Janusz Onyszkiewicz, Ph.D.

Specialisation: defence policy

M.Sc and PhD in pure mathematics. Senior lecturer in Mathematics Institute of Warsaw University. Doctor Honoris Causa of the University of Leeds (UK). Author of several books and papers on mathematical logic and set theory. Member of the democratic opposition since mid-1960s, active in strikes and demonstrations in 1968 for freedom of speech and research, one of the organizers of “Solidarity” in Warsaw region in 1980 and its National Spokesman (until 1989) and a member of the National Executive (Presidium). After Dec. 13th 1981, during the martial law, imprisoned for over one year, then rearrested several times. The spokesman of “Solidarity” delegation to Round Table negotiations with the communist authorities (Feb – April 1989). Member of the Polish Parliament 1989-2001, member of the Executive Committee of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (1989-1991), chairman of the Polish delegation to the WEU and NATO Parliamentary Assemblies, Deputy Minister (1990-1991) and Minister of National Defence (1991-1993 and 1997-2000). Member of the Democratic Party (Union for Freedom) and its President in 2006-2009, member of the European Parliament (2004-2009) and its vice-President, vice chairman of the Foreign Relation Commission of the European Parliament.