At the beginning of the meeting, Rasa Rimickaitė – Cultural Attaché at the Embassy of the Republic of Lithuania in Poland – recalled the dramatic events of more than 30 years ago related to the collapse of the USSR and an attempt to keep Lithuania in the orbit of Soviet influence by force (economic blockade of the country, defence of the Vilnius TV tower against an assault by Soviet Army soldiers), which were so important for Lithuania's independence.
The discussion with Ambassador Tomasz Orłowski on the universal principles governing diplomacy and the tradition referring to the common state of Poland and Lithuania was moderated by Dr Tomasz Kamiński, Associate Professor at the University of Lodz from the Faculty of International and Political Studies. The distinguished guest also spoke about "Praktyka dyplomatyczna" [Diplomatic Practice] – his monumental work, which constitutes the sum of his knowledge of international politics, as well as his erudition and extensive experience in diplomacy. He presented the secrets of Diplomatic Protocol, as well as the Polish-Lithuanian community's apparent ceremonial and protocol customs. He also referred to the modification of the role of diplomacy in the modern world and its most enduring, immutable values.
The introduction to the discussion was delivered by the First Deputy Mayor of Lodz, Adam Pustelnik.
Tomasz Orłowski was an Ambassador of the Republic of Poland to France and to the Principality of Monaco from 2007 to 2014. He was the Head of the Diplomatic Protocol from 2005 to 2007 and an Ambassador of the Republic of Poland to Italy and the Republic of San Marino from 2015 to 2017. In 2014 he held the function of the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs. He graduated from the Faculty of Philosophy and History of the University of Lodz, where he studied archaeology. Currently he is a Professor at the Andrzej Frycz Modrzewski Krakow University (AFMKU), a lecturer at Sciences Po in Paris – Paris School of International Affairs and at the University of Warsaw, and a corresponding member of the French Académie des Sciences Morales et Politiques.
Edit: Communications and PR Centre, University of Lodz
Photos: Maciej Andrzejewski (Communications and PR Centre, University of Lodz)