The roundtable on the development potential of the Lublin Triangle was attended by foreign ministers of Poland and Ukraine, Zbigniew Rau and Dmytro Kuleba respectively, as well as by Lithuania’s Deputy Foreign Minister Mantas Adomėnas. Minister Rau expressed his satisfaction with the fact that establishing the Lublin Triangle has filled a significant gap in Central European cooperation. He stressed that this format, which has been operating for over a year now, has become a flexible formula for contacts at many levels, strengthening the capability to analyse challenges facing Poland, Lithuania, and Ukraine. The head of Polish diplomacy underscored the readiness to expand the Lublin Triangle to include a free and democratic Belarus.

The speakers at the ministerial panel discussion titled “From the Baltic to the Black Sea: unlocking the strategic potential of the region” included the Ministers of Foreign Affairs of Poland – Zbigniew Rau, Turkey – Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu, Finland – Pekka Haavisto, and Ukraine – Dmytro Kuleba. Minister Rau stressed that Poland attaches great importance to the development of regional cooperation formats in our part of Europe. He noted that cooperation within the Lublin Triangle, which is based on partnership as well as common heritage and shared values, provides added value to the development of the region. The head of the Polish MFA also expressed his hope for the development of regional cooperation in the Black Sea dimension, initiated by a meeting between President Andrzej Duda and presidents of the Republic of Moldova, Ukraine, and Romania, which was held during President Duda’s visit to Chisinau earlier this year, in August.

During the Warsaw Security Forum, Minister Zbigniew Rau highlighted the development potential of the Three Seas region and cooperation aimed at unlocking that potential by developing infrastructure links. “We are aware that insufficient development of infrastructure is the main obstacle that hinders a faster economic growth in our region,” said Minister Rau.

In this context, he pointed to the Three Seas Initiative as a platform for coordinating and implementing key cross-border projects. Cooperation in transport, energy and digital infrastructure will also contribute to more rapid integration and bridging the development gap across the EU, as well as building resilience to modern threats.

Minister Zbigniew Rau, Sweden’s Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs Robert Rydberg, and OSCE Secretary General Helga Schmid took part in a panel on current challenges facing the OSCE, in the context of Poland’s chairpersonship of the organisation next year. In his address, the top Polish diplomat stressed that despite difficult challenges the OSCE is faced with, the organisation remains an important forum for dialogue, thanks to its experience, independent institutions, and negotiation formats. He added that Poland will make it one of its priorities to possibly reinforce OSCE efforts to resolve regional conflicts, de-escalate tension, and support populations living in areas affected by crisis situations.

MFA Press Office

Photo: Tymon Markowski / MFA