We have just listened to the history of our city – more than eight centuries of the existence and development of the settlement on the Bóbr River.For us, for our generation, despite our great respect for the past, the most important is precisely this last period of history, these last 50 years, the period when Bolesławiec, the stronghold of the Silesian Piasts, returned to the Motherland.It is a beautiful anniversary – 50 years – a long time in the life of one person. Among us, in this hall, there are residents of our city who are 50 years old, born here in 1945.These 50 years represent the achievements of the first military settlers, the pioneers from the first repatriation transports: from Drohobych, Yugoslavia, France and the Vilnius Region. At the same time, they represent the achievements of the many graduates and specialists who came to Bolesławiec in the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s, finding work here in this dynamically developing city, pursuing their dreams and professional ambitions, starting families and building their homes.Many distinguished people who served our city have already passed away; they did not live to see the 50th anniversary. Today, we remember Them, expressing our gratitude, appreciation and respect...I am convinced that, as we celebrate the Jubilee, we have reasons to be proud and satisfied with the development of our city, which, rising from ruins since 1945, has grown considerably, doubling its population.The work, effort and commitment of several generations of Bolesławiec residents have produced the result that today our city is one of the most beautiful in Lower Silesia. My predecessors – mayors, heads and presidents – also contributed to this through their work.The city is not only homes and streets; it is also many institutions and enterprises with diverse achievements that have significantly influenced its development.The image of the city is also shaped by creative and artistic work, and in the past 50 years we have recorded very many collective and individual achievements.Satisfaction with our city's accomplishments and successes does not obscure our clear view of the problems, difficulties and many shortcomings that are currently being addressed and that we will have to overcome in the near future.Municipal waste management, including the construction of a landfill, the modernization and reconstruction of the heating system, and the construction of a bypass – these are just examples of the most important problems to be solved.It is the duty of our generation, while respecting history, to think about the future. The city's 50th anniversary coincides with a period of significant political and economic changes in this part of Europe.Bolesławiec, from a peripheral location on the border of two different political and economic systems, has now found itself in the heart of Europe; our economy and culture are facing open borders. This situation presents us with new challenges and creates opportunities and threats. Our task and duty is to seize these opportunities and minimize the threats, while remaining aware that our capabilities in this regard are local in scale.Our city is a member of Euroregion Nysa, an association bringing together towns and municipalities located where the three borders – Czech, German and Polish – meet. The Euroregion creates a bridge toward building, step by step, a future united Europe. We are aware that this is not an easy process and will still require much time. Our practical and local actions in this regard include maintaining the partnership with Pirna and signing cooperation agreements with the second German city, Siegburg, and the Danish city of Hobro. Cooperation with these cities is developing on many levels; we try to benefit from their experience, initial business contacts are being established, but for me the most satisfying aspect is the youth exchange, which I consider a good investment in our future.We are entering a new 50-year period for our city, not without responsibilities, but also with hope that our largest industrial plants, such as “Wizów,” “Polfa,” “Bonitex,” “Sława” and “Zakłady Ceramiczne,” will maintain their status and increase production and employment. We are counting on the development of private, cooperative and craft businesses. The prosperity of our city depends on this.We must do everything to meet the conditions of competition and use all our advantages, including our border location, raw-material resources and, above all, our resourceful and enterprising residents.Our city is developing in conjunction and cooperation with the Bolesławiec Rural Municipality and, although these are separate administrations, in many spheres they constitute a single entity. We care about good and harmonious cooperation; today's joint ceremonial session is a symbol of this...Ladies and Gentlemen, today's Celebration is an opportunity to extend our best wishes. I would like to wish the residents of our city, as well as the residents of the municipality, that this Celebration may become an opportunity for integration; that satisfaction with our achievements to date may encourage even greater effort and perseverance in caring for our city and municipality, in actively increasing our assets and wisely distributing them.The idea of self-government, which we have been building for several years, creates additional opportunities in this regard...I wish that, by strengthening the idea of self-government, we build our Little Homelands based on the values provided by family, the family home, our community, a sense of togetherness and local patriotism. I wish that the prosperity of these Little Homelands may contribute to the prosperity of our Homeland – the Republic of Poland.