The meeting focused on Poland’s year-long chairmanship of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe, which is now coming to an end. Its key element involved promoting human rights protection, fundamental freedoms, and democratic institutions, which make up the so-called human dimension of the OSCE’s activity.

Minister Rau stressed the importance of the human dimension in the OSCE’s activities, especially from the perspective of Poland, where the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights is based. Poland’s commitment was reflected in the meetings held by Minister Rau with representatives of civil society during his visits to the Organisation’s participating states.

Minister Rau and Director Mecacci raised the future of OSCE cooperation. Human rights issues in Belarus, Ukraine, and Russia were another important item on the agenda.

Director Mecacci thanked for the very good cooperation during Poland’s year-long OSCE chairmanship, including in connection with the hosting of the Warsaw Human Dimension Conference (26 September-7 October). It was one of the biggest human rights events in Europe. Its organisation by Poland, despite serious geopolitical obstacles, demonstrated the Polish chairmanship’s determination to strengthen OSCE cooperation on the human dimension.

 

Łukasz Jasina
MFA Spokesperson

Photo: S. Indra/MFA