The day of Poland’s free elections in 1989 was a more significant date for European history than when the Berlin Wall came down, said Poland’s president, Lech Kaczynski, today.

In President Kaczynski’s opinion, the day of the first free democratic elections in Poland, 4 June 1989, and the appointment of the non-communist government of Tadeusz Mazowiecki on September 12 are more important dates in the history of Europe than the tearing down of the Berlin Wall.

“I want to stress, because this is important, that [these dates] are more important than 9 November,” President Kaczynski said.

Poland’s head of state expressed what many Poles feel, as world leaders, past and present, gather in Berlin for the 20 anniversary of the fall of the wall today.

Kaczynski told reporters that when he and others in the Solidarity trade union heard, 20 years ago, what was happening in Berlin, there was no longer surprise at the speed of events, as one communism regime tumbled after another across central and eastern Europe.

“You could see a domino effect at work,“ he said.

President Kaczynski was in the southern town of Nowy Sacz where he was receiving honorary citizenship. Asked why Prime Minister Donald Tusk was in Berlin for the Berlin Wall celebrations and not him, he said that plans for his trip to Nowy Sacz were made a long time ago and that there was “no conflict” between Tusk and himself over the issue. (pg)