Wrocław, Poland – In celebration of the 30th anniversary of the founding of Solidarity, the Atlantic Council will present its Freedom Awards dinner in Wrocław, Poland on October 7.

Awards will be presented to former NATO Secretary General and EU High Representative Javier Solana, former Polish President Alexander Kwaśniewski, and European Parliament President Jerzy Buzek, for ushering in a Europe whole, free and at peace.  In recognition that the message of Solidarity endures around the globe, the Council will also honor the Ladies in White for their courageous call for freedom in Cuba.

Frederick Kempe, President and CEO of the Atlantic Council, said “Commemorating Solidarity in Wrocław reminds us of this city’s historic role in spreading the message of Solidarity across borders. At this year’s Freedom Awards, we are pleased to honor three stalwarts of Central Europe’s Euro-Atlantic integration, and the Ladies in White for delivering on Solidarity’s message with their fearless march for human rights in Cuba.”

Held at Wrocław’s new Regional Centre for Business Tourism, the dinner will be attended by top government, military, business and cultural leaders from across the Atlantic Alliance. The evening’s co-chairs will be Lee Feinstein, U.S. Ambassador to Poland and Robert Kupiecki, Poland’s Ambassador to the United States. Other leading figures will headline the program, including: Romanian National Security Advisor Iulian Fota; Estonian Minister of Defense Jaak Aaviksoo; First Deputy Foreign Minister of the Czech Republic Jiří Schneider; former Ukrainian Deputy Prime Minister Hryhoriy Nemyria; and esteemed historian Norman Davies.

The Council’s Freedom Awards recognize extraordinary individuals who embody our mission to strengthen the Atlantic community’s call to leadership on global values. Last year’s inaugural Freedom Awards paid tribute to the 20th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall.  This year’s awards, held during the Wrocław Global Forum, will showcase the transformation of Central Europe as a strong partner in the transatlantic community, and a leader on global values. Organized in partnership with DemosEUROPA and the city of Wrocław, the Wrocław Global Forum will focus on strengthening the transatlantic dialogue to tackle global challenges. U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Jim Steinberg and NATO Supreme Allied Commander James Stavridis will headline the program, along with other top political leaders and experts from the transatlantic community. 

To review the Forum agenda, go here:  http://www.wgf2010.eu/site/program

The Atlantic Council promotes constructive U.S. leadership and engagement in international affairs based on the central role of the Atlantic community in meeting 21st-century global challenges. Led by Senator Chuck Hagel, Chairman, and Fred Kempe, President and CEO, the Atlantic Council embodies a network of world leaders and experts who aim to renew and energize the transatlantic community through non-partisan and cross-national discussions and studies.

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