President Obama calls Polish prime minister, expresses deepest condolences after crash

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Obama calls Polish prime minister after crash

WASHINGTON — President Barack Obama expressed his deepest condolences to Poland on Saturday following the plane crash that killed that nation’s president and some of the country’s highest military and civilian leaders.

Obama called Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk over what the U.S. president described as a devastating loss to both countries and to the world.

Polish President Lech Kaczynski was a distinguished statesman who was widely admired in the United States as a leader dedicated to advancing freedom and human dignity, Obama said in a statement from the White House.

“Our thoughts and prayers are with the Kaczynski family, the loved ones of those killed in this tragic plane crash, and the Polish nation,” Obama said.

The U.S. president described Poland’s civilian and military leaders who died with Kaczynski as having helped shape that country’s “inspiring democratic transformation.”

In conveying the message of condolence from both himself and first lady Michelle Obama, the president noted that Kaczynski and his wife Maria and those who accompanied them were on the way to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the Katyn forest massacre of thousands of Polish officers by Soviet secret police. Obama also praised Kaczynski as having played a key role in the Solidarity movement that won economic reforms and free elections.

Former President George W. Bush said he and former first lady Laura Bush were “deeply saddened” by the deaths. “President Kaczynski was a strong defender of freedom and a friend to the United States. Laura and I have fond memories of our visits with the president and Maria. On this sad day, we send our heartfelt condolences to the people of Poland, and especially to the families of all those lost in this tragic accident.”