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An appeal to the countries of Eastern Europe

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The dissolution of KOR
Jacek Kuroń Social activist
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So when Solidarność was formed, even before it had been formed, when it was just, Solidarność was officially formed in mid-September by the National Committee. Initially, there were still those disagreements about whether it was to be federation completely or was it to be one union with one registration. Tactical issues won the day because the tendency towards federationism was very strong. But before that even, soon after the first meeting of KOR after I'd returned from Gdańsk, it was September 3rd or 4th, I don't remember, there was always a meeting of KOR on the first Friday of every month in Professor Lipiński's home, and I said that KOR has to be dissolved. Because KOR was a strange institution, a very strange institution which I consider to be my greatest achievement, although it's not only my achievement, but that's my personal assessment of it. We were able to take up this social initiative which fulfilled its role twice because once Solidarność was formed, it became clear that KOR had done what it was meant to do and had done so with a huge amount of surplus, performing a service right up to the last minute. So then there were the problems that came with its dissolution. Then I saw again what a wonderful example, how conservative the institution was. It had been formed and now it was very hard to dissolve it. But we managed to dissolve KOR and the announcement about the dissolution of KOR was made at the convention by Professor Lipiński. The convention thanked KOR.

Więc kiedy powstała "Solidarność", nim jeszcze powstawała, bo "Solidarność", formalnie rzecz biorąc, powstała w połowie września. Została powołana przez Komisję Krajową. Tam jeszcze naprzód były te spory, czy to ma być federacyjne całkiem, czy to ma być jeden związek i jedna rejestracja. Zdecydowały względy taktyczne, bo tutaj tendencja do federalicjonizmu była bardzo silna. No ale jeszcze przedtem, już na... zaraz na pierwszym zebraniu KOR-u po moim przyjeździe z Gdańska, to był 3 września, 4 września, już nie pamiętam, zawsze w pierwszy piątek miesiąca było zebranie KOR w mieszkaniu prof. Lipińskiego i ja mówiłem, że KOR trzeba rozwiązać. Bo KOR to była taka dziwna instytucja, przedziwna instytucja, uważam ją za swoje największe osiągnięcie w życiu, choć nie jest on tylko moim osiągnięciem, ale tak z osobistej perspektywy na to patrząc. Nam się oto udało powołać taką... podjąć taką inicjatywę społeczną, która dwa razy wypełniła swoje zadania, bo w momencie kiedy powstała "Solidarność" jasne się stało, że KOR wypełnił swoje zadania i to wypełnił z dużą, dużą nadwyżką, do ostatniej chwili pełnił służbę i wypełnił ją. No i tu później te kłopoty z rozwiązaniem, które były. To ja zobaczyłem znowu na taki wspaniały przykład, jak konserwatywna jest instytucja. Ona powstała i strasznie ciężko jej się rozwiązać. Ale rozwiązaliśmy KOR i oświadczenie o rozwiązaniu KOR na zjeździe zgłosił profesor Lipiński. Zjazd ogłosił podziękowanie dla KOR-u.

The late Polish activist, Jacek Kuroń (1934-2004), had an influential but turbulent political career, helping transform the political landscape of Poland. He was expelled from the communist party, arrested and incarcerated. He was also instrumental in setting up the Workers' Defence Committee (KOR) and later became a Minister of Labour and Social Policy.

Listeners: Marcel Łoziński Jacek Petrycki

Film director Marcel Łoziński was born in Paris in 1940. He graduated from the Film Directing Department of the National School of Film, Television and Theatre in Łódź in 1971. In 1994, he was nominated for an American Academy Award and a European Film Academy Award for the documentary, 89 mm from Europe. Since 1995, he has been a member of the American Academy of Motion Picture Art and Science awarding Oscars. He lectured at the FEMIS film school and the School of Polish Culture of Warsaw University. He ran documentary film workshops in Marseilles. Marcel Łoziński currently lectures at Andrzej Wajda’s Master School for Film Directors. He also runs the Dragon Forum, a European documentary film workshop.

Cinematographer Jacek Petrycki was born in Poznań, Poland in 1948. He has worked extensively in Poland and throughout the world. His credits include, for Agniezka Holland, Provincial Actors (1979), Europe, Europe (1990), Shot in the Heart (2001) and Julie Walking Home (2002), for Krysztof Kieslowski numerous short films including Camera Buff (1980) and No End (1985). Other credits include Journey to the Sun (1998), directed by Jesim Ustaoglu, which won the Golden Camera 300 award at the International Film Camera Festival, Shooters (2000) and The Valley (1999), both directed by Dan Reed, Unforgiving (1993) and Betrayed (1995) by Clive Gordon both of which won the BAFTA for best factual photography. Jacek Petrycki is also a teacher and a filmmaker.

Tags: Solidarność, National Committee, KOR, Gdańsk, prof.Edward Lipiński

Duration: 1 minute, 35 seconds

Date story recorded: 1987

Date story went live: 12 June 2008