CED: During your trip to Washington in early November you said that Central Europe needs “strategic reassurance” from the United States. What did you mean?
Mr. Sikorski: First of all, I want to make it clear that we believe in NATO’s continuing value and the need to strengthen its role as the primary forum for transatlantic consultations and collective defense. Article 5 of the Washington Treaty remains the foundation of the alliance. Despite being a member of NATO for ten years, the development of NATO’s infrastructure on Polish territory has, to put it mildly, been inadequate. In a constantly changing security environment, NATO has played a key role and will continue to do so. Robust military exercises, the development of NATO infrastructure and the updating of contingency plans are the minimum we should expect in the field of NATO military effectiveness. There is no better way of reassuring allies about sending their troops for out-of-area operations than to show that they are safe at home. As far as Polish-U.S. relations are concerned, the prospect of a Patriot battery deployment on Polish soil, and our co-operation in regard to the new architecture of missile defense, presents us with the opportunity to implement strategically important co-operation between Poland and the United States – including in other defense sectors. This will be both politically and militarily significant.
CED: What are steps that NATO could take in its new Strategic Concept to help address this need?
Mr. Sikorski: What is urgently needed is a forward-looking approach that addresses the need for adequate NATO military capabilities and an even distribution of NATO’s infrastructure among its member states. A thorough review of the contingency plans for our part of the European continent is also needed. I am hopeful that this new Strategic Concept is underway and will serve as a step in the right direction.
CED: Next year marks the 10th anniversary of the Community of Democracies – a project created by an American and a Pole (Madeleine Albright and the late Bronisław Geremek). In a recent interview you said that, “Ten years ago it looked like history had a direction toward more democracy. Today the trends are much more ambiguous.” How might the Community of Democracies concept be reinvigorated to address these new trends?
Mr. Sikorski: The 10th anniversary of this important initiative provides a great opportunity to focus on the critical role that the Community of Democracies will play in the future. We will be hosting an anniversary meeting in Kraków next year to highlight the Community’s important mission. The project will not serve only as a forum for discussion but will also produce some concrete proposals addressing how to promote and apply democratic values around the world. We expect a high-level U.S. representation. Poland is also pleased that the Permanent Secretariat of the Community of Democracies has been based in Warsaw since January 2009.
CED: In January, Ukraine will hold elections. Some in the West are growing skeptical about Ukraine’s ability to stick to the path of reform. What is the most constructive role that Poland and the United States can play? Who should do what?
Mr. Sikorski: It is in our common interest to encourage and work with our Ukrainian partners, irrespective of their political affiliations, to build a consensus around issues of strategic importance to Ukraine’s future. The Ukrainians don’t have far to look to see the benefits of economic and political reforms. Poland is a perfect example of such a success story and remains a willing partner in sharing the lessons that we have learned and the benefits of such reforms. I also believe it is in the U.S. interest to continue its support for Ukraine by all possible means.
CED: Poland will assume the rotating EU Presidency in 2011. What priorities does Warsaw hope to address as the EU adopts a more unified approach to international affairs?
Mr. Sikorski: The implementation of the Lisbon Treaty will create a more integrated and unified European Union. We also hope it will strengthen the EU’s voice in global affairs. Poland intends to play an important role in this process. One way of approaching this is to strengthen Europe’s defense capabilities so that they may complement NATO’s mission and responsibilities. This can be done through the European Security and Defense Policy, which originated over a decade ago.
Poland also has a critical role in promoting democracy and the values of an open society and free market economy. With this in mind, Poland and Sweden created the Eastern Partnership under the auspices of the European Union. The program is designed to help our Eastern partners with their transformation, focusing on their future closer association with the EU.
Energy security will undoubtedly continue to be an issue of critical importance to our region. Our position is that the European Union must do all it can to build consensus and create an energy policy that is forward-thinking. It needs to address not only today’s concerns but also the future challenges concerning the security of supply routes and the diversification of energy sources.
CED: Polish youth today have different experiences of America than those of your generation. How can the United States do a better job of engaging the hearts and minds of the next generation?
Mr. Sikorski: It is true that young Poles today have greater access to many opportunities to pursue their studies and their professional endeavors in Europe, which is becoming increasingly unified and integrated.
This naturally gives them a Euro-centric point of view. As a result, an understanding and appreciation of the United States is diminishing. However, this opens the door for opportunities to re-engage young people from both sides of the Atlantic, by creating more exchange programs between our respective universities and establishing forums for young leaders to interact. The end result is that young Poles and Americans are able to gain a better understanding of one another. They will learn to work together in areas that are of global significance and this will shape their generation in the years to come. They are the leaders of the future, and I believe that this is an important and worthy investment.
On the subject of young people, I also think that the issue of the Visa Waiver Program needs to be resolved once and for all. Young Poles should not be facing barriers that prevent them from these important exchanges and interactions with their American counterparts. After all, if the fall of the Berlin Wall taught us anything, it is that we must always work together to bring barriers down whenever possible. The last existing wall in Polish-U.S. relations is for the current U.S. administration to tear down. | 
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