Marian Orzechowski

Marian Odon Orzechowski (October 1931 – 29 June 2020) was a Polish politician and a former member of the Polish Communist Party. He served as foreign minister of the People's Republic of Poland from 1985 to 1988.

Marian Orzechowski
Minister of Foreign Affairs
In office 12 November 1985 – 17 June 1988
Prime Minister	Zbigniew Messner
Preceded by	Stefan Olszowski
Succeeded by	Tadeusz Olechowski
Personal details
Born	October 24, 1931 Radom, Poland
Died	29 June 2020 (aged 88) Wroclaw, Poland
Resting place	Wroclaw
Nationality	Polish
Political party	Polish United Workers' Party
Alma mater	Leningrad University University of Wrocław

Early life and education

Orzechowski was born in Radom on 24 October 1931.[1][2] He received a degree in history from the University of Leningrad in Soviet Union.[3][4] In 1960, he received PhD from the University of Wrocław.[4]

Career

Orzechowski was a senior politician of the Polish United Workers' Party.[5] He became a member of the central committee of the party in 1966.[3] He served in a variety of party posts and was appointed a central committee secretary.[3] He also headed the party's academy of social sciences.[6] In addition, he became a lecturer of history and political science at the University of Wrocław in 1966.[4] From 1971 to 1975 he served as the rector of the university.[4] He was the chief ideologist of the party, being ideology secretary to which he was elected at the fifth plenum on 27–28 October 1981.[7][8] From 1984 to 1986 he was the rector of the Academy of Social Sciences.[9]

He was appointed foreign minister on 12 November 1985 to the cabinet led by the then prime minister Zbigniew Messner.[2][6][10][11] He succeeded Stefan Olszowski in the post.[12] In addition, Orzechowski headed the PRON's national council, that was formed by the Polish authorities to develop a close interaction with the church, during that time.[13] He became a member of the politburo in June 1988 while retaining his post as foreign minister.[3] His term as foreign minister ended on 17 June 1988 and he was replaced by Tadeusz Olechowski in the post.[2] From 1988 to 1989 he served as the head of the Communist parliament delegation.[14][15] In July 1989 Orzechowski lost his position as executive ideology secretary of the party's central committee when Wojciech Jaruzelski resigned from the leadership of the party.[16][17] However, his membership at the central committee of the party continued for a while.[17]

Views and activities

During his term as foreign minister, Orzechowski stated "historians who were members of the party were particularly inspected by the censors since they were to represent it."[18] In 1986 he was able to persuade the Soviet authorities to appoint Wlodzimierz Natorf, a controversial figure, as the Polish ambassador to Moscow.[19] Orzechowski participated in round table talks between the ruling party and opposition figures that lasted from 6 February to 4 April 1989.[9]

Work

Orzechowski is the author of a book about political conditions in Poland and Polish foreign relations from 1989 to 1994.[15]

References

1. Contemporary Poland. Polska Agencja Interpress. 1986. p. 101.
2. "Polish ministries". Rulers. Retrieved 13 June 2013.
3. John Tagliabue (16 June 1988). "Polish Communists Realign the Party Leadership". New York Times. Retrieved 13 June 2013.
4. "Prof. Dr. Marian Orzechowski". DPSK. Retrieved 16 June 2013.
5. Szayna, Thomas S. (April 1990). "Polish Foreign Policy under a Non-Communist Government: Prospects and Problems". Rand National Defense Research Institute.
6. "Poland's new premier names cabinet; foreign minister out". Bangor Daily News. Warsaw. AP. 13 November 1985. Retrieved 13 June 2013.
7. John Tagliabue (29 July 1989). "Poland's Communist Party Debates Its Future". New York Times. Retrieved 13 June 2013.
8. Mark Kramer. "Soviet deliberations during the Polish crisis, 1980 - 1981" (PDF). Cold War International History Project. Special Working Papers (1): 150. Archived from the original (PDF) on 5 August 2012. Retrieved 14 July 2013.
9. Michael D. Kennedy (2002). "Negotiating revolution in Poland" (PDF). NCEEER. Retrieved 14 July 2013.
10. "New leadership team shifts focus to economy" (PDF). CIA. 10 December 1985. Retrieved 13 June 2013.
11. Gregory F. Domber (2008). Supporting the Revolution: America, Democracy, and the End of the Cold War in Poland, 1981--1989. p. 272. ISBN 978-0-549-38516-5. Retrieved 13 June 2013. Revised and incorporated in Gregory F. Domber (2014). Empowering Revolution: America, Poland, and the End of the Cold War. The New Cold War History. University of North Carolina Press books. ISBN 978-1469618517.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
12. "Poland Shuffles Posts as Power Struggle Starts". Orlando Sentinel. Warsaw. 13 November 1985. Retrieved 13 June 2013.
13. Arthur R. Rachwald (1990). In Search of Poland: The Superpowers' Response to Solidarity, 1980-1989. Hoover Press. p. 114. ISBN 978-0-8179-8963-7. Retrieved 13 June 2013.
14. "Polish Parliament Approves New Cabinet". The Harvard Crimson. 13 September 1989. Retrieved 13 June 2013.
15. "Overview of the Marian Orzechowski writings" (PDF). Hoover Institution Archives. Retrieved 14 July 2013.
16. Butturini, Paula (30 July 1989). "Solidarity Foe Is New Polish Party Chief". Chicago Tribune. Warsaw. Retrieved 14 July 2013.
17. "Polish communists pick hard-liner to lead party". Deseret News. 30 July 1989. Retrieved 14 July 2013.
18. Strządała, Gaweł. "Censorship in the People's Republic of Poland" (PDF). Folklore. Retrieved 13 June 2013.
19. Gillette, Robert (4 January 1986). "Poland Names New Ambassador in a Move to Better Its Kremlin Ties". Los Angeles Times. Warsaw. Retrieved 14 July 2013.