Poland Celebrates Independence Day in Doha: Tributes to Qatar, Calls for Peace, and Cultural Exchange

Poland's Ambassador to Qatar, Tomasz Sadziński, hosted a reception at the Waldorf Astoria Lusail to commemorate Poland's Independence Day. The event marked the 108th anniversary of Poland's restoration of independence in 1918, following 123 years of foreign rule. The celebration brought together diplomats, dignitaries, and members of the Polish community for an evening of music, traditional food, and historical reflections.

Ambassador Sadziński, speaking to Doha News, reflected on the significance of the anniversary, especially during a period of heightened international tensions. "It's one of these anniversaries where we celebrate a very important moment in our history," he stated. "It was three foreign powers that ruled Poland throughout this time, where they tried to root out our culture, our language, to diminish our willingness, our expectations towards statehood. But we managed." He emphasized the unifying power of such joyous anniversaries for a nation.

The reception also included a moment of silence to honor the victims of a recent attack in Kraków, Poland, which resulted in six fatalities and several injuries, including to British and Austrian nationals.

Ambassador Sadziński paid special tribute to Qatar's Father Amir, Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, acknowledging his vision in facilitating Poland's reduced dependence on Russian oil through energy cooperation with Qatar. He also expressed gratitude to Qatar's Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani for fostering bilateral relations, noting the positive impact of his 2017 visit to Poland.

The ambassador highlighted Qatar's crucial diplomatic role amidst the ongoing U.S.-Iran conflict, condemning Iranian attacks on the Gulf state. "We applaud the resolve of Qatari mediators who have been relentlessly working to bridge the positions of the parties to the conflict," he remarked, underscoring Poland's support for Qatar's mediation efforts and the shared importance of diplomatic engagement in resolving regional crises. Ambassador Sadziński concluded his address in Arabic, expressing hopes for continued friendship and a strengthening partnership between Qatar and Poland.

The event also addressed the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and the war in Ukraine. Ambassador Sadziński noted the particular significance of these conflicts for Poland, citing the humanitarian suffering in Gaza and the global response. He acknowledged the contributions of Arab and Palestinian communities in Poland to the country's cultural and economic life. "They contribute a lot: to our culture, to our economic life, and I’m sure that we would like to see this situation resolved," he told Doha News. "So, we have a long history of working with Palestine, we’ve had Ambassadors and embassies, Palestinian embassies since 1988, so also through diplomatic relationships, we have this bond that has been established over the years." Poland reiterated its support for a two-state solution and condemned Israeli settler violence against Palestinians in the occupied West Bank. The ambassador also discussed the implications of the war in Ukraine for European and international security.

Guests experienced Polish culture through traditional cuisine and live musical performances by Polish singer Natalia Kapinos, pianist Dawid Nowaczyk, and violist Renata Nowaczyk. A rendition of Czesław Niemen's "Dziwny jest ten świat" [Strange Is This World], a song addressing hatred, injustice, and compassion, provided a reflective moment, especially after the Kraków tragedy. Traditional Polish dishes such as pierogi, sałatka jarzynowa, and szarlotka were served. The dish bigos, a traditional Polish cabbage-based stew, was also featured, symbolizing the country's culinary heritage. LuLu Hypermarket's introduction of Polish cabbage products in Qatar further illustrated the growing cultural and commercial ties between the two nations, with food serving as a new avenue for strengthening their partnership.