As the Ministry of Foreign Affairs informs - The diplomas have been granted since 1970, at first – to Poles and Polish expatriates, for services to Polish culture around the world. Since 1999, under a broader formula of the award, the diplomas can be granted to any person – regardless of nationality or country of origin – who contributes to the international promotion of Poland in such areas as culture, politics, science or economy. Institutions and organizations are also eligible. This formula makes it possible to honor all those who help create a distinct, objective image of Poland around the world.

Minister Sikorski has awarded the distinctions for 2008 to the following persons and organizations: Kamal Abdullayev, artists and curators of the Polish pavilion at the 11th Venice Architecture Biennale (Nicolas Grospierre, Kobas Laksa, Grzegorz Piątek, Jarosław Trybuś), Natalia Astafyeva, Eugenio Barba, Marcin Janusz Gortat, Theodor Kanitzer, Marcin Kościelnicki, Gilbert Van Landschoot, Wojciech Nawrot, Chris Niedenthal, Magdalena Materna, Kinga Miodońska-Joucaviel, Natalia Partyka, Akumal Ramachander, Alex Storożyński, the Wilno Heritage Society and Krzysztof Wodiczko.