PROVOCĂRI LA ADRESA SECURITĂŢII ŞI STRATEGIEI LA ÎNCEPUTUL SECOLULUI XXI

due share in the world-wide scientific research and technology progress.
This task includes training of highly qualified specialists in response to
Poland’s defence and security requirements.
The National Security Strategy of the Republic of Poland is the
basis for other subsequent strategies and documents in areas of fundamental
importance to the security of the State. However, because of the fact that we
live in the dynamically changing world, these documents will have to be
modified according to the evolving determinants of the Polish national
security environment. Therefore, their implementation will be a subject to a
regular review in accordance with the constitutional tasks of the proper State
authorities.
While concluding this part, I want to stress, though the Security
Strategy of the Republic of Poland is the primary document addressing
issues of national security, we should also bear in mind the NATO and EU
documents on security and defence, including NATO Strategic Concept,
MC 400/2, NATO Ministerial Guidance, NATO Strategic Vision, national
and alliance defence planning documents, but also decisions and
conclusions of the NATO Prague Summit and last but not least, European
Union Security Strategy.
Military Strategy of the Republic of Poland
Of importance is also the second document – the Military Strategy.
After almost a year of deliberations this document was signed by the
President on October 22 nd , 2004. Later on this document was distributed to
all respective institutions and cells of the Ministry of Defence, as well as to
any other departments and institutions dealing with the issues of national
defence.
The following assumptions were made prior to the developing the
Military Strategy. Firstly - it was to be an executive document to the
Security Strategy, directly addressing issues related to the armed forces.
Secondly - it was to be in compliance with national, NATO and European
security structures documents. Thirdly - classified version of the Strategy
was to be addressed to the organs of public administration dealing with
planning process and defence tasks as well as a reference material for
commanders and staff officers. Fourthly - it was to be developed in the
course of discussions and negotiations with other institutions dealing with
defence related issues (National Security Bureau, Ministry of Foreign
Affairs, Ministry of Internal Affairs and Administration, Ministry of
Defence, National Defence University).
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It is for the first time that the Military Strategy of the Republic of
Poland was drawn up. Considering its content one can say that the document
is like a constitution of the Armed Forces. It looks into the future defining
the missions and tasks for the Armed Forces and indicating general trends,
directions and priorities in their development prescribing the expected level
of operational capabilities 7 . The necessity to develop the Military Strategy
was recognized and triggered in 2001 by significant changes in security
environment of Poland – just to mention our involvement in NATO 8 . On the
other hand it is also the need to systemize military issues in the context of
national security – especially in its national and Euro-Atlantic dimension.
On the other hand it is the need to translate the content of the Security
Strategy of the Republic of Poland in area of place and role of the Polish
Armed Forces in the national security framework or being more specific to
prescribe its missions and tasks in the national defence system.
It is valid to say that the Military Strategy of the Republic of
Poland is a response to the new threats and challenges encountered in the
modern world. It becomes apparent that the centre of gravity in security
environment is shifting from classical threats such as large-scale
aggression/invasion towards more diverse, less visible and less predictable
threats originating from non-state transnational entities. The key global
threats and challenges include tensions and instabilities resulting from
international terrorism, proliferation of weapons of mass destruction,
behaviour of authoritarian states and state failure 9 .
Nevertheless, the security of Poland is funded not only on the
membership in the EU and NATO, but also in the UN and other
international organizations, just to mention the Organization for Security
and Co-operation in Europe. Also, meaningful contributor to our security
are our bilateral relations with the US. As you are aware, both the policy
making and defence system are responsible for preventing and protecting
against any threats of military and political nature. As it is stated in the
Security Strategy of the Republic of Poland the National Defence System is
responsible for threat assessment, management of defence preparation in the
peacetime, responding to existing threats, defence of the national territory,
compliance with the Article 5 collective defence commitments.
Content and structure of the Military Strategy were determined by
its position in respect to other doctrinal and planning documents. The
Military Strategy constitutes a core document for developing other military,
7 www.kprm.gov.pl/1937_11694.htm and PPT presentation by the General Staff of The Polish
Armed Forces
8 http://www.wp.mil.pl.
9 www.gazetaprawna.pl/depesze/depesza.html?id=eGP20040623131441824.
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