News

Warsaw, 3rd November 2008

In relation to the broadcast information about the planned visit of the President Lech Walesa in Venezuela, and the participation of Mr. President, together with the former Prime Minister of Bulgaria Mr. Filip Dimitrov, former Internal Affairs Ministers of the Czech Republic Mr. Jan Rumel and former Minister of Foreign Affairs of Slovakia Mr. Eduard Kukan, in a Democratic Forum in Caracas, the Lech Walesa Institute informs as follows:

1. On the 31st October 2008, an information was passed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Poland that the Venezuelan authorities cannot guarantee safety to Mr. President Lech Walesa, who was planning the trip to this country.
2. Upon consulting the matter with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Government Protection Bureau, a decision was made to call off the flight of Mr. President to Venezuela on 2nd November 2008.
3. The Institute remains in contact with the Forum organizers, and, in relation to Mr. President's absence in today's seating, the will pass to them the President's communique in accordance with the Democratic Forum's agenda.
4. Today the Institute awaits the official letter of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Poland, explaining the situation.
5. Institute submitted a request to the Venezuelan authorities to present the official position, explaining the position presented to the Polish ambassador in Caracas on Friday.
6. A possibility of a visit of Lech Walesa to Venezuela and/or to neighbouring countries in the nearest future is not excluded.

Piotr Gulczyński

The President of the Board of the Lech Walesa Institute Foundation