficial to convince American interventions in Iraq and Libya, creating an everyone in Europe. The actions of US and companies to invest in Poland in distribution unimaginable chaos in the North Africa and EU are ineffective. Humanitarian help and systems and construction of local networks. the Middle East. Plus, an uncontrollable camps for refugees are a temporary measure; This could a beginning of a bilateral strategy, mass emigration. So far – Europe’s menace. without future. Plus, the key players up to beneficial to both sides. One that could be Coming back to Trump’s new strategy, it now, including US and the nations of the even broadened to other countries. is worth to notice the strong emphasis put west, are not welcomed there. It is an oppor- It is but one of many examples of Polish on modernizing USA’s military potential. I tunity for Poland, for our diplomacy. Maybe involvement in USA’s security strategy. We prefer keeping peace by the means of force. even for the Visegrád Group. I am convinced are and should be a part of it. The question This sounds very confrontational but I doubt that Americans would happily support such remains, can we make proper use our chance. whether it is deterring to Russia or China. an initiative on the UN forum. As always – so One has to appreciate that this strategy far - we can count on China. WHAT ABOUT OUR SECURITY places its durability in cooperation with A key element in our notion of security is allies, of which Americans will have fewer MILITARY AND POWER the presence of allied forces, most impor- and fewer. A good example is Turkey under INDUSTRY tantly – American troops, on the eastern rule of Erdoğan – a country hostile toward President Trump has radically increased flank of NATO. Since Trump’s new strategy EU and unstable in NATO. budget spending on army modernization and emphasizes the necessity of America military We are then witnesses to historical events development of new technologies, including presence abroad, it is worth exploiting. This which will shape the future and world to the ones with a double use: both military and is, of course, a task for politics and diplomats. next dozen of decades, maybe even few cen- civil. While the Polish arms industry, due to But it is worth considering what should be turies. I hope it will not come to cataclysms ineffective management, is in shambles. If we done in order to convince US Congress to such as wars. do not focus our efforts on its development, increase the US military presence in Poland. it will fall to a technological bottom. And the An important factor, outside of military OPPORTUNITY TO ACT tax payers will lay money for an unproductive aspects, are costs. We need to recognize, Poland stands in front of a historical challen- sector. So it would be worth to try and join what Americans would expect in term of ge. How to find our place in what is coming? the American army development programs, logistics. Especially since the reduction of How to assure a strong and stable position for in our most desired fields. We need to catch bureaucracy and its derivatives is strongly Poland in the world? Economic and military every opportunity of military and industry emphasized in US strategy. It may be an safety? Strong political position? cooperation. Polish universities, research and opportunity for Polish service providers. In terms of international politics we development facilities and companies within A question of several permanent bases is need to make use of our position in the UN the arms sector, both state and civil, should something worth considering. Making some Security Council. There are a few global become participants of such programs, under effort to cover part of construction costs problems, which it would be wise to invo- the auspices of the Polish government. near military bases for the American, and in lve ourselves in and gain allies in favor of It is in such initiative that I would see future, Polish troops – as a part of the plan normalizing the situation. Poland is well Poland’s leading role. Especially within to move the military out of developing city perceived in many countries. It would make the countries of Eastern Europe. It is also agglomerations. sense, as a part of finding a place in the new an element of building credibility as an Our security has a collective nature. We strategy of our main ally – USA, to play an ally. Americans, on the other hand, should should remain faithful to that. We have a active role as an initiator of stabilizing the create a plan of preferential cooperation historical opportunity to take a permanent relation with Iran and, if it’s possible, with for their allies. place in the global system of security and North Korea, on the UN forum. It isn’t hard Another issue worth of engaging is the peacekeeping. And it is not a fantasy from to notice that Iran broaden its influence in energy safety. It is one of political priorities the category of “dreams of power”, but a the Middle East. It is supported by Russia often listed by Trump. Europe, dependent realistic vision. g and, lately by China, in alliance with Pa- on supplies from the East, is looking for © All rights reserved. kistan. It is an opportunity for the Polish alternatives. One might be natural gas im- The author was a commander diplomacy to act. port from the USA. Especially since Trump of Polish Land Forces

„WPROST” 21 History

22 FEBRUARY 8-11, 2018 „WPROST” POLISH FRONT IN THE WHITE HOUSE

Presidents of our dreams Poland has always treated the tenants of the White House with a special care. Sometimes over the top special. But there were a few individuals who did Poland much good. Jakub Mielnik

very child in the US and Poland knows that Puławski and the borders of our state, pressuring other Kościuszko fought for the freedom of the Unites States. powers, not only to give Poland access to EValiant Polish military men at the side of the Founding the sea through Pomerania but also Gdansk Fathers is a great myth of a grand – not to say eternal – love that itself, which, in view of the White House, flows for the American presidents in Poland. However, in the first should have had become an integral part years of the US, it was love one-sided. of the country. Eventually, it was due to There is no fault on the American side in that matter. The young British protests that a Free City of Gdansk nation was too distant and too insignificant internationally, to was created, where, although retaining the play a real role in supporting Poland at the moment of the fall of appearances of balance, Germans played the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth or even later, during our the key role. numerous freedom uprisings. Sadly, then Polish-American love The presidents, concerned with important matters, were less withered. President Franklin Delano Ro- empathetic with the Polish cause, than regular, though not common, Woodrow osevelt is rather frowned upon in Poland, Americans. Few people know that the great Edgar Allan Poe was Wilson was the where his image is connected to the Yalta first US president ready to join the Polish army in the November Uprising, while his agreement, when the whole Central Europe to make the wirier friend, James Fenimore Cooper, petitioned for the American question of Polish was given away to Stalin. The mechanism support to the voluntary army that was supposed to march from independence of this agreement, which meant rejecting France to help the up-risers. a matter of Poland as an ally not only by the US but also American by the Great Britain, was aptly described POLAND BETRAYED international policy. by the first post-WWII US ambassador in American politics didn’t have the patience for convoluted affairs Poland, Arthur Bliss Lane, in his book, under of the Central Europe for long. In the end, pragmatic aspects a perfectly phrased title “I have seen the prevailed. Although Abraham Lincoln privately supported the Poland betrayed”. January Uprising, as well as other Polish freedom ambitions, he did nothing officially, fearing that the invasive powers would support CONQUERORS OF COMMUNISM the Confederate States of America, which were at war with the Post War presidents treated our country Union. Especially since Russia supported the North in the Civil War. as a part of the Soviet Block, regardless of The Polish question behind the ocean was not helped by the how enthusiastically Nixon, Ford or Carter fact that a Polish anarchist Leon Czołgosz shot, in 1901, President were welcomed in the streets of Warsaw. George McKinley. It wasn’t until Woodrow Wilson, during the First The Big Brother in Kremlin was too powerful World War, that an American president took interest in the fate of at the time and US too involved in the far the divided Poland. It was greatly owing to Ignacy Paderewski, who from Poland fronts of the Cold War, for us lobbied successfully for Polish cause in Washington. We covered that to play any major role in the diplomatic story extensively in our text “Virtuoso of independence” (Wprost Ronald Reagan game between Washington and Moscow. 3/2018 r.). and John Paul II However, we need to remember that owing Who knows, how Poland would look today, if it weren’t for kept a constant to President Nixon’s visit, Coca Cola was in- diplomatic contact. Wilson’s perseverance to put the rebirth of an independent state Their actions troduced in socialist Poland, while owing to of Poland into the famous, 14-point peace plan, which established were aimed at the President Gerald Ford – PPR (Polish People’s post war order in Europe. Wilson also played a key role in shaping empire of evil. Republic) was granted loans. Without the

„WPROST” 23 History

In July 1975, breaking all dependent ties with Moscow. Warsaw was Clinton, although perceived poorly for his visited by Gerald indecisiveness, which led to genocide in the Ford. He came to Poland straight former state of Yugoslavia, has done Poland from Moscow. many great deeds, erasing Roosevelt’s blame, who, along with Churchill, sold us to Stalin in Yalta. Newly acquired nobility obliges, which is why Poland, only few years later acceptance, has eagerly answered the call from the next American President and went to war to Iraq with its ally. It was in Warsaw that George W. Bush proclaimed the birth of the new Euro- pe, ready to support USA unconditionally, unlike such countries as France or Germany, who strongly opposed American involve- ment in the Middle East. Bush didn’t gain much in Iraq; neither did Poland, but the president, who was criticized for his every move, turned out to be a visionary in one aspect. We’re talking about the anti-missile shield, which he intended to install in Poland to deter Russia. It was back, when only a small group of experts foresaw Russia’s re- loans, graciously given by Ford, and Giere- democratic opposition propagated by turn to aggressive international politics. His k’s big expenditures, there wouldn’t be an communist authorities in Poland. Reagan’s successor, Barack Obama, although praised economic crash that created Solidarity and administration has also pressured Brezhnev in the US for breaking the cultural taboo of brought Communism to its knees in Europe. on the matter of eventual intervention of an African American entering the White Ho- It is surprising that President Jimmy Warsaw Pact troops in Poland, threatening use, threw the anti-missile project away and Carter had the least influence on Poland’s with retaliation in case of aggression on the proclaimed a reset in relations with Russia. situation in the Soviet Block, since he always territory of PPR. Even though mocked by It created some peculiar situations. In 2011, emphasized having Professor Zbigniew General Jaruzelski’s propaganda, Reagan USA organized a big historical exhibition Brzeziński, a Pole, as his internal security came to Poland as a former president in looking for striking similarities between advisor. Even though Carter picked Poland 1990, after the fall of communism, which Abraham Lincoln and Tsar Alexander II. as one of his first international visits, he was he played a great role in. Supposed parallels pointed to the fact that mostly remembered due to an awful trans- when Lincoln abolished slavery in the US, lator, who kept mixing Polish and Russian. THE BEGINNING the tsar lifted the serfdom in Russia. Besides, Waves of laughter, brought on by the strange OF THE CADENCY they both died assassinated. The exhibition, translation, were long remembered in the Few people nowadays remember that same as the whole ‘reset’, wasn’t the begin- Ministry of Foreign Affairs. at the beginning of 90-s, even members ning of a great friendship between the two It all changed with President Ronald within the Solidarity movement couldn’t countries. Obama quickly learned about the Reagan, who claims the first spot amongst imagine existence outside the Soviet field scope of Russian ambitions, which even led American presidents who foster Polish of influence. President Lech Wałęsa even to electoral manipulations in the US. affairs. Reagan, hated by his political ad- proposed creation of NATO-bis – a sort of Will Donald Trump, a successor of Oba- versaries, decided to confront Soviets in the no man’s land, where Poland could reside. ma, turn out the president of our dreams? heart of their political influence in Central Formally free from Moscow supervision but A lot of signs from the White House point Europe. A lot of credit goes to Pope John still susceptible to its influence, because not to the fact that Poland takes a special place Paul II, who, as it turned out years later, fully integrated with NATO. in US strategy. The strengthening of US cooperated strictly with Reagan in battling We owe it to Bill Clinton for bringing us military’s presence in Poland itself is the communism in the world. However, we owe closer to the idea of joining NATO, as he biggest breakpoint since acceptance to NA- to Reagan the political and financial support consequently supported Polish efforts in this TO, because without Alliance’s installations of Solidarity. It was provided efficiently, but matter. It was him, who, in 1997, brought we would be something short of NATO-bis most importantly quietly, not to discredit to Warsaw an official invitation to join the that Wałęsa talked about. And this is just the Solidarity as a part of imperialist intelligence Alliance. Our country became a member of beginning of the cadency. g agencies. After all, such was the image of NATO right before end of Clinton’s cadency, © All rights reserved. MOREK PAP/JAN ARCHIVE/GETTY IMAGES, HULTON NEWS, PHOTOS: AFP/EAST

24 FEBRUARY 8-11, 2018 „WPROST” POLISH AMERICAN LEADERSHIP SUMMIT POLAND INVESTMENT ZONE

“The idea behind this business meeting is to create strong support at the highest level of business and policy making – the level where meaningful political declarations can be made, as they have often appeared in the past and have been historically borne out in relations between Poland and the United States of America. We are inspired by the positive energy accompanying the celebration of 100 years of Polish independence. This independence, as well as Polish history, was uniquely and substantially influenced by individuals such as US presidents Woodrow Wilson, Herbert Hoover and Ronald Regan and their relations with Polish leaders as Prime Minister Ignacy Jan

Paderewski and Pope John Paul II. The first The Honorary Patronage of the Polish-American Leadership Summit will continue President of the Republic of Poland this amazing history.” – says Michał Maciej Lisiecki, Andrzej Duda president of the Program Board and over the #PALS conference on the Summit Organization Committee. Feb 9th, 2018

Projekt realizowany w ramach obchodów stulecia odzyskania niepodległości POLISH AMERICAN LEADERSHIP SUMMIT POLAND INVESTMENT ZONE

To Polish American Leadership Summit Patrons, Attendees, Supporters, and Partners:

As organizing members of the Honorary Program Council and Co founders of RTMx (Round Table Mixer), we would like to extend our warmest invitation to the inaugural Polish American Leadership Summit in Miami, Florida.

In devising this event, we have aimed to deliver the first ever bilateral Polish and American business-centered conference that endeavors to strengthen the commercial and economic ties, as well as the security ties, of this important geopolitical and historical alliance.

It is well understood by students of history that the Polish and American alliance effectively dates to the American Revolution, and is thusly America’s first notable trans- national alliance. When Polish freedom fighters Tadeusz Kosciuszko and Casimir Pulaski joined the American revolutionary war effort and came to the aid of the fledgling democracy’s fight for self-determination, a relational mark had been set. This was the sort of existential battle that Poles had fought for, and would have to continue to fight for, throughout Polish history. Soon after shedding the yoke of imperial tyranny, the newly minted United States of America guaranteed natural rights, those rights ordained by God, not government, by codification in the first post-enlightenment constitution (1789). Poland adopted this framework merely two years later (1791) in the creation of its own constitution, which was the first in Europe to uphold these universal values.

This seminal alliance proved integral to both nations’ security and larger geopolitical stability many times over. In 1918, the American-devised “Fourteen Points” plan, as the adjudicating framework after the First World War, gave Poland its independence for the first time in the industrial age. Two years later, in 1920, American fighter pilots flew alongside their Polish counterparts in the Battle of Warsaw to beat back the Russian Bolshevik scourge hellbent on installing global communism against the will of free nations. During the Second World War, America fought, sacrificing much and suffering greatly, to liberate the European continent from the German Nazi designs on continental despotic hegemony. Over the entire length of the multi-generational Cold War, America consistently labored to set free those nations behind the Iron Curtain suffering under the jackboot of Soviet oppression with Poland serving as ground zero for the cultural information war strategy of promoting freedom and resistance via Radio Free Europe. And just recently, newly elected President Donald Trump’s first visit to a sovereign capital to meet with POLISH AMERICAN LEADERSHIP SUMMIT POLAND INVESTMENT ZONE

a national government was to Warsaw in July 2017 to stand in solidarity with a government elected on the same thematic platform as he was- that of nation state sovereignty preservation and conservative patriotic values. This historic visit reinforced the Polish and American commitment to bilateral relations around joint security issues but also focused on the deepening bilateral economic relations between Poland and the United States which is key to evolving this relationship in the 21st century.

In this inaugural Polish American Leadership Summit, we aim to serve this integral component of contemporary global diplomacy and societal advancement- that of interdependent free trade between allies. Since 1989, when Poland liberalized from a communist command economy to a market based one, the economic ties between the nations have continued to strengthen. But we believe that the surface has been barely scratched and the potential for commercial and intellectual transfer exists far more than what has heretofore been consummated- accruing to the material benefit of both economies and societies writ large. It was not coincidental that President Trump’s Warsaw visit coincided with the opening of Europe’s newest large-scale LNG offloading depot in Swinoujscie. President Trump and his administration recognized what then-Minister of Development (and now Prime Minister) Mateusz Morawiecki believed in bringing this facility online- that energy policy, and the security which comes from raw energy source diversity, is an integral guarantor of safety and stability with direct security implications. In contemporary Europe, there exists a dominant continental supplier willing to use their capacity to trade energy as a political weapon in contravention of market based incentives with the clear goal of destabilizing their adversaries in order to gain an upper hand in revanchist military operations. This clear and present danger, ignored by the previous Polish and American governments, but now astutely appreciated by the Trump and Morawiecki administrations, is best countered by free and robust trade in the energy sector.

Poland, as a growing counterparty for the consumption of American goods and services, technology transfer, OEM industrial production, knowledge-based service sector employment, and education exchange, is also uniquely positioned to become the leader of the developing “Three Seas Initiative” regional trade and security bloc. This project enthusiastically ties together a dozen sovereign European Union member nations, between the Baltic, Black, and Adriatic Seas in Central/Eastern Europe. This multilateral arrangement aggregates 112 million Europeans of the fastest growing economies who worry about the undermining risk to their sovereignty from the politically centralizing and oftentimes coercive spheres of power that lay both to their East and to their West. Poland has asserted itself from inception as the political and economic anchor and driver of this project as the largest nation state by both economic output and population and the primary public stock exchange listing marketplace in the region.

POLISH AMERICAN LEADERSHIP SUMMIT POLAND INVESTMENT ZONE

Given these evolving dynamics, we believe this is the perfect moment to bring together Polish and American business interests from the energy, defense, technology, telecommunications, and consumer sectors, as well as economic thought leaders, defense and security strategists, investors with access to capital pools, and all those interested in the economic growth story of the “Polish Miracle” and the historic and ever-developing Polish-American alliance.

We hope you join us in Miami in February 2018, the 100th anniversary of Polish independence, to increasingly develop, for mutual benefit, the economic ties that can further secure our two nations’ prosperity and bind our two societies ever more tightly together- politically, economically, and in the perpetual shared desire for peaceful stability for the coming generations!

Michał Maciej Lisiecki & Matthew Tyrmand RTMx Co-Founders & Honorary Program Committee Chair & Co-Chair Polish American Leadership Summit 2018 POLISH AMERICAN LEADERSHIP SUMMIT POLAND INVESTMENT ZONE

POLISH–AMERICAN LEADERSHIP SUMMIT: POLISH INVESTMENT ZONE UNDER THE AUSPICES OF THE PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF POLAND

Polish-American Leadership Summit: Polish Investment Zone (Polish-American Leader- ship Summit: Polish Investment Zone, #PALS), organized on 9th of February in Miami, has been taken under the honorary patronage by the President of the Republic of Poland Andrzej Duda.

It will be a pivotal event in Polish-American economic relations in 2018 and first initiative of such kind – joining economic and political relations between the two countries.

The president has not only taken the conference under his patronage but also decided to present the organizers with a special diploma, commemorating 100th anniversary of the Restoration of Poland’s Sovereignty.

„The forum of entrepreneurs, politicians and media representatives organized by you will constitute an excellent opportunity for discussing and strengthening Polish-American eco- nomic relations” – as was written in a letter addressed to the president of the Program Board and the Summit Organization Committee.

Among confirmed distinguished guests of #PALS are Vice Marshal of the Senate Adam Bielan, Senator Anna Maria Anders, Polish ambassador to the USA Piotr Wilczek and Paweł Borys, the president of Polish Development Fund, as well as Paweł Soloch, secretary of state in Chancellery of the President and head of the National Security Bureau. On the American side representatives of the administration of the President of the United States have been invited as well as the President Donald Trump himself.

The agenda of the forum includes, among others, opening VIP statements, 9 sessions in business mixer format, 2 plenary sessions, 3 evening sessions, an award gala, as well as an exclusive VIP meeting and additional attractions. The program of the conference is dedicat- ed in particular to topics connected with knowledge and technology transfer between the USA and Central Europe, as well as strategic energy security.

The crowning of the official part of #PALS will be the 46th edition of the annual Inter- national Polonaise Ball at Eden Roc entitled „100 years of Poland’s Independence and Centuries of Polish – American Relations”.

The special exclusive VIP session of the Summit will take place at Mar-a-Lago, referred to by Donald Trump as „Winter White House”.

The honorary Program Board of the Polish-American Leadership Summit: Polish In- vestment Zone includes i.a. (in alphabetical order) Rafał Antczak (vice-president of PKO POLISH AMERICAN LEADERSHIP SUMMIT POLAND INVESTMENT ZONE

POLISH–AMERICAN LEADERSHIP SUMMIT: POLISH INVESTMENT ZONE UNDER THE AUSPICES OF THE PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF POLAND

BP), Ian Brzezinski (foreign policy and national security expert), Rita Cosby (journalist), Jonny Daniels (president of From The Depths Foundation), Paweł Dobrowolski (economist), Jadwiga Emilewicz (vice-minister of development), George Friedman (chairman and found- er of Geopolitical Futures), Marta Gajęcka (vice president of PGE Energia Odnawialna), Maciej Golubiewski (general consul of the Republic of Poland in New York), Tadeusz Kościński (vice-minister of development), Paweł Lisicki (editor-in-chief of „Do Rzeczy”), prof. Piotr Moncarz (Stanford University), Jacek Pochłopień (editor-in-chief of „Wprost”), Andrzej Sadowski (Adam Smith Centre), Matthew Tyrmand (publicist). Over 100 members from Poland and USA will reside within the Honorary Board.

Strategic partners of the Polish-American Leadership Summit: Polish Investment Zone are LOTOS group and KGHM Polska Miedź. The event partners are TAURON, ENEA, PHN and Supra Brokers. Program and content-related partners of #PALS are Casimir Pulaski Foundation and Polish Investment and Trade Agency (PFR Group). This event is organ- ized under the auspices of The American Institute of Polish Culture. Media patronage over the conference is provided by Telewizja Polska, TV Polonia, „Wprost” and „Do Rzeczy” weeklies, „Historia Do Rzeczy” monthly, Wprost.pl and DoRzeczy.pl bulletins, television Inwestorzy.tv as well as Polonaise „Nowy Dziennik”. The event organizers are PMPG Polskie Media, Round Table Mixer (RTMx) and European Centre for Innovative Public Idea.

Details of the event and information concerning attending the conference are available at the website: https://rtmx.pl/polish-american-leadership-summit. POLISH AMERICAN LEADERSHIP SUMMIT POLAND INVESTMENT ZONE

SPEAKERS

REPUBLIC OF POLAND Secretaries of State: Polish Parliament Filip GRZEGORCZYK RADM Brigham McCOWN Representatives: CEO Tauron Nouveau Corporation Anna Maria ANDERS Sekretarz Stanu w Kancelarii Piotr MISIŁO Marcin JASTRZĘBSKI Matthew TYRMAND Premiera Rady Ministrów (Nowoczesna) Member of the CEO Grupa Lotos Journalist, Investor, Political Parliament Activist & Advisor Adam HAMRYSZCZAK Mirosław KOWALIK Undersecretary of State, Arkadiusz MULARCZYK CEO ENEA Others, pending Ministry of Investment and (Law and Justice) Member of confirmation: Development the Parliament Tomasz PISULA Polish Investment & Trade Elon MUSK Tadeusz KOŚCIŃSKI Norbert OBRYCKI Agency CEO Tesla, SpaceX Undersecretary of State, (Civic Platform)Member of the Ministry of Entrepreneurship Parliament Krzysztof KAMIŃSKI Richard PIPES and Innovation, Republic of Managing Director, Warsaw Polish American author Poland Paweł PUDŁOWSKI Institute and academic (Nowoczesna)Member of the Mariusz ORION-JĘDRYSEK Parliament UNITED STATES: Katy KAVALEC Secretary of State, Ministry of Deputy Assistant Secretary Environment, Chief National Adam BIELAN Ewa BLAISDELL of State for European Geologist (Law and Justice) Deputy Founder of California Space and Eurasian Affairs, Speaker of Senate Center US Department of State Paweł SOLOCH Secretary of State, Head of Dignitaries: Ian BRZEZINSKI Eric STEWART the National Security Bureau, Principal, Brzezinski Group LLC Republic of Poland President, US-Mexico Profesor Andrzej ZYBERTOWICZ Senior Fellow, Atlantic Council Business Coalition Security Policy Adviser to the Mikołaj WILD President of the Republic of Peter DORAN Secretary of State, Elaine CHAO Poland President & CEO, Center for Plenipotentiary for the Central Secretary of Transportation, European Policy Analysis USA Communication Port, Piotr WŁODARSKI Republic of Poland Director of the Strategic Arnold C. DUPUY, Ph.D Lt. Gen. Charles HOOPER Analysis Department, National Adjunct Assistant Professor at Director, Defense Security Ambassadors: Security Bureau, Republic Virginia Polytechnic Institute Cooperation Agency of Poland (invited) and State University H.E. Andrii DESHCHYTSIA – contractor US Department Kirstjen NIELSEN The Ambassador Extraordinary Business and Academia: of Defense, OUSD Acquisition, Homeland Security Secretary and Plenipotentiary of Ukraine Technology, and Logistics to Poland Henryk BARANOWSKI CEO, PGE Susan ELLIOTT H.E. Ovidiu DRANGA US Forces Europe (EUCOM) Dep- Ambassador Extraordinary and Paweł BORYS uty to Commander (2015-2017) Plenipotentiary of Romania Chairman of the Board, Polish to Poland Development Fund George FRIEDMAN Founder and CEO, Geopolitical H.E. Piotr WILCZEK Jan Marek CHODAKIEWICZ Futures Ambassador of the Republic historian of Poland to the United States David KRAMER of America Radosław DOMAGALSKI United States Assistant Sec- CEO KGHM retary of State for Democracy and Human Rights POLISH AMERICAN LEADERSHIP SUMMIT POLAND INVESTMENT ZONE

INVITED GUESTS HONORARY OF HONOR PROGRAM COUNCIL

Mateusz Morawicki ANDERS Anna Maria Editor in Chief, DoRzeczy weekly Secretary of State at the Chancellery of the MAZURKIEWICZ Jim, Dr Prime Minister of Poland Prime Minister President of Polish American Council of Texas, BRZEZINSKI Ian Professor and Leadership Program Director, Resident Senior Fellow, Scowcroft Center TALL Program, Anna Maria Anders for Strategy and Security Texas A&M University ANTCZAK Rafał MONCARZ Piotr, Professor Senator, Secretary of State, Vice-President PKO BP Stanford University, US-Poland Trade Council Plenipotentiary for International COSBY Rita NIETYKSZA Anna Journalist CEO of Eficapital sp.z.o.o. Cloud Community Dialogue Europe PL DANIELS Jonny Founder and Executive Director “From the NIZIOŁ Robert Depths” HalCash North America Adam Bielan NOWAK Dariusz, ProfessorOCIEPA Marcin DOBROWOLSKI Paweł Collegium Nobilium Opoliense Chief economist of the Polish Development Fund Senator, Deputy Speaker PISARSKA Katarzyna EMILEWICZ Jadwiga of Senate of Poland Director and Founder, European Academy Minister of entrepreneurship and technology of Diplomacy (EAD), Poland FRIEDMAN George POCHŁOPIEŃ Jacek Lady Blanka Rosenstel Chairman and Founder of Geopolitical Futures Editor in Chief, Wprost weekly GAJĘCKA Marta PODSKARBI Mateusz Founder & President of The American Advisor to the President of Poland, Global Strategic Marketing Manager, Yokogawa; Institute of Polish Culture, Vice-President of PGE Energia Odnawialna S.A. Technology Investor GARBOS Raymond PRIEBE Waldemar, Dr Honorary Consul of The Republic VP and Chief Technology Officer, Professor at The University of Texas of Poland in Florida Engineering Fellow eCollaborative Ventures, Inc. M. D. Anderson Cancer Center GAWĘDA Marcin SADOWSKI Andrzej Chairman of the Board, Warsawsec Adam Smith Center Piotr Wilczek GOLUBIEWSKI Maciej SADOWSKI Grzegorz Polish Consul in New York (MSZ) Head of Business Section, Wprost weekly Polish Ambassador to the United States GRZESIAK Mateusz, Doctor SADOWSKI Nick Personal Development Coach Media Expert, CoPublisher of Nowy Dziennik in HEJKA Anna New York Paweł Borys CEO of Heyka Capital Markets Group SCHMIDT Dominik CEO of Polish Development Fund (PFR) JASTRZĘBSKI Marcin QVT Financial Silicon Valley President of the Management Board of Grupa SKULIMOWSKI Marek Lotos SA CEO and Managing Director of Kosciuszko Paweł Soloch KOŚCIŃSKI Tadeusz Fundation Undersecretary of State in Ministry SOLOCH Paweł Secretary of State, Head of the National of Regional Development Secretary of State, Head of the National Security KOWALSKI Janusz Bureau, Security Bureau, Minister in the Chancellery CEO of Warsaw Institute Fundation Minister in the Chancellery of the President of The Republic of Poland of the President of The Republic of Poland KUSIŃSKI Greg, Dr President of Polish American Chamber TYRMAND Matthew of Commerce in Texas, Chevron Journalist, Investor, Political Activist & Advisor BRZEZINSKI Ian KUCHTA Kamil WESOLOWSKI Zdzislaw, Prof Dr Managing director PMPG Ventures Founder and President, Retired Florida Polish Resident Senior Fellow, Scowcroft Center American KUJAWSKA Hanna Chamber of Commerce for Strategy and Security Finance & Capital Market Expert, Advisor to the Board of PMPG Polish Media WITUCKI Maciej CEO Work Service SA LASOCKI Dariusz FRIEDMAN George Chairman of the board, Warsaw Institute Chairman and Founder of Geopolitical of Strategic Studies LICON Horacio Futures VP International Trade and Investment, Greater Houston Partnership LISICKI Paweł POLISH AMERICAN LEADERSHIP SUMMIT POLAND INVESTMENT ZONE

AGENDA

The Honorary Patronage of the President of the Republic of Poland  Andrzej Duda

over the #PALS conference on Feb 9th, 2018 POLISH AMERICAN LEADERSHIP SUMMIT POLAND INVESTMENT ZONE

7:30 | PALS GUESTS MEET AT THE WARSAW CHOPIN AIRPORT – FEBRUARY DEPARTURE TERMINAL 10:00 | PALS FLIGHT DEPARTING FOR MIAMI, FL

16:00 | LANDING IN MIAMI AIRPORT 8TH 16:00 – 16:30 | CUSTOMS, PASSPORT CLEARANCE Transport to JW Marriott Hotel 2018 20.00 – 22:00 | WELCOME DRINK – JW MARRIOTT, MIAMI, FL (THURSDAY) Message from the Event Partner

7.45 – 9.15 | REGISTRATION

FEBRUARY JW Marriott, Miami, FL 9.15 – 9.30 | WELCOME REMARKS

MICHAŁ LISIECKI - Founder & President PMPG Polskie Media, Chairman of PALS Honorary Program Council 9TH ZBIGNIEW PISARSKI - President of the Casimir Pulaski Foundation, Vice-Chairman of PALS Honorary Program Council 2018 9.30 – 9.35 | MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF (FRIDAY) POLAND

A video message from the President of the Republic of Poland - ANDRZEJ DUDA - to the guests of the Polish-American Leadership Summit. 9:35 – 9.50 | OPENING SPEECH

JERZY KWIECIŃSKI - Minister of Investment and Economic Development, Republic of Poland

9:50 – 10:10 | KEYNOTE SPEECH

Special Speaker to be announced during the conference.

PALS – CENTURIES OF FRIENDSHIP Tadeusz Kosciuszko, Kazimierz Pulaski, Ignacy Paderewski, Woodrow Wilson, Herbert Hoover, Ronald Reagan, John Paul II, Lech Walesa, Donald Trump, Mateusz Morawiecki, Andrzej Duda, Jarosław Kaczyński, Donald Tusk.

3 POLISH AMERICAN LEADERSHIP SUMMIT POLAND INVESTMENT ZONE

10:10 – 10:35 | LEADER BRIEF I | INNOVATIVE ENERGY – US RTMx FORMAT FEBRUARY LESSONS LEARNED FROM U.S. DISASTERS IN 2017 – RISKS FOR THE ENERGY SECTOR DANIEL KANIEWSKI, PH.D. - Acting Deputy Administrator for the Federal Emergency Management Agency, United States of America 10:35 – 11:00 | LEADER BRIEF II | INNOVATIVE ENERGY – PL RTMx FORMAT 9TH CHALLENGES TO THE POLISH UPSTREAM INDUSTRY GRZEGORZ PYTEL - Chief Advisor to the Board, Lotos Group 2018 11:00 – 11:20 | LEADER BRIEF III | INNOVATIVE ENERGY – US RTMx FORMAT (FRIDAY) ADVANCING THE GOAL OF EASTERN EUROPEAN ENERGY INDEPENDENCE CHARLES MCLAUGHLIN - Senior Advisor, Overseas Private Investment Corporation., The U.S. Government’s Development Finance Institution 11:20 – 11:45 | LEADER BRIEF IV | INNOVATIVE ENERGY – PL RTMx FORMAT ACCELERATING THE POLISH ECONOMY – POLISH DEVELOPMENT FUND AS AN INVESTMENT BOOSTER PAWEŁ BORYS - President of the Management Board, Polish Development Fund 11:45 – 12:30 | FIRST PANEL DISCUSSION

TRANSATLANTIC DEFENSE AND ENERGY COOPERATION AS THE PILLAR OF CEE SECURITY MAREK JAN CHODAKIEWICZ, PH.D. - The Kosciuszko Chair in Polish Studies, The Institute of World Politics ANDRII DESHCHYTSIA - The Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Ukraine to Poland OVIDIU DRANGA - Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Romania to Poland BRIGHAM MCCOWN, RADM (RET.) - Chairman, Nouveau Inc. MODERATOR: JACEK BARTOSIAK - Director, Wargaming and Simulation Program, Casimir Pulaski Foundation, author of “Pacific and Eurasia. On War“

12:30 – 13.30 | NETWORKING LUNCH | EVENT PARTNER: RAYTHEON 13:30 – 13:55 | LEADER BRIEF V | INDUSTRY & TECH TRANSFER – PL

CENTRAL COMMUNICATION HUB PROJECT – OPENING A NEW GATE FOR INNOVATION AND COOPERATION MIKOŁAJ WILD - Secretary of State, Plenipotentiary for the Central Communication Port, Republic of Poland

4 POLISH AMERICAN LEADERSHIP SUMMIT POLAND INVESTMENT ZONE

13:55 – 14:20 | LEADER BRIEF VI | INDUSTRY & TECH RTMx FORMAT FEBRUARY TRANSFER – US ECONOMY VS. SECURITY - THE BALANCED APPROACH FOR POLAND HOWARD BROMBERG, LT. GEN. (RET.) - VP, Lockheed Martin Corporation, Republic of Poland 14:20 – 14:45 | LEADER BRIEF VII | INDUSTRY & TECH RTMx FORMAT 9TH TRANSFER – PL THE POLISH INVESTMENT ZONE – POLAND AS A CEE INVESTMENT HUB TADEUSZ KOŚCIŃSKI - Undersecretary of State, Ministry of Entrepreneurship 2018 and Technology, Republic of Poland (FRIDAY) 14:45 – 15:10 | LEADER BRIEF VIII | INDUSTRY & TECH RTMx FORMAT TRANSFER – PL

HOW DO POLISH COMPANIES SUCCEED GLOBALLY? RADOSŁAW ŁABĘDZKI-DOMAGALSKI - CEO, KGHM

15:10 – 15:35 | LEADER BRIEF IX | INDUSTRY & TECH RTMx FORMAT TRANSFER – PL

ELECTRIC ENERGY LEADERS IN POLAND: THE WAY FORWARD TOMASZ JARMICKI - CEO, PGE Nowa Energia

15:35 – 16:00 | LEADER BRIEF X | ALLIES IN DEFENSE – US RTMx FORMAT ENHANCED FORWARD PRESENCE & THE CREDIBILITY OF NATO’S ARTICLE V IAN BRZEZINSKI - Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Europe and NATO Policy (2001-2005), Distinguished Fellow at the Atlantic Council

16:00 – 16:25 | LEADER BRIEF XI | ALLIES IN DEFENSE – US RTMx FORMAT US FORCES IN EUROPE – THE PILLAR OF STABILITY SUSAN ELLIOTT - US Forces Europe (EUCOM) Deputy to Commander (2015- 2017)

16:25-16:50 | LEADER BRIEF XII | ALLIES IN DEFENSE – PL RTMx FORMAT SOCIAL ISSUES AND DEFENSE READINESS: POLISH-AMERICAN COOPERATION IN ADDRESSING DIVISIVENESS RON FARKAS - Instructor of Security Cooperation, Defense Institute of Security Cooperation, United States Department of Defense. President and Founder, Poland-U.S. Operations

5 POLISH AMERICAN LEADERSHIP SUMMIT POLAND INVESTMENT ZONE

16:50 – 17:40 | SECOND PANEL DISCUSSION FEBRUARY AN EVER-STRONGER BOND: THE POLISH - AMERICAN ALLIANCE ANNA MARIA ANDERS - Secretary of State at the Chancellery of the Prime Minister, Republic of Poland PETER DORAN - President & CEO, Center for European Policy Analysis DAVID KRAMER - Assistant Secretary of State for Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor, Department of State, United States of America (2008-2009) 9TH ERIC STEWART - Deputy Assistant Secretary, U.S. Department of Commerce (2001-2006), President, U.S.-Poland Business Council MODERATOR: KATARZYNA PISARSKA, PH.D. - Director of the European 2018 Academy of Diplomacy (FRIDAY) 20:00-22:30 | GALA DINNER

MESSAGE FROM THE EVENT PARTNER TOMASZ SZYPUŁA - President, Ptak Warsaw Expo

POLISH-AMERICAN EAGLES - AWARDS CEREMONY Inspired by the Coat of Arms of the President-in-Exile Ryszard Kaczorowski

Honorary Guests: ANNA MARIA ANDERS - Secretary of State at the Chancellery of the Prime Minister, Republic of Poland ADAM BIELAN - Deputy Speaker of the Senate, Republic of Poland ADAM HAMRYSZCZAK - Undersecretary of State, Ministry of Investment and Economic Development, Republic of Poland TADEUSZ KOŚCIŃSKI - Undersecretary of State, Ministry of Entrepreneurship and Technology, Republic of Poland JERZY KWIECIŃSKI - Minister of Investment and Economic Development, Republic of Poland MIKOŁAJ WILD - Secretary of State, Ministry of Infrastructure, Plenipotentiary for the Central Communication Port, Republic of Poland 22:30-23:30 | NIGHT OWL SESSION 1 | CAPITAL MARKETS IN THE US & PL – THE WAY FORWARD?

RAFAŁ ANTCZAK - Vice-President, PKO BP: PROSPECTS OF THE BANKING SECTOR IN POLAND PIOTR HOFMAN - President of the Board, Grupa Invest: CREATING NATION- AL CAPITAL WITH POLISH FIRMS KRZYSZTOF SENGER - Deputy Chairman, Polish Investment and Trade Agency Representative: DESTINATION POLAND: OPTIMAL INVESTMENT PLACE IN CEE VOYTEK SIEWIERSKY - Managing Partner at Silicon Valley Venture Partners MODERATOR: ANNA HEJKA - Founder and Managing Director, HEYKA Capital Markets Group: THE END OF IPOS? BLOCKCHAIN AND THE FUTURE OF CAPITAL MARKETS 6 POLISH AMERICAN LEADERSHIP SUMMIT POLAND INVESTMENT ZONE

22:30-23:30 | NIGHT OWL SESSION 2 | CARBOHYDRATES – CHOOSING THE RIGHT TRANSITION FUEL FOR CEE

FEBRUARY BRIGHAM MCCOWN, RADM (RET.) - Chairman, Nouveau Inc. GRZEGORZ PYTEL - Chief Advisor to the Board, Lotos Group PAWEŁ PUDŁOWSKI - Representative Of The Lower Chamber Of Polish Parliament MODERATOR: PAWEŁ POPRAWA - AGH University of Science and Technology, Cracow, Poland 9TH 22:30-23:30 | NIGHT OWL SESSION 3 | POLAND’S HIGH-TECH INDUSTRY LEADERS TODAY AND TOMORROW 2018 INNOVATIVE MINING, SEMI-CONDUCTORS, ELECTRIC CARS, NEW ENERGY (FRIDAY) TECHNOLOGIES AND ALL IN BETWEEN PIOTR CZAK - CEO, PGE Ventures RADOSŁAW ŁABĘDZKI - DOMAGALSKI - CEO, KGHM PIOTR MONCARZ, PH.D. - Professor, Stanford University. Founder and Presi- dent of the US-Polish Trade Council ALEXANDER “ROCKY” NAWROCKI - CEO, Airspeed Equity DOMINIK SCHMIDT - QVT Financial Silicon Valley MODERATOR: MACIEJ KOWALSKI - Defense and Security Program Coordinator, Casimir Pulaski Foundation 22:30-23:30 | NIGHT OWL SESSION 4 | THE POWER OF FEMALE ENTREPRENEURSHIP IN POLAND AND THE US

KAROLINA DEHNHARD - Esq Attorney, Budd Larner, 2016 winner of “Leading Woman Entrepreneur” BEATA DRZAZGA - President of BetaMed S.A, Director of Polish-American Chambers of Commerce in Nevada MAŁGORZATA KACPRZAK - Security & Privacy Program Manager, Google USA SABINA KLIMEK - Consul, Trade Commissioner, Head of Trade and Investment Section of Polish Consulate ANNA STASIAK-APELSKA - Vice-Chairwoman of the “Damy Radę – z Kulturą!” Foundation MODERATOR: AGATA GOLUBIEWSKA - Chairman & CEO of Polish-American WE in USA 11.00 – 14:00 | NETWORKING BRUNCH AT JW MARRIOTT INVITATION ONLY 19:00 – 20:00 | JOINT NETWORKING COCKTAIL - EDEN ROC HOTEL, MIAMI FEBRUARY BEACH OPENED TO POLONAISE BALL AND FAREWELL DINNER GUESTS 20:00 – 23:00 | THE 46TH INTERNATIONAL POLONAISE BALL - EDEN ROC 10TH HOTEL, MIAMI BEACH 100 YEARS OF POLAND’S INDEPENDENCE AND CENTURIES OF POLISH – 2018 AMERICAN RELATIONS (SATURDAY) 7 POLISH AMERICAN LEADERSHIP SUMMIT POLAND INVESTMENT ZONE

20:00 – 23:00 | PALS FAREWELL DINNER - EDEN ROC HOTEL, MIAMI BEACH FEBRUARY DESTINED TO LEAD: BUILDING POLAND’S GLOBAL POSITION THROUGH ALLIANCES 10TH GEORGE FRIEDMAN - Chairman and Founder, Geopolitical Futures, USA 2018 (SATURDAY)A 11:00 – 15:00 | FREE TIME – MIAMI SIGHTSEEING FEBRUARY 11:00 – 14:00 | WORKING LUNCH – EDEN ROC HOTEL INVITATION ONLY MIAMI BEACH 11TH MAR-A-LAGO EXECUTIVE DIALOGUE AGENDA INVITATION ONLY Summit and next-steps summary at Donald Trump’s Winter White House. 2018 Maximum attendance: 30 persons (SUNDAY) 10:00 | PARTICIPANTS DEPART JW MARRIOTT

11:00 – 11:30 | RECEPTION AND MAR-A-LAGO SIGHTSEEING

11:30 – 12:00 | COFFEE BREAK – NETWORKING

12:00 – 14:00 | SUMMIT CLOSING DISCUSSION - VIP MEETING – PHOTO OPPORTUNITY

JERZY KWIECIŃSKI - Minister of Investment and Economic Development, Republic of Poland MAREK JAN CHODAKIEWICZ, PH.D. - The Kosciuszko Chair in Polish Studies, The Institute of World Politics

14:30 | BUS DEPARTURE FOR AIRPORT (FROM MAR-A-LAGO)

14:30 | BUS DEPARTURE FOR AIRPORT (FROM JW MARRIOTT) 18:45 | MIAMI INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT – #PALS FLIGHT DEPARTING FOR WARSAW 8 POLISH AMERICAN LEADERSHIP SUMMIT POLAND INVESTMENT ZONE

The Casimir Pulaski Foundation is an independent, non-partisan think-tank specializing in foreign policy and international security. The Pulaski Foundation provides analyses that describe and explain international developments, identify trends in international environment, and contain possible recommendations and solutions for government decision makers and private sector managers to implement.

The Foundation concentrates its research on two subjects: transatlantic relations and Russia and the post-Soviet sphere. It focuses primarily on security, both in traditional and non-military dimensions, as well as political changes and economic trends that may have consequences for Poland and the European Union. The Casimir Pulaski Foundation is composed of over 60 experts from various fields. It publishes the Pulaski Policy Papers, the Pulaski Report, and the Pulaski Commentaries. The Foundation experts cooperate with media on a regular basis.

Once a year, the Casimir Pulaski Foundation gives the Knight of Freedom Award to an outstanding person who has promoted the values represented by General Casimir Pulaski: freedom, justice, and democracy. Prizewinners include: Professor Władysław Bartoszewski, Professor Norman Davies, Alaksandar Milinkiewicz, President Lech Wałęsa, President Aleksander Kwaśniewski, President Valdas Adamkus, Bernard Kouchner, and Richard Lugar, President Vaira Vīķe-Freiberga, President Mikheil Saakashvili, Radek Sikorski i Carl Bildt and President Toomas Hendrik Ilves.

One of the leading projects in the field of international security is the annual Warsaw Security Forum, organized in partnership with the Polish and foreign partners and institutions, which is bringing together policymakers from European Union and NATO countries to discuss major security challenges.

Casimir Pulaski Foundation received an award “Think Tank Awards 2017” in category “Best EU International Affairs think tank”, awarded by Prospect magazine.

The Casimir Pulaski Foundation has a partnership status with the Council of Europe.

In today’s world, countries need to deal with both military and non-military threats. Security issues has therefore risen to the top of the agenda. The gradual reduction of America’s presence in Europe and lessening defence spending among many European allies has made it necessary for a wider take on security issues in Central Europe. Due to its geopolitical position, Poland is a perfect location to undertake a discussion on European security issues.

The Warsaw Security Forum addresses these issues through an international gathering of experts who specialize in security. Its purpose is to exchange professional experiences as well as to present solutions to complex regional security challenges confronting the Central and Eastern European region. The two day forum consists of numerous plenary sessions dedicated to security issues, particularly those related to the future of NATO; the Common Security and Defence Policy of the European Union, including relations with the Russian Federation; energy security; border states of NATO and the European Union; new threats and security in the economic, military and politic dimensions.

9 POLISH AMERICAN LEADERSHIP SUMMIT POLAND INVESTMENT ZONE

PMPG Polskie Media S.A. is a holding company operating on the market of traditional and new media.

Today the capital group PMPG consists of Publishing and Advertising Agency WPROST, publisher of the opinion-forming polish weekly WPROST and the company Orle Pióro, publisher of Paweł Lisicki’s „Tygodnik Do Rzeczy” and monthly magazine „Historia Do Rzeczy”.

The strategy of the company is to develop in the new media. Web services of PMPG reach over 8 million users and are growing at the high double digit rate.

The company started in 1998 with 20 000 PLN initial capital publishing magazine for students. In 2005 PMPG bought MACHINA magazine from Barrings investment fund. In 2007 from Hachette Filipacchi group – monthly FILM. At the and of 2009 PMPG bought 80 percent shares in AWR WPROST. In 2011 PMPG got license under which it launched polish edition of Bloomberg Businessweek magazine. PMPG had been publishing „Bloomberg Businessweek Polska” since September 2011 until October 2012. In January 2013 conservative weekly „Do Rzeczy” was introduced on the market.

Since 2006 PMPG Polskie Media is listed on the Warsaw Stock Exchange. The president of PMPG SA is Michał M. Lisiecki – publisher, manager, businessman, expert of the media market and marketing communication.

Round Table Mixer is a format for handling meetings where presentation and exchange of ideas as well as letting the participants getting known each other are the main goals. All participants seat at the round tables fitting between 6 to 10 people. In order to make the agenda flow smoothly and at the right tempo it follows specific rules. Each topic on the agenda has a dedicated time slot broken into following parts: · Introduction – 2 min · Presentation - 13 min · Q&A - 5 min Between the blocks there is a 5-minute-long technical break during which participants change the tables and introduce to each other exchanging business cards.

Background: Round Table – is a symbol of constructive dialogue and the largest peaceful political and economic transformation in Poland. It’s been almost 30 years that have passed since the victory of Solidarity movement. Meanwhile Poland became a member of NATO and the European Union. Looking back at the journey that is behind us but even more at the challenges ahead of us we feel that we need a creative discourse that will mobilize us to constantly raise the standards of public and economic life. We need consensus, but also discussion about shared values. That is why we are promoting the idea of the Round Table.

The initiators and organizers of RTMix meetings are: Michał M. Lisiecki, entrepreneur, publisher of two opinion weeklies, Matthew Tyrmand - American economist, financier, author of the book “Jestem Tyrmand, son of Leopold”.

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POLISH AMERICAN LEADERSHIP SUMMIT POLAND INVESTMENT ZONE

EDEN ROC MIAMI BEACH HOTEL

4525 Collins Ave, Miami Beach, FL 33140 United States Tel. +1 305-531-0000

MAR-A-LAGO

1100 S Ocean Blvd, Palm Beach, FL 33480 United States Tel. +1 561-832-2600

JW MARRIOTT MIAMI

1109 Brickell Ave, Miami, FL 3313 United States Tel. +1 305-329-3500

CONTACT CASIMIR PULASKI FOUNATION PMPG POLSKIE MEDIA S.A. Oleandrów 6 street Al. Jerozolimskie 212 street 00-629 Warsaw 02-486 Warsaw

ZBIGNIEW PISARSKI MICHAŁ M. LISIECKI President of the Board President of the Board Vice-Chairman of PALS Honorary Program Council Chairman of PALS Honorary Program Council [email protected] [email protected]

MACIEJ KOWALSKI EWA RYKACZEWSKA Coordinator of the Program Council PMPG [email protected] | (+48) 504 125 483 [email protected] | (+48) 660 618 053

POLISH AMERICAN LEADERSHIP SUMMIT POLAND INVESTMENT ZONE

#PALS – BĄDŹ NA BIEŻĄCO:

Śledź aktualności na naszej stronie internetowej:

WWW.RTMX.PL Twitter: HTTPS://TWITTER.COM/RTMXR

Uczestnicy #PALS mogą też komunikować się z organizatorami i pomiędzy sobą w aplikacji Attendify.

JAK TO ZROBIĆ?

Należy pobrać aplikację Attendify wyszukując w sklepie Appla lub Google Play.

1. Zainstaluj aplikację. 2. Zarejestruj się w aplikacji (podaj swój e-mail, wybierz hasło do aplikacji). 3. Uzupełnij profil (możesz to też zrobić później). 4. Kliknij DOŁĄCZ. 5. Otrzymasz e-mail weryfikacyjny. 6. Po zweryfikowaniu w mailu przejdź do aplikacji – pojawi się w niej wydarzenie z logo PALS – dołączyłeś właśnie do wydarzenia! 7. Korzystaj z aplikacji (zachęcamy do pełnego uzupełnienia profilu).

Podstawowe funkcjonalności aplikacji to: komunikowanie się z cała grupą oraz indywidualnie z uczestnikami, harmonogram wydarzenia, lista speakerów, ustawianie przypomnień.

POLISH AMERICAN LEADERSHIP SUMMIT POLAND INVESTMENT ZONE

INFORMATION

JW Marriott Miami 1109 Brickell Avenue, Miami, Florida 33131 USA

Phone: +1-305-329-3500 Fax: +1-305-329-3660

This brochure is a subject for further changes and updates. The current version is always available at https://rtmx.pl/rtmx/_pdf/PALS-brochure-info.pdf POLISH AMERICAN LEADERSHIP SUMMIT POLAND INVESTMENT ZONE