Independence Day marked in Warsaw

Yesterday, Poland celebrated Independence Day. Representatives of all the major national authorities took part in a ceremony, and witnessed the Changing of the Guard, at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Warsaw's Saski Park. President Kwasniewski delivered a speech, in which he appealed to the nation for their participation in the country's major political events. The President expressed his disappointment at the poor turnout at Sunday's local elections, being the first direct local elections since the country regained full independence in 1989. Nonetheless, a mere 30% of Poles exercised their right of suffrage. The president also prompted participation in the referendum on accession to the European Union, in which he encouraged a "Yes" vote. Kwasniewski gave his assurance that entering the structures of the EU would not constitute a loss of sovereignty, although there certainly would be some obligations to meet. (Zycie, p. 5; Gazeta Wyborcza, p. 12) K.Z.