Ladies and Gentlemen,

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It is my special privilege to be an honorary patron of the eleventh edition of the “Krzyżowa-Music. Music for Europe” International Chamber Music Festival.

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Krzyżowa is a special and truly symbolic place. It embodies the idea of a united, peaceful Europe open to dialogue and cooperation. Krzyżowa is a space for people from different backgrounds and cultures to get together for open discussions, hear each other out, and act in unison.

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It is also a place to reflect on Polish–German history, and above all, to talk about the future development of Europe as a shared responsibility of Poland and Germany. Such reflection and discussion is especially needed in turbulent and unpredictable times as we are now experiencing due to the war in Ukraine.

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Bound by the painful memory of a shared history, our two countries must be determined to safeguard peace and comity. Reconciliation is never easy; it requires empathy, respect for each other’s sensitivities, and readiness for a frank dialogue. It often begins with symbols—gestures that pave the way for mutual understanding. A new chapter in Polish–German relations opened symbolically with a Reconciliation Mass on 12 November 1989. The sign of peace exchanged between Prime Minister Tadeusz Mazowiecki and Chancellor Helmut Kohl became a token of reconciliation between our two nations and an emblem of the changes underway in Europe at that time. Still, reconciliation is an open-ended process that has to be shored up regularly through education, commemoration, and joint civic action.

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Culture also plays a key part in building comity, as it has the ability to strike universal notes and touch on matters common to all mankind. Music transcends the limits of language, the borders between countries, and generational divides. It conveys the unspeakable, bridging the communication gaps where words fail us. Such is the spirit behind this latest, eleventh edition of the internationally acclaimed Chamber Music Festival. “Krzyżowa-Music. Music for Europe” is more than a festival. It is a community of sounds and people—musicians representing more than 20 countries who come together to share their knowledge and passion, forging bonds that know no boundaries. This event exemplifies how art can bring nations closer and inspire us to use openness to make the world a better place.

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My thanks go to everyone involved in the Krzyżowa Foundation for their commitment and daily efforts to build dialogue and trust. Your activity beautifully represents how people and nations can be brought closer together through respect, openness, and hope, in the spirit of European cooperation and unity.

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I hope this year’s festival brings you inspiration, new friendships, unforgettable musical experiences, and a profound sense of community.

 

Radosław Sikorski

Minister of Foreign Affairs