Marshal of Mazovia Region Adam Struzik

Every country has its moments to cherish and take pride in and its moments to regret and mourn for. Polish Independence Day definitely falls within the former category.

Poland kept its language and traditions alive through 123 years of foreign rule. The greater the repressions, the greater the thirst for liberation. There were repeated attempts to change the status quo throughout that time. Everything was tried, from community initiatives, to promoting national awareness, to getting involved in political life, right through to armed struggle. Perseverance finally paid off and that most precious human value, freedom, was finally regained.

But Polish unity still had a long, hard road ahead. In setting up a new administration and in terms of statehood above all. The freedom that reigns nowadays is no justification for not caring about the country. Quite the reverse. There is every reason for being duly concerned about the development of the country and our "little homelands".

We form a single nation today, whatever region we come from, despite having lived under very different economic and cultural conditions when the country was partitioned by Russia, Prussia and Austria.

Mazovia, being one of the largest regions in the country, is a place where customs, traditions and standards of living vary considerably. Guaranteeing residents optimum living conditions is not the only condition for the successful development of the regions. We cannot afford to lose sight of local cultural traditions, as these give the regions its sense of identity and community. I would like Mazovians to think of themselves as a community so as to better to provide for the future of the entire region.