On 3 November 2011, a joint news conference took place in Baltic Barracks, the aim of which was to present main ideas and principles of the upcoming celebration of the Polish Independence Day held at NATO Headquarters in Brussels.
The multinational community of the NATO Headquarters in Brussels meets on the occasion of the Polish Independence Day of 11 November every year. The event always coincides with the presentation of various regions and cities of Poland. This year, on 8 November, Szczecin was given an extraordinary opportunity to organize the event and present unique character of the city and region. Beyond the community of NATO Headquarters and other honourable guests, the NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen has been invited for the celebration.
It will be a joint event, organized under the aegis of the Permanent Representative of Poland to NATO, demonstrating excellent civil-military relations and partnership. As an example and a proof of that, a joint news conference held in Baltic Barracks, the seat of Multinational Corps Northeast, was organized prior to the celebrations in Brussels. The Deputy Commander of the Multinational Corps Northeast (MNC NE) Major General Ryszard Sorokosz hosting the conference, the Marshal of the Wespomeranian Voivodeship Mr Olgierd Geblewicz, the President of Szczecin Mr Piotr Krzystek and the Commander of the 12th Mechanized Division Major General Marek Tomaszycki met media representatives and presented the idea of the event, its programme and contributions of the respective partners. “It is an excellent opportunity to demonstrate the unity of the civilian and military world cooperating together here, in Szczecin. We are going to Brussels together: as the region, the city and as the military in the region,” said the MNC NE Deputy Commander General Ryszard Sorokosz. “It is the expression of our daily cooperation as we highly appreciate the uniformed services in the region, the military in this case,” the Marshal of the Westpomeranian Voivodeship Mr Geblewicz also stressed the aspect of cooperation. “It is not only about showing civil-military cooperation which has effectively been functioning among the city, the regional government and military structures, both Polish and international. It is also about showing Szczecin and our region as the place worth visiting and to be invested in, the place which is an important spot on the map of Poland,” added the City President Mr Krzystek. “I am really glad that I will participate in the promotion of the city, region and the military showing good relations among us, the traditions and history of the 12th Mechanized Division and its units which are un inextricably linked with Szczecin and Westpomerania," said the Commander of the 12th Mechanized Division Major General Marek Tomaszycki.
Numerous attractions have been prepared for the ceremony participants, e.g. regional specialties, lotteries, small gadgets, exhibitions presenting the region, the city, Multinational Corps Northeast and the 12th Mechanized Division. Everything will be illustrated with photographs and multimedia presentations as well as decorations in white, blue and green which are the colours of Szczecin.
The fact that the celebration takes place at the NATO Headquarters and it is a joint undertaking has an important advantage for the Corps: it presents the Corps in the context of civil-military cooperation which goes fully in line with the concept of Comprehensive Approach. “It will allow us – members of the Multinational Corps Northeast – to show the key personnel at NATO Headquarters our professionalism, our teamwork, common understanding and mutual support,” the MNC NE Deputy Commander General Sorokosz also noticed.
