The meeting was arranged as a videoconference by Estonia, the holder of the Security Council presidency in May 2020. It was attended by over 40 foreign ministers and moderated by the Foreign Minister of Estonia Urmas Reinsalu.

Discussed were the experiences of World War II and the functioning of the United Nations Organisation, which was formed in response to it. The attendees noted the tragic experiences of war and the cold-war division of the world as well as current and potential threats to peace and security in Europe and across the world. Special attention was paid to the role of the Security Council in preventing security threats, international law violations and crimes against humanity.

In his speech, Minister Czaputowicz underscored that Poland was the first victim of German and Soviet aggression. Once it was over, Poland could not enjoy liberty since it became dependent on the USSR, as did the whole Central and Eastern Europe. “It was only after the victory of Solidarity and the velvet revolutions in the 1989 that the Central and Eastern European countries could fully regain their sovereignty,” underlined the minister.

While referring to the present times, Minister Czaputowicz focused on Russia’s actions that undermine Ukraine’s and Georgia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, and called on the international community to oppose those actions. He also underlined Poland’s involvement in improving the observance of international law, including the non-permanent membership of the UN Security Council in 2018-2019.

 

MFA Press Office

Photo: Sebastian Indra/MFA