Freedom is not to be taken for granted, President Nicusor Dan said on Thursday, after decorating former Polish President and Solidarity movement leader Lech Walesa.

In a ceremony held at the European Solidarity Centre in Gdansk, Nicusor Dan awarded the former Polish head of state the Grand Cross of the 'Star of Romania' National Order, 'as a sign of high appreciation for the exceptional merits in consolidating and deepening Romanian-Polish bilateral relations, as well as for the essential contribution to promoting democratic values in the East-European space'.

'Over time I have awarded several decorations, but I have never been more moved than I am at this moment. I remember the hopes of generations of Romanians who, listening to Radio Free Europe and Voice of America, were watching what was happening in Poland, what Solidarity meant, and in the end, that struggle was won. On behalf of those people, I convey to you our gratitude,' Nicusor Dan said.

He also referred to the need for role models for young people.

'I believe our societies need models, people who prove themselves, people who subordinate their own lives, their own destinies, to the interest of the community, people who have the courage to stand up for values. And I also believe that people like you can convey to others, and especially to young people, the fact that freedom is not to be taken for granted,' the president underscored.

In his turn, Lech Walesa made an appeal to memory and said that Solidarity defeated the communist system because it was 'in the right place at the right time'.

'If we had made a mistake, they would have done to us what they are doing today to Ukraine. What our generation did was to destroy that old system that could no longer be reformed, and we succeeded in doing that. We did this so that a new, better system could emerge, but, for it to emerge, we must convince each other that we need to start building. Everything happening today is the search for solutions for this new order,' Walesa said, according to the official translation.

The former Polish president said he often speaks about his experience so that new generations can achieve success in the post-Solidarity era.

'If you do not succeed, this will rebound against my success too. Your success will confirm my success and the success of that struggle,' Walesa added.

Nicusor Dan took part on Thursday in the Eastern Flank Summit held in Gdansk. AGERPRES (RO - writing by: Oana Ghita; EN - writing by: Simona Klodnischi)