The long series of events started already some weeks ago to reach a culminating point in Walesa's native Gdansk last weekend. A long list of prominent political personalities, spiritual leaders as well as other Nobel Peace Prize laureates confirmed the prestigious rank of the three days of conferences, meetings and discussions in honor of the charismatic leader of Solidarity.

It was also an occasion for granting the first Lech Walesa Award established to merit individuals or institutions engaged in bringing nations closer together and whose actions are guided by principles of solidarity among peoples, the idea which lay at the roots of the legendary trade union movement. The first recipient of the Award has been King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia praised for his responsible and farsighted actions in stressing the importance of religion as the basis of social movements and political policy.

Click on the audio icon to listen to the report by Sławek Szefs.