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Minister Radosław Sikorski takes part in 31st OSCE Ministerial Council

05.12.2024

Holding the line of objection to Russia’s blackmail, a policy initiated by the Polish Chairpersonship in 2022, was the main goal of the Polish foreign minister’s participation in the 31st Ministerial Council of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe held in Malta.

Minister Radosław Sikorski wziął udział w 31. Radzie Ministerialnej OBWE

Poland attaches great importance to the activity of the OSCE, an organisation which for decades has upheld peace and stability across the region. Russia has long been trying to use the OSCE to further its aggressive policies. Russia’s full-scale aggression against Ukraine is a violation of the UN Charter. As such, it puts in jeopardy the pillars of the international order based on law, democracy, and human rights. Supporting Kyiv and protecting the Organization’s legacy from Russia’s criminal actions is a common objective for the OSCE participating States.


- Finland has reminded us of the reasons why the OSCE was set up: on the one hand, the East strove after guarantees for its own borders, the West on the other hand wanted to protect human rights. Today, Russia respects neither one nor the other. When the USSR collapsed, we wanted to support Russia on the road to democracy, but it chose the road of aggression. We don’t believe your lies, we know what you’re doing—you are trying to rebuild an empire, but we will stop you. You’re destroying Ukraine, but also the future of your own country - Minister Sikorski said during his address.


During an informal dinner dedicated to supporting Ukraine and attended by ministers of like-minded countries, Minister Sikorski reaffirmed continued assistance to Kyiv as part of bilateral cooperation, including through arms supplies, and in multilateral fora. An important element of the OSCE’s activities in Ukraine is the Support Programme for Ukraine (SPU), initiated during Poland’s OSCE Chairpersonship in 2022 and financed from extra-budgetary funds (Poland is among the top 10 contributors). 
 
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While in Malta, Minister Sikorski also met with the local Polish community.

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