Greek-Polish Association of Friendship and Cooperation
President – Jacek Gmoch
Vice President – Krystyna Arkouda
Treasurer – Elżbieta Paziou
Secretary – Markos Panagiotopoulos
Audit Committee
Stefania Gmoch
Beata Panagiotopoulou
History of the Greek-Polish Association of Friendship and Cooperation
Greek-Polish relations have a very rich history. They fascinate not only historians, sociologists, or scientific researchers but also many people who are deeply in love with Greece. Connections in Polish-Greek relations can be found on many levels of social, scientific, artistic, or religious life.
Formal diplomatic relations between Poland and Greece were established on March 13, 1919. This was the moment when the Kingdom of Greece decided to officially recognize the Republic of Poland.
Following this event, two months later in May, the first envoy of the I. J. Paderewski government, August Zaleski, presented his credentials in historic Athens.
The shared fate of Greece and Poland has since been evident in many areas, particularly in legal-treaty economic cooperation, trade exchange, investment cooperation, and finally, cultural cooperation. Greece has enchanted renowned Polish creators such as Juliusz Słowacki, Henryk Sienkiewicz, and Zbigniew Herbert. Likewise, Greeks appreciate Polish works by Fryderyk Chopin, Krzysztof Penderecki, Zbigniew Preisner, and Leszek Możdżer.
Significant cooperation between these countries has been honored in many ways. One example of such activity was the establishment of the Greek-Polish Association of Friendship and Cooperation in Athens in 1995. Jacek Gmoch became the Association’s president, and the overall activities of the Association focused on multi-faceted support for the various activities of Poles residing in Greece. The Greek-Polish Association of Friendship and Cooperation has promoted Polish culture, science, and art in Greece for many years. This has contributed to strengthening the relations between the two countries and maintaining mutual activities in various areas of social and cultural life. The Association has played a significant role in the process known as cultural diffusion. According to scientific literature, this process involves the mutual penetration of elements between at least two distinct cultures. This is possible thanks to maintaining social contacts between representatives of different societies and exchanging experiences in various areas. Thus, by implementing various categories of activities within the scope of cultural diffusion, the Association’s members have contributed to spreading Polish culture in the hearts of Greeks and fostering a love for Greece in the hearts of many Poles. This mutual penetration of cultures and customs, along with the gradual increase in participants in various initiatives, has led to a growing awareness of the needs, passions, traditions, and history of both nations. Similarities were revealed, but also differences, which taught mutual respect and living side by side with dignity and humanity.
For many years, one of the Association’s priority activities has been organizing celebrations of Polish national holidays, which has had great significance in maintaining patriotism among Poles living abroad. Moreover, such activities also support children and youth in shaping their national and cultural identity.
Implementing its intended strategy, the Association participated in organizing and financing scientific, cultural, educational, and social events involving Polish scientific and artistic communities. As part of these activities, it co-organized a performance of Agnieszka Osiecka’s work directed by Daniel Olbrychski at the POCIAG theater in Athens.
Association also supported initiatives in organizing sports events, such as the Spartathlon, during which the Association actively provided financial assistance to Polish athletes and escorted them during the race, covering their entry fees for many years. During the preparations for the Athens 2004 Olympic Games, it closely cooperated with the PKOL delegations. The President of the Association, Jacek Gmoch, an Olympic attaché in 2004, together with members of the Association, provided organizational assistance to Polish athletes.
During the games, member Beata Panagiotopoulou reported in Polish the information published in the Greek press. The Association also donated a symbolic “brick” of 5000 euros for the building of the Polish Olympic Committee.
Friendship and Cooperation, two values that proudly resonate in the name of the Association, are ideals that call for altruistic and empathetic activities. Accordingly, within the scope of their extensive activities, members of the Association supported charitable initiatives. For 10 years, the Association organized a New Year’s Eve Ball at the Ledra Marriott Hotel.
The proceeds from the event were allocated to various charitable activities. The ball was very popular among representatives of both nations and promoted Polish culture among Greeks and Greek culture among Poles in a festive New Year’s atmosphere.
A lottery with attractive prizes (such as shirts signed by famous football players, airline and ferry tickets, dinner at the Ledra Marriott Hotel with an overnight stay, etc.) was held during the ball. The funds raised allowed for financing many needs of the Polish and local communities.
This included individualized assistance, focusing on individuals who found themselves in difficult life situations due to various circumstances. For example, the Association covered the funeral costs of the late Krzysztof Starościak, paid tuition fees for a talented student at a ballet school, and bought gifts for children affected by poverty and at risk of marginalization.
Another example of the Association’s charitable and empathetic activities was the co-financing, in cooperation with the Embassy of the Republic of Poland in Athens, of aid for flood victims in Poland and the funding of packages for underprivileged children in cooperation with the Polish Consul in Athens. A representative of the Association, Mr. Stefanos Mamatzis, financed a ten-day stay in Greece for sixty Polish children who required special care and specialist support. The Association also supported aid initiatives for children at risk of poverty, Caritas initiatives, and the “Throw a Coin for Owsiak” campaign organized as part of the Great Orchestra of Christmas Charity.
Among the many initiatives undertaken over the years by the Greek-Polish Association of Friendship and Cooperation, one must highlight its honorable representative role. In cooperation with the Embassy of the Republic of Poland, the Association initiated Polish Days in Athens and participated in organizing the visit of then-President of Poland Aleksander Kwaśniewski.
The Association’s multi-dimensional activities and prestige attracted many well-known individuals from various areas of social, political, cultural, and public life. The Association had the honor of hosting the President’s wife, Jolanta Kwaśniewska, whom it awarded with the Association’s gold badge, as well as Polish Primate Józef Glemp and numerous delegations from the Polish government, Senate, and Sejm who visited Athens to establish Polish-Greek contacts. In 2017, the Association awarded the President of Poland, Andrzej Duda, with the Association’s gold badge during his visit to Athens. Meetings with representatives of the Polish government aimed at gaining support and multi-faceted backing for Polish initiatives in Greece.
The Association frequently assisted visits by Polish state officials after 1989, during the significant changes following the fall of communism in Poland. Throughout its activities, the Association was the only legal representative of Poles in Greece, supporting them in legal and residency matters with Greek authorities. The Association also provided support to Poles regarding employment, health, and legalization of stay in Greece.
The Association hosted notable personalities from the artistic and cultural world of Poland, such as Ryszard Kapuściński, Krzysztof Krawczyk, Edyta Górniak, Krystyna Prońko, Halina Frąckowiak, and Robert Korzeniowski. For her contributions to Polish literature, the Association awarded Polish writer, essayist, poet, and screenwriter Olga Tokarczuk with the gold badge of the Greek-Polish Association of Friendship and Cooperation.
For many years, the Association also represented the Polish community before Greek authorities. Its contacts and cooperation with Greek state institutions, including the Ministry of Labor, the Ministry of Internal Affairs, and Greek MPs in the European Union, contributed to improving Polish-Greek relations and influenced the Greek authorities’ approach to the problems of the Polish community living in Athens.
For its cooperation with the Greek government and help to Poles, the Association honored Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Antonis Samaras, who provided his office to Poles from Solidarność.
The cooperation with Greek Government Representatives was multi-dimensional. Thanks to the active efforts and involvement of the Association’s members and the courtesy of its Greek supporters, a one-hour radio program in Polish was created on Greek state radio ERT, Athens city radio Athina 984 FM, and Athens International Radio. The Association purchased equipment for the Polish-language program broadcasted by Athina 984 FM. The editor and host of the Polish program from 2009 to 2016 on Athens International Radio, from 2003 to 2004 on ERT, and from 1998 to 2003 on Athina 984 FM was Mrs. Beata Panagiotopoulou.
The Association often had access to facilities needed to carry out initiatives undertaken by its members. These initiatives served both the Polish and Greek communities and contributed to strengthening bonds and mutual exploration of traditions and cultures of both nations.
For excellent cooperation with the President of Athens, support for initiatives, and appreciation of the results of activities, in April 1999, the Association awarded Dimitrios Avramopoulos, the then Mayor of Athens, with the Gold Badge of the Greek-Polish Association of Friendship and Cooperation during a ceremony organized on this occasion at the Ledra Marriott Hotel.
Regarding the activities of the Greek-Polish Association of Friendship and Cooperation, it is important to emphasize that its activities strongly corresponded with the spiritual and educational needs of Poles. From the beginning, the Association maintained contacts with the Church and supported the activities of Polish clergy residing in Greece. It assisted in organizing camps for youth and offered support to Jesuit priests in helping poor children and Polish families living on the brink of poverty.
For many years, during difficult historical periods for Poland, the Association cooperated with French and Polish Jesuits based on Michail Voda. To assist Polish citizens in Greece, members of the Association participated with heart and commitment in negotiations concerning the establishment of the Polish School in Athens.
Legal and economic assistance to the Polish School was a priority for the Association, which was the only legalized institution supporting Poles and Polish national identity in Greece at the time. By creating spaces for religious bonds and the spiritual development of the Polish community in Athens, the Association also facilitated interaction with representatives of the Polish Church, organizing numerous religious and state ceremonies, such as the event dedicated to a meeting with the then-Primate of Poland, Józef Glemp.
Recognizing that education in a school with native traditions and the opportunity to interact with the language and culture of their ancestors is crucial for the development of the younger generation, the Association has cooperated since 1997 with the School Complex at the Embassy of the Republic of Poland in Athens. It helped successive directors of the educational institution solve administrative problems related to Greek authorities and financially supported efforts to improve the educational and living conditions of Polish children. It sponsored awards for the best students, co-financed Children’s and Youth Creative Festivals, and funded recreational camps that allowed students to explore Greece, the country of their temporary residence.
Regarding the cooperation between the Association representatives and the School Complex at the Embassy of the Republic of Poland in Athens, the following forms of support should be highlighted: assistance in organizing a school daycare, purchasing high-quality printing equipment, buying a flagpole and flag for the school, helping the scouting group associated with the school, enriching the school’s inventory with educational toys and sports equipment, co-financing student trips, organizing special events, and purchasing trophies and awards for educational and sports achievements.
The Association’s patriotic activities did not focus solely on children and youth of Polish descent. Considering the concerns and needs of the entire Polish community living in Greece, the Association also organized various events related to Polish history. These events allowed Poles to fulfill their patriotic needs while enabling Greeks to learn about Polish history. Such initiatives included preparing and funding celebrations for anniversaries such as Poland’s Independence Day and the Constitution of May 3rd.
The Greek-Polish Association of Friendship and Cooperation has gained numerous supporters in the local community over the years. It has indelibly inscribed itself not only in the noble history of Polish-Greek relations but also in the hearts of many Poles and Greeks. The culmination of the efforts and dedication of all those who contributed to the development of the Association and its various activities for the Polish community and Poles, as well as Greek society, is undoubtedly the overall results that still proudly resonate today.
The Government of the Republic of Poland, appreciating the long-standing activities of the Association, honored the most meritorious members of the Greek-Polish Association of Friendship and Cooperation for the Polish community in Greece with state decorations:
For merits in promoting Polishness:
- President of the Association, Mr. Jacek Gmoch, with the Commander’s Cross of the Order of Polonia Restituta
- Secretary General of the Association, Mr. Markos Panagiotopoulos, with the Knight’s Cross of the Order of Polonia Restituta.
For merits in promoting Polishness and involvement in popularizing Polish education, culture, and national traditions in Greece: Association Member Beata Panagiotopoulou, with the Knight’s Cross of the Order of Polonia Restituta.