During his visit to Bratislava, Minister Jacek Czaputowicz participated in a discussion panel dedicated to the challenges to be addressed by the North Atlantic Alliance in the next decade: “NATO at 80”: Alliance Navigating Disrupted Partnerships.” In his address, he stressed that today NATO and the whole transatlantic community are facing both traditional and new challenges, such as cybersecurity threats. He pointed to Russia’s aggressive policy and terrorist threats coming from the Middle East. “One should demand Russia to comply with international law,” underscored Minister Czaputowicz‎. During his address, the minister also said that, in Poland’s opinion, EU security and defence activities should complement NATO’s actions. “From our perspective, transatlantic unity is the key,” he noted. 

The chief of Polish diplomacy also took part in a meeting of foreign ministers of the V4 group and the Republic of Korea. Its participants were in agreement that there are huge prospects for cooperation in such areas as R&D, cybersecurity, infrastructure, and energy. They also discussed possibilities of supporting the Eastern Partnership and the Western Balkans. Other topics discussed included people-to-people contacts, culture, and education. Minister Jacek Czaputowicz also drew attention to possibilities of cooperation in the area of cybersecurity. 

On the side-lines of the conference in Bratislava, the head of the MFA took part in a number of bilateral meetings. He met with Kang Kyung-wha, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Korea, with whom he talked about economic cooperation between the two countries, as well as about the situation in the Korean Peninsula. Minister Czaputowicz thanked the Korean side for its engagement in the Warsaw Process during the Ministerial to Promote a Future of Peace and Security in the Middle East, which took place in Poland’s capital this February. “We regard Korea as our strategic partner. We see great potential especially in infrastructural investments, research and innovation,” he added.

The head of Polish MFA also talked with Philip Reeker, US Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs and with Gordon D. Sondland, the US Ambassador to the EU. The diplomats discussed priority issues in Polish-US relations, also in the context of the upcoming visit by Polish President Andrzej Duda to Washington DC. Among the topics discussed was the inclusion of Poland in the Visa Waiver Program, cooperation in the energy sector and further actions to be taken as part of the Warsaw Process.

Minister Czaputowicz also met with Senator Ron Johnson. They talked about the Polish President’s planned visit to the United States, prospects of including Poland in the Visa Waiver Programme, as well as international support for Ukraine and issues relating to the Three Seas Initiative.

Minister Jacek Czaputowicz also met with the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs of the United Arab Emirates, Anwar Gargash. He raised issues related to the situation in the Middle East, also in the context of the Warsaw Process, as well as the role of the League of Arab States. They also discussed closer bilateral relations, especially in trade and investments. Minister Czaputowicz congratulated the United Arab Emirates on proclaiming 2019 the Year of Tolerance. He also recalled that Poland was the initiator of a resolution that proclaimed 22 August International Day for Victims of Violence Based on Religion or Beliefs.

 ‎In Bratislava, Foreign Minister Jacek Czaputowicz also met with Michael Barnier, the EU’s chief Brexit negotiator, with whom he discussed different scenarios of the UK’s leaving the EU. He said that the worst-case scenario which needs to be avoided will be a no-deal Brexit. They agreed that while looking for the best solutions, one has to bear in mind, in particular, the protection of the common market and ensuring that consumers in EU countries are protected, as well as the security of Member States.

 

MFA Press Office

 

Photo: Sebastian Indra/MFA