President of Republic of Poland : Polish, German presidents mark historic bilateral treaty

Signed in 1991, two years after the fall of communism, the Treaty of Good Neighbourship, supplemented the Polish-German Border Treaty of 1990. The 1991 document paved the way for better relations between two neighbours that had remained under the dark cloud cast by World War Two.

At a joint press conference with Steinmeier in Warsaw, Andrzej Duda said that the treaty was a breakthrough moment for both countries.

'It was in 1991, on June 17 to be exact, soon after the profound changes that had taken place in Poland, Germany and Europe,' Andrzej Duda said, adding that the document was also very important 'in the context of the reunification of Germany.

'A number of Polish families are making their living thanks to the Polish-German cooperation that has been flourishing for 30 years, primarily in the economy and society,' the Polish president continued.

Andrzej Duda said he and Steinmeier believed that the close bilateral cooperation 'will be flourishing in the years to come.'

Frank-Walter Steinmeier said that in current politics, both countries 'must think about future generations.'

The German president also vowed that he and Andrzej Duda would make efforts to organise meetings of young Poles and Germans as soon as the coronavirus restrictions are lifted.

Frank-Walter Steinmeier said a memorial to Nazi Germany's Polish victims was under construction in Berlin. He added that the memorial will be located in the centre of the city, and that its form and precise location were currently being debated.

(PAP)