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Crimean Tatar leader awarded Poland’s ‘Solidarity Prize’
«He is a defender of Ukraine’s integrity,” said Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski, as he announced Mustafa Jemilev had been awarded the prize. «He is someone who, together with his people, has demonstrated that democracy is possible.»
Jemilev has worked to redress historical injustices done to the Tatar people and shown that democracy works in a traditional Muslim society, Sikorski said.
The Polish prize, in its first year, is intended to recognise people who embody the same democratic values as Lech Walesa, the leader of Poland’s Solidarity trade union movement who was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for his role in overthrowing Communist rule in Poland in the 1980s.
President Bronislaw Komorowski will present the award on 3 June, during a visit to Warsaw by US president Barack Obama to coincide with the 25th anniversary of historic elections which brought to end decades of communist rule in Poland, Polish foreign minister Radoslaw Sikorski announced on Wednesday.
As reported TheNews.pl, Mustafa Jemilev, a Ukrainian MP since 1998, will receive 250,000 euros personally, 700,000 euros will be available for development aid projects, to be chosen by the Tartar leader, plus 50,000 euros, which will go towards a study tour of Poland.
Other candidates for the award by Poland’s Foreign Ministry included Burmese dissident Aung San Suu Kyi, head of EU diplomacy, Catherine Ashton and Swedish Foreign Minister Carl Bildt.
President Obama to announce a $1bn donation to Europe for its defense against Putin’s Russia! I imagine Obama is content with the level of poverty inside the U.S. to permit such a ‘gift.’ What an embarrassment for Obama, wil he meet with Lech Walesa?
○ Obama sets out to reaffirm U.S. commitment to security, democracy in Eastern Europe
○ Romney’s excellent trip: Two staunch U.S. allies [Bibi Netanyahu and Lech Walesa] salute a man they would like to see lead the free world
