Poland in the UN

On 31 January 2021 Poland participated in the UN Security Council meeting, convened at the request of the United States, on Russia’s military build-up on the border with Ukraine. The full statement delivered by Amb. Krzysztof Szczerski, Permanent Representative of Poland to the UN in New York, is available below:

"Madam President,
Madam Under-Secretary-General
Excellencies,

Poland is grateful for convening today’s meeting of the Security Council as we are increasingly concerned with Russia’s continuous large-scale military buildup on the border with Ukraine, both in the territory of Russia but also in the territory of Belarus, including continuous redeployments of troops, pre-positioning of military hardware and offensive weapons. We cannot keep quiet because what is happening in our neighborhood constitutes a serious threat to international peace and security, reaching far beyond our region and continent.

The current security situation in Eastern Europe unfortunately follows a pattern of precedents with the Russian Federation being the destabilizing actor in the region at least since 2008 and the war in Georgia through 2014 and the illegal annexation of the Crimean peninsula. As we speak, the frozen conflicts in eastern Ukraine, in the Georgian break-away regions of South Ossetia/Tskhinvali and Abkhazia and in the Transnistrian region of the Republic of Moldova are unresolved, undermining the stability and regional security of this part of the world. 

Madam President,

We cannot keep quiet because what is happening in our neighborhood constitutes the outright violation of the fundamental principles enshrined in the UN Charter. Poland deeply adheres to the principles of international law such as sovereignty and territorial integrity of states, the inviolability of frontiers, and the non-use or threat of force. We call upon all member states to act in the same spirit.

We know very well from our country’s history that a political order based on the spheres of influence brings no positive results. It is right here, in the United Nations, where it is our duty to protect the principles of international law, strongly condemn any threat of the use of force, and work together to dismantle spheres of influence in order to maintain peace.

What is at stake today is not only the subordination of Ukraine, and the creation of the so called “buffer zone” in Eastern and Central Europe. The real threat is to shake the very foundation of security architecture in Europe by undermining such tenets of international law as the inviolability of borders and the freedom to choose one’s own security arrangements, among others. Unfortunately, this may have a global impact and contribute to the deterioration of international security, not to mention a possible humanitarian crisis, as there are other revisionist powers which may follow suit.

Madam President,

Poland deeply believes in the power of preventive diplomacy. Holding the Chairmanship-in-Office of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe, we stand open to facilitate talks on European security within the organization. OSCE can provide the right venue to discuss matters of concern because of being the broadest of regional formats. We call for constructive engagement of all participating states in order to find a peaceful solution to the current crisis.

Let there be no doubt that the current status-quo is no solution at all. Living in the constant fear of another frozen conflict is against the commitment of these United Nations to “practice tolerance and live together in peace with one another as good neighbours”. With the Winter Olympics less than a week away let us do whatever we can to maintain the Olympic peace in Eastern Europe.

Thank you."

Permanent Mission of Poland to the United Nations in New York

Photo: UN Photo/Eskinder Debebe