The U.S. State Department has expressed its sympathy and solidarity with Poland over the death this week of its first post-communist Foreign Minister, Krzysztof Skubiszewski.
State Department spokesman P.J. Crowley says Skubiszewski paved the way for Poland's eventual membership in NATO and the strong alliance between Poland and the United States.
He called Skubiszewski a great statesman and visionary.
Skubiszewski died Monday at age 83. No cause of death was announced.
He was Poland's first foreign minister after the fall of communism in 1989. He held the post until 1993.
Skubiszewski opened talks with NATO and worked towards reconciliation with Germany.
Some information for this report was provided by AP.