August 1980 cornerstone of a free Poland - president

August 1980 was the foundation of a free Poland and initiated major changes that transformed Europe and the world, President Andrzej Duda said on Thursday, marking the 40th anniversary of the August 1980 worker strikes that gave rise to the Solidarity Union. In a special address on the occasion, Duda called the August 1980 strikes "a historical breakthrough" which inspired people in other countries of the then Soviet bloc and eventually led to the fall of communism in Eastern Europe. "We are happy with the growth of our sovereign homeland and proud to see the fruit of our victory," Duda said.