Poland's former president and the Nobel prize winner, Lech Wałesa has appealed to the European politicians for supporting the historic Gdansk shipyard. The Solidarity icon was the guest of honor at the two-day Congress of the European Peopole's Party in Warsaw.

Speaking to delegates he said that one cannot let a place which is the monument of the fight with communism collapse. "Maybe in a few hours or in a few years the next generations will want to forget about this part of our history filled with these monuments of the fight and blood that we have these days in Europe. But the history of the Gdansk shipyard will be the first marking the wise behaviour of Europe" he said.

Lech  Walesa also warned the European politicians gathered at the Sala Kongresowa Hall in Warsaw against economic protectionism and nationalism.

The  European People's Party comprises 74 political groupings from 39 countries. It is represented by 288 deputies at the European Parliament.  (di)