This statement went viral in social media and was immediately picked up by the Western press, including The Washington Post, The New York Times and the British Daily Mail.
Last week, Poland canceled negotiations with France on the purchase of 50 French Airbus H225M Caracal helicopters. According to the Polish authorities, Airbus Helicopters treated Poland as a "third world country," while overpricing the deal and a respective offset contract.
Reactions to Kownack's statement can be found under the tag #widelec (fork). Sputnik picked the most interesting posts of Polish Internet users.
Amerykanów nauczyliśmy demokracji. Francuzów jeść widelcem. A Rosjan pić wódkę.#widelec
— Zły Pan Musztarda☂️ (@zlypanmusztarda) 12. Oktober 2016
We taught Americans democracy, Russians — how to drink vodka and French — how to use a fork.
Dear @BartoszKownacki! Maybe you use a fork at dinner, but looking at your manners, it seems you also use it to eat your soup.
#Widelec to jedno. Ale każdy wie, że pierwsze pałeczki do ryżu produkowane były z polskiego drewna. Chińczycy nic sami nie potrafią zrobić.
— Michał Lewandowski (@lewandowski_em) 12. Oktober 2016
Forks are one thing. Everyone knows that the first chopsticks were made from Polish wood as well.
Strach pomyśleć czymby amerykanie lecieli na Księżyć jakby nie polska technologia rakietowa. #widelec
— Chyży (@chyzol) 12. Oktober 2016
Frightful to think how the Americans would fly to the moon without Polish technology.
Mówią na mieście, że nauczyliśmy Francuzów robić wino widelcem. Prawda to? 😎 #Widelec
— T. T. Pastor (@TwiterowyPastor) 12. Oktober 2016
Someone said we taught the French make wine using a fork. Is that true?
Przedstawicielom rządu i PiS przydałby się program Kultura+ i Dyplomacja+. #widelec
— Nadia Gruszka (@NadiaGruszka) 12. Oktober 2016
TV Channels Culture + and Diplomacy + could be useful for the Polish government and PiS party.
