On Monday, Minister Jacek Czaputowicz accompanied President Andrzej Duda at a meeting with US President Donald Trump and at the inauguration of the UN Climate Summit. Minister Czaputowicz also joined President Duda at a high-level meeting on the protection of religious freedom, which was chaired by the US president. Religious freedom and the rights of persons belonging to religious minorities are among Poland’s priorities. Poland takes specific steps to put the spotlight on these issues in international organizations.

 On the second day in New York, Minister Czaputowicz also met with UN Under-Secretary-General for Counter-Terrorism Vladimir Voronkov. Minister Czaputowicz: “Out of all international institutions, Poland considers the United Nations as the most important partner in countering terrorism.” He went on to say that the European Union strongly supports the UN in its actions and goals in this area, and the Framework Agreement signed last April by the two organizations should strengthen this partnership. He also highlighted the role that the UN Sanctions Committees play in combatting terrorism.

During an informal discussion, the EU foreign ministers focused on the situation in Libya and Syria. The debate was preceded by the Visegrad Group’s coordination meeting.

The debate on Libya, attended by Head of UNSMIL Ghassan Salamé, allowed the EU foreign ministers to discuss prospects for solving the ongoing conflict in the country, for renewing the political process as well as for improving the humanitarian situation, also that of migrants and refugees. The ministers welcomed the creation of Syria’s Constitutional Committee, hopeful that it would pave the way for a full implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 2254 concerning a political settlement of the conflict and Syria’s future.

On the sidelines of the events, Minister Jacek Czaputowicz participated in a ceremony where President Andrzej Duda opened a Polish conference room at the headquarters of the UN Security Council. It is customary for individual states to decorate UN premises with objects promoting their tradition, history and culture.

MFA Press Office

Photo: Tymon Markowski / MFA