During the debate with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, former US Secretary of State John Kerry, Germany’s Defence Minister Ursula von der Leyen and Professor Kishore Mahbubani, the chief of Polish diplomacy drew attention to Russian threat to security, specifically for Northern and Central Europe. Commenting on the concept of building Europe’s independent defence capabilities, Minister Czaputowicz pointed out that instead of that defence spending should be increased and activities should be synchronised with NATO. The chief of Polish diplomacy also addressed the situation in the Middle East. “We are aware of the threat also coming from the Middle East region,” said Minister Czaputowicz. “In order to discuss the situation in this region, Poland and the United States are organising an international conference in the middle of February,” he added.

On the first day of his visit to Davos, Minister Czaputowicz participated in several bilateral meetings. In his talks with Canada’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Chrystia Freeland, the chief of Polish diplomacy underscored the intensity of Polish-Canadian contacts and cooperation within NATO. He also went over the reasons for the Middle East conference, during which topics such as arms proliferation, fighting against terrorism, humanitarian challenges and prevention of religious extremism and radicalisation will be discussed.

During his talk with Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Pavlo Klimkin, Minister Czaputowicz assured him about Poland’s unwavering support at international fora of the independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity of its eastern neighbour. Minister Klimkin said that the recent ruling of the Constitutional Court on the constitutionality of the Act on the Institute of National Remembrance of January 2018 has created conditions for improving mutual relations and historical dialogue.

At his meeting with Moldova’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and European Integration Tudor Ulianovschi, Minister Czaputowicz reaffirmed Poland’s commitment to Moldova in its process of forging closer ties with the European Union. He also said he hoped that the upcoming parliamentary elections in Moldova will take place according to international standards. 

Minister Jacek Czaputowicz also met with Jordanian Minister of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates Ayman Safadi, with whom he discussed the state of bilateral relations. The Polish foreign minister underscored Poland’s continued support for its partners in this country. “We will continue our humanitarian and development assistance to Jordan,” Minister Czaputowicz stressed. “We share the opinion that assistance to the population suffering from the Syrian conflict should be provided first and foremost locally, also in Jordan,” he added.

On Friday, Minister Jacek Czaputowicz is meeting with Vice Prime Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration of Ukraine Ivanna Klympush-Tsintsadze and will take part in the panel “Creating Sustainable Partnership for Development and Peace in the Western Balkans.”

 

MFA Press Office

Photo: World Economic Forum / Sandra Blaser