The newly sworn in Polish Ambassador to Malta, Jerzy Chmielewski, visited the Commonwealth War Graves in Kalkara following the presentation of his credentials to President of Malta, Edward Fenech Adami.

Mr Chmielewski, who will be based in the Polish embassy accredited to Malta in Rome, was accompanied by a delegation made up of first counsellor (political affairs) Marek Dabrowski, military attaché Col. Ryszard Tomczak, first secretary Marek Szczepanowski and the honorary consul of Poland in Malta Stephen Parnis England.

The delegation paid respect to the Polish sailors and airmen fallen in service to their country in combat for Malta between 1942 and 1943. The ambassador laid a wreath on one of the four graves containing eight Polish burials.

“As ambassador it is my duty to visit this cemetery, one of the many around Europe and the Mediterranean, in honour of our servicemen who, together with the Allies, gave their lives for Poland and the freedom of Europe,” said Mr Chmielewski.

He also expressed his gratitude to P.P.J. Fitzgerald MBE, local supervisor Malta for the Commonwealth War Graves Commission – Western Mediterranean Area, for looking after the cemetery.

The first person to be buried at the Kalkara cemetery was in 1903. There are also 1,196 dead from the First and Second World War buried at the cemetery and another 2,500 graves of people who died outside the two World War periods.