Obama phones Polish president on Independence Day

US President Barack Obama delivers remarks on Veteran's Day, Sunday, following a wreath-laying ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Virginia, USA, 11 November 2012. EPA/MICHAEL REYNOLDS /

Ambassador Stephen D. Mull, who took over at the embassy in Warsaw from Lee Feinstein on 7 November, tweeted: President Obama just called President Komorowski to congratulate Poland on the Independence holiday and discuss our common cause”.

Minister at the President's Office Jaromir Sokolowski confirmed the telephone call, adding that Bronislaw Komorowski recalled that at the time of Poland regaining independence in 1918, the United States was on the Polish people's side.

President Obama told Komorowski that "relations between the US and Poland are strong and unbreakable."

As proof of “real progress” in relations between the two countries, Sokolowski said Komorowski pointed to the arrival of 10 US airmen arriving at the Łask air base in central Poland on Friday for what will be the first permanent American military presence in the country.

The troops are accompanied by two F-16 fighter jets and a Hercules transport plane.

This is the first time the two heads of state have spoken since Barack Obama was elected for a second term in the White House last Tuesday.

After his re-election last week, President Obama called leaders of the United States' “13 closet allies” - Germany, France, Great Britain, Turkey, Israel, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Canada, Brazil, Colombia, Australia and India and Secretary General of NATO Anders Fogh Rasmussen.

Polish media noted that Poland was not among them. (pg)

source: IAR/TVP/TVN24