The meeting focused on efforts to protect the rights of persons belonging to national minorities, in particular during war and armed conflicts. The Chairperson-in-Office highlighted the situation of minorities in Ukraine in the context of Russia’s ongoing aggression. The talks between Minister Rau and the High Commissioner also covered developments in Central Asia, which the OSCE Chairman-in-Office visited last week.

During the meeting, Minister Rau drew attention to persecution of the Polish national minority in Belarus, including recent decisions of the Belarusian authorities aimed at eliminating education in the Polish language. The minister thanked the High Commissioner for actions taken so far to support the Polish minority in Belarus and its representatives. 

The OSCE High Commissioner for National Minorities is tasked with monitoring the situation of national minorities in the OSCE area in order to address the causes of ethnic tensions and conflicts in the region. The incumbent High Commissioner, Kairat Abdrakhmanov, was appointed for the position during the OSCE Ministerial Council in 2020.

 

Łukasz Jasina

MFA Press Spokesperson

 

Photo: Bartosz Peterman / MFA