Poland in the OSCE

“The Mediterranean region plays an important role in our efforts to enhance global security and seek the road to the post-pandemic recovery for our economies. Therefore, while organising subsequent meetings, we focused on dialogue, actively requesting our Partners to contribute to the Conference preparations with their ideas and involvement,” said Deputy Minister Piotr Wawrzyk at a panel opening this year’s OSCE Mediterranean Conference.

“As Chair of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe, we will spare no effort in assisting participating States in fostering dialogue while guarding the OSCE’s principles and commitments. Upholding the OSCE’s comprehensive security concept – that of political and economic security, as well as human rights and democracy – will be at the centre of our action,” said Minister Zbigniew Rau speaking at the OSCE Permanent Council in Vienna on Thursday, where he presented the guidelines of Poland’s 2022 OSCE Chairmanship.

When on 3 May 1791 the Four-Year Sejm also called the Great Sejm adopted The Government Act of the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth later known as the Constitution of 3 May, the Polish-Lithuanian state became the Europe’s first and the world’s second that passed the basic law. For its time, it was a progressive and bold legal act which initiated a number of reforms. It also constituted a crowning achievement of the centuries-old links between Poland and Lithuania.

Post-Covid-19 recovery was the focus of the first meeting organised as a video conference by the Permanent Representative of Poland to the OSCE in Vienna under this year’s Polish Chairmanship of the OSCE Mediterranean Partnership for Co-operation.

Thirty years ago, on 15 February 1991, the presidents of Poland and Czechoslovakia, and the prime minister of Hungary signed the Declaration on Cooperation between the Czech and Slovak Federal Republic, the Republic of Poland and the Republic of Hungary in Striving for European Integration in the castle of Visegrad, Hungary.

“The OSCE must work out solutions for the dynamically changing security situation in its area,” said Minister Zbigniew Rau in his address during the OSCE Ministerial Council meeting, which this year was held via video conference.

“As the Commander-in-Chief of the Polish Army, I hereby notify belligerent and neutral governments and nations of the existence of an Independent Polish State, within all the territories of the united Poland” – with these words Józef Piłsudski addressed the heads of world powers and notified them about the formation of the Second Polish Republic.

On 11 November 1918, 102 years ago, Poland regained its independence. On this day, after his release from the Magdeburg Fortress, Józef Piłsudski took over military command from the Regency Council and, three days later, assumed supreme authority over civilian matters, to finally “as Commander-in-Chief of the Polish Army [...] notify belligerent and neutral governments and nations” of the reappearance of “the reborn and independent Republic of Poland” on the map. After 123 years of captivity, Poland became a sovereign and internationally recognised state.

“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.

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.