Oleh/By  	:	DATO SERI DR MAHATHIR BIN MOHAMAD
Tempat/Venue	:	WARSAW, POLAND
Tarikh/Date	:	21-02-2002
Tajuk/Title 	:	THE OFFICIAL DINNER HOSTED BY 
			H.E. LESZEK MILLER PRIME 
			MINISTER OF THE REPUBLIC 
			OF POLAND
Versi 		:	ENGLISH
Penyampai	:  	PM  
		    

       Thank you so much for your kind words of welcome.
   
   2.   It is truly a delight to be finally here in Poland
   after so many postponements.  Despite the cold weather,
   my  delegation and I have encountered only  warmth  and
   friendship  ever since we arrived in Poland.   I  would
   like  to  express  my  sincerest  appreciation  to  the
   government  of the Republic of Poland, and to  you  Mr.
   Prime   Minister,   for   the  friendly   welcome   and
   hospitality extended to me, my wife and to  members  of
   my delegation here in Warsaw.
   
   3.    Malaysia and Poland enjoy more than three decades
   of  uninterrupted diplomatic relations.   During  these
   three  decades  we  have  seen  Poland  emerge  from  a
   centrally  planned economy to embrace the  free  market
   system.   The  courage  and resilience  of  the  Polish
   people  is well documented.  You have endured invasion,
   occupation  and domination.  But through it  all,  with
   sheer  determination you have succeeded in  maintaining
   your spirits.  The move towards greater democratisation
   started  by the Solidarity Movement eventually  brought
   down  the  Iron Curtain.  The positive winds of  change
   affected not only Poland but the whole region as well.
   
   4.    Poland's economic transformation bears  testimony
   to   the  forward  looking  policies  adopted  by  your
   government.   You have succeeded in lowering  inflation
   and  embarking on successful privatisation  programmes.
   Poland  has  entered into a Partnership for Peace  with
   NATO  and you are now a frontline state for entry  into
   the   European  Union.   We  commend  you   for   these
   achievements.
   
   5.    Our  bilateral  relations have also  seen  marked
   improvements.   The  volume of trade  between  our  two
   countries grew last year despite the economic slowdown.
   However  we  have  yet to realise our  full  potential.
   That  is why I have included in my delegation a  number
   of  business people.  It is my hope that they  will  be
   able  to  forge smart partnerships that can be mutually
   beneficial.  Malaysia has much to offer Poland in terms
   of  goods  and  services.   Poland has  well  developed
   expertise  in military technology and shipbuilding.   I
   am   confident   that  our  various  talents   can   be
   complemented  in the interests of both  sides.   Polish
   entrepreneurs and businessmen should look  at  Malaysia
   as  their  profit  centre.  The  Malaysian  economy  is
   fundamentally  strong and sound.  The  AFTA  will  come
   into being in 2004 and a market of over 500 million  is
   open   to  you  through  Malaysia.   We  can  be   your
   springboard  for  the region.  The centre  of  economic
   gravity  is shifting from the Atlantic to the  Pacific.
   Let  us  together, seek ways to turn opportunities  for
   greater growth and development into concrete projects.
   
   6.    Another  promising  area for  our  bilateral  co-
   operation  is  in the tourism sector.  People-to-people
   contacts  through  tourism is an  important  aspect  of
   bilateral  relations.   We  are  happy  to  note   that
   Malaysia  is  becoming quite a popular destination  for
   Polish  tourists.  Last year an estimated 30,000  Poles
   visited  Malaysia.   We welcome more  Polish  tourists.
   Malaysia is truly Asia and we can promise you that  the
   experience  of  visiting Malaysia will be unforgettable
   as well as rewarding.
   
   7.    Today we live in an extremely fragile world  made
   worse by the events of September 11.  The fight against
   terrorism  while remaining a priority  for  all  of  us
   should  not  be  expanded  to  include  other  agendas.
   Attempts   are  being  made  to  extend  the   war   in
   Afghanistan  to  other countries all  in  the  name  of
   fighting  terrorism.   Malaysia  cannot  support   such
   actions.   There  is an urgent need  to  have  a  clear
   definition  of  terrorism.   This would  enable  us  to
   distinguish between a genuine freedom fighter  and  one
   who  is motivated by a misplaced sense of injustice  or
   grievance.  We are also of the view that acts of terror
   are unjustified even if the cause is noble.   There  is
   also  a  need  to  look  at the  underlying  causes  of
   terrorism  such  as  unremitting oppression.   Malaysia
   believes  that  these  issues  can  best  be  addressed
   through an International Conference on Terrorism.
   
   8.    We  are also increasingly alarmed by the tendency
   in  some  quarters to portray terrorism  as  being  the
   monopoly of a particular group or religion.  We  reject
   this  view as being unhelpful and unhealthy.   We  must
   avoid  stereotyping and profiling people  according  to
   their  beliefs  or  ethnicity.   It is  important  that
   reason  prevails over emotion if we are to tackle  this
   scourge of terrorism in a pragmatic manner.
   
   9.    I  am  convinced that relations between  our  two
   nations  merit  our  sustained  attention.   We  should
   strive  to  lift Malaysia-Polish relations  to  greater
   heights.   To that end we should cooperate to  maximise
   the advantages and build on the strong foundations laid
   thirty years ago between our two nations.
   
   10.  On that note, Excellency allow me to reiterate  my
   grateful  thanks  to  you for the very  warm  reception
   accorded  to  us.  I am sure we will all  leave  Poland
   with many fond memories.

   Sumber : Pejabat Perdana Menteri