During the plenary session, Minister Zbigniew Rau underlined that the challenge of fighting the COVID-19 pandemic cannot be a pretext for permanent restrictions on human rights, the principles of democracy, and the rule of law.

“We need a constant, honest and open dialogue to effectively respond to challenges in the Mediterranean region, such as armed conflicts, terrorism and extremism - which have in recent days affected also other European countries - illegal migration, human rights violations and environmental degradation. The OSCE Mediterranean Partnership for Cooperation can be a platform for such dialogue,” Deputy Minister Paweł Jabłoński said during today’s ministerial video conference on promoting security in the OSCE Mediterranean region.

Polish MFA appreciates the efforts of the Georgia’s authorities to organise the parliamentary elections on October 31st in a swift and efficient manner, based on a revised electoral system. The turnout achieved, especially within a framework of difficulties posed by the pandemic situation, is a success of the Georgian civil society.

- I regret that – due to the current epidemic situation – we could not meet in person, as it was originally planned. However, I hope that soon the situation will improve and the meeting in Stockholm will take place - said Minister Zbigniew Rau during his telephone conversation with the head of Swedish diplomacy Ann Linde.

Today, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Paweł Jabłoński held a video conference with ambassadors accredited to Poland from the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) member states. The meeting was organized to present the Polish candidate to the position of the OECD Secretary-General, Michał Kurtyka, PhD, Poland’s incumbent Minister of Climate and Environment.

The Polish government proposed the incumbent Minister of Climate and Environment Michał Kurtyka as a candidate for the position of the Secretary General of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD).

- I am glad that the V4 countries started a viable, regular process of information exchange to enhance the effectiveness of our efforts to fight the COVID-19 pandemic, - Minister Zbigniew Rau told Ivan Korčok, Slovakia’s Minister of Foreign and European Affairs in the context of setting up the Virtual V4 Centre for Information Exchange on COVID-19.

On 22 October 2020, the Council of the EU introduced, for the second time in history, restrictive measures aimed at counteracting malicious cyber activity that threatens the European Union, its Member States, third countries, and international organizations.

The MFA organised a series of expert panels and an information and promotional campaign under the slogan “UN Week” to mark the 75th anniversary of the establishment of the United Nations Organisation.

“A shared understanding of the world and mutual friendship between Poland and Romania help us achieve our common goals even better,” said Minister Zbigniew Rau.