Mr. Speaker, on March 12 this year, Poland celebrated the 15th anniversary of its accession to NATO.
By becoming a NATO member, Poland was able to strengthen its security, contribute to securing the entire Euro-Atlantic region, and assist greatly in NATO's aspiration to maintaining a region that is free and at peace.
Canada is proud to have been the first NATO ally to ratify Polish accession to the North Atlantic Alliance. Since then, Canada has become a leader among NATO countries in language and peacekeeping training, with hundreds of Polish officers and senior general staff having received training in Canada and Poland.
Our armed forces have served in joint missions together, most recently, in Afghanistan.
A transatlantic relationship is especially important now, as it provides a collective defence to any nation threatening peace, democracy, and security in the region.
Canada's help and leadership in the process leading to Poland's entry to NATO is remembered and appreciated by Poles in Poland and across the globe.