Przemówienie Księcia Pawła Sanguszki
podczas uroczystości nadania tytułu
Mecenasa Kultury 2006
na Zamku Królewskim w Warszawie

Panie Ministrze, Szanowne Jury, Przedstawiciele Dyrekcji tarnowskiego muzeum, Panie i Panowie, Chciałbym podziekować za przyznanie mi tytułu Mecenasa Kultury. Dla mnie i mojej Mamy Klaudii jest to niezwykle cenna nagroda i czuję się niezwykle szczęśliwy. Szanowni Państwo pozwólcie, że z szacunku do języka polskiego będę mówić po angielsku.

For centuries the Sanguszko family has been part of the Polish culture and history. My ancestors have actively participated in working for Poland and defending its freedom. The love for the homeland has been the foundation of upbringing for many generations in our family. One cannot forget the support and help given to Polish citizens abroad. I would like to mention that:
- in the eighties my grand father gave a palace in Cracow in St. Francis street to be the seat of the Pontifical Academy of Theology in Cracow,
- last year a building in San Paulo was also given to the Government of Poland to be the seat of the Polish House in that city,
- In 2002 all most precious books were given by us to be the property of the Jagiellonian Library,
- a few years ago the community of the school no. 10 chose Roman "Sybirak" Sanguszko in Tarnów to be their patron, that school is constantly supported by us by means of scholarships and funding of computer equipment.
- During communism time my family helped Polish and former employees by sending them hundreds of packages with food and necessary items.
I am proud of that heritage. The agricultural reform implemented in the forties deprived my family of all the possessions, including many objects that according to the law of those days were not to be taken away from us, such as personal belongings and objects of everyday use.
After the changes of the 1989, I was able to come to Poland with my Mother, Klaudia, and we started making efforts to regain possession of things that according to the law belong to us. However, we have never wanted to fight for them aggressively, but wanted to try to find an agreement on conditions satisfying demands of all parties.
As an example of such action I can mention the outcome of the case of manuscripts and old texts kept at the Jagiellonian Library. In 2002 all most precious objects were given by us to be the property of the Library itself while the books concerning the Family directly were deposited there. The Rector of the Jagiellonian University at the time, Prof. Franciszek Ziejka described it as "a model example of reaching an agreement with the previous owners".
Based on the same principle we wish to resolve the matter of the collection held by the Regional Museum in Tarnów. Making a donation for some part of the collection to the Museum and signing the deposit agreement for the rest seems to be the best solution. Our negotiations with the Museum in 1999 failed due to lack of agreement from the authorities. As a result we were forced to take court action to confirm our rights. On November, the 8th 2004 the Regional Court in Tarnow confirmed that the inheriters of Roman Sanguszko are legal owners of objects taken from the Palace in Tarnow. Even we won the case, we did not take the objects from the museum, but we decided to make a donation concerning some of the won objects and to make the deposit agreement for the rest. The only pity is that there are hundreds of other objects belonging to my family which legal status is not clear. I hope we will solve the issue without the trial.
I live away from Poland, but I am still its citizen, an honored citizen of Tarnow and Lubartow. In May 2005 I was conferred on the Order Zaslugi Rzeczpospolitej. Every time I visit Poland I am welcome here with exceptional hospitality. I do feel at home here. Just like my Mother, I always seek conciliatory solutions. I must however state that should compromise not be reached I am ready to solve the matters by means of court actions.
In the end I would like to ask Minister of Culture Mr. Ujazdowski to try to solve the problem of former owners in general. In my opinion for Poland confirming the property rights to the objects in museums by signing the deposit agreements is much better then risking court trials and loosing the objects at all.
Once more i would like to thank you very much for the statue.