WhentheCharter oftheUnitedNations wasbeingsignedobstacles ofaformal natureprecluded theparticipation ofmycountry's representatives; therewasonly oneemptychair,thatwiththename-plate •Poland" •Yeteventhenwewerethere. Thegreatpianovirtuoso ArthurRubinstein, whoh~'beeninvited bytheorganizers togracethememorable occasion withhistalent, beganhisrecital byplaying the111/10 A/40/PV.12 37 (Mr.Jaruzelski, Poland) 20o-year-old national anthem, woseopening wordsare:wPoland basnotperished as longaswearestillalive.w Atnoti_hasourcountry everbetrayed thepurposes andprinciples ofthe Charter oftheUnitedNations. Ithasalwaysbeenintheforefront ofvolunteers forpeace. Never,noteveninthemostdifficult moments, hasP01andsparedits efforts tocontribute, tothebestofitsabilities, tofurthering cnderstanding andeo-operation. Notfornothing, therefore, hasPolandrepeatedly beenentrusted withaninternational mandate ofconfidence. OVer17,000Poleshaveservedthe UnitedNations loyally andtogoodeffectinitsdiverse peace-keeping operations. EvenasIspeak,Polishservicemen areperforming themission withwhichtheUnited Nations hashonoured themintheMid5~eEast. IshouldlikenowtosayafewwordsaboutPolandasitistoday. Iaddress therepresentatives present hereofthosemanyStatesthathavereacted toour difficulties withunderstanding, recognizing thatPolishproblems shouldbesolved vithoutanyoutside interference, byPolesthemselves. Tothosenations and Governments Iexpress oursincere appreciation. Letmealsotakethisopportunity ofturning tothosewho,outofprejudice andmisinformation, ignoring obvious facts,continue toseePoland through a distorting mirror. Yes,indeed, wehavebeenthrough atimeoftrial.Political realism anda senseofresponsibility forthefateofthenationhavenevertheless prevailed, and sohastheawareness thatPoland's stability isanextremely important factorfor peaceinEurope. Theostracism towhichPolandhasbeensubjected incertain capitals isoneofthosegreatmistakes whicharearunning themeinhistory and castanuglyshadowoveritspag.es. TherighttojUdgeiscommonusurped bythosewhointheirownlandwouldwant lawandordertoprevail whileinPoland theysupport anarchy andchaos. TheBM/10 A/40/PV.12 38 (Mr.Jaruzelski, Poland) reluctance, forsomanydecades, tocondemn SouthAfrica's regime, thesupport for othercriminal regimes, thewagingofanundeclared waragainst Nicaragua in defiance oftheprotests ofsomanycountries -thesecredentials provide noright topassl'llOraljudgements ordeliver instructive lectures. Ihavenotcomehereto putaglossonourwayofdoingthings. Contemporary Polandcanonlybeunderstood bythosewhohaveatleasttakenthetrouble tolearnsOll&thing ofitshistory, of itsexceptionally complex vicissitudes. Mypeople, stripped ofstatehood fora longstretch oftime,poorandeconomically backward, ravaged bywarsand invasions, wasbrought bytheNazioccupation tothebrinkofbiological and material extinction. Thelossofournational wealthBuffered duringthewarwas, relatively speaking, 25timesthatofFrance and47timesthatofGreataritain, letalonetheUnitedStates. Yet,despite thoseinconceivably deterrent circumstances, andina historically briefperiod, Polandaccomplished animmense taskofreconstruction andmadetremendous advances initscivilization. Thesocialist PolishStatehas sunkrootsinthelifeofourPeOple. Socialjustice hasbeenelevated tobecome thecornerstone ofthecountry's system. Thelawisequalforall.The constitutional guarantees offreedomofworship anddiversity ofphilosophic outlooklS arefullyrespected. Theplagueofunemployment doesnotexist. Wehave acomprehens ivesystemofsocialsecurity,freeschoolingatalllevels, high• standards ofeducation equaltothose-ofmanyofthemosthighlydeveloped countries. Ourrichnational culture hasbeengranted conditions fordevelopment andenjoyment byall.Itsmajorachievements havebeenwellknowntomany nations. Forcenturies Poleshavesharedwithothersthebestofwhattheyhadto offerinlearning andthearts.Forcenturies, too,theyhavedrawnfromthe treasuryofmankind'sheritage•Wewillremainopen,bothtodayandtomorrow,to everything ofgenuine creatiVity andvalueinmodern-day ideasandculture. ------------~--------------R4/l0 A/40/PV.12 39-40 (Mr.Jaruzelski, Poland) Thepasthasbequeathed mycountryitsshareofuncertainties, traumas and bitterness. Butthereissurelynocountry intheworldinwhichallwouldbeof thesamemindaboutallthings. Wearenotshopping forcompliments. Wedonot intendtosaddleanyonewiththeblaaeforourownmistakes. Wedonotsweep difficulties underthecarpet, beitfromourownpeopleorfortheinternational colllllUnity. ButwerejectusingPolanClfortheendsofexpediency orforvitriolic propaganda campaigns andwerejectallformsofinterference inourcountry's internal affairs aspractices counter totheCharter oftheUnitedNations, practices thatinpugnthedignity ofourpeople. Theworstofourdifficulties areover.Perseveringly, stepbystep,weare
**Analysis**
The text appears to be a speech by Wojciech Jaruzelski, the President of Poland, addressing the United Nations. The speech discusses Poland's history, its struggles, and its achievements, with a focus on its values, culture, and international relations. The speaker emphasizes Poland's commitment to peace, its role in international organizations, and its efforts to contribute to global understanding and cooperation. The text also touches on the country's economic and social development, highlighting its successes in education, healthcare, and social justice.

**Category**
Culture, Education