The covid-19 pandemic, followed by the prelude to war and the resumption of Russian aggression, has disrupted many aspects of our public life. Today the time has come to thoroughly present and debate the foreign policy assumptions and directions, the head of the Foreign Ministry, Zbigniew Rau, stressed in the Sejm.
Today we are experiencing a turning point in the history of Europe. Russia’s aggression and Ukraine’s defensive war are a battle for the future of Europe. For norms and values around which the life of the continent will be shaped, transatlantic relations will be formed and the institutional form of the new political and security architecture in Europe will be created
– be the head of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Russian aggression makes us think about fundamental issues (…) The moment of historical breakthrough we are witnessing demands that we answer the question: what kind of world do we want?
said the head of the foreign ministry.
The most fundamental necessity of Polish politics is the survival and survival of the Republic of Poland in freedom and development
– emphasized Zbigniew Rau.
The Republic of Poland is the common good of those who maintain an identity relationship with it and cultivate its culture and tradition. For Polish identity, the tradition of this closeness to the idea of a free and independent Republic of Poland is of particular importance. In the past, it was often kept by Poles around the world, creating a strong foundation for the reconstruction of the Polish state. The survival and survival of the Republic of Poland is our shared commitment to future generations of Poles around the world
said the head of the foreign ministry.
The meaning of peace
The first rule is to ensure peace and security. Every nation has an inalienable right to peace. To this end, we are ready to cooperate with any entity in international relations whose policies are based on respect for equality and self-determination of nations. We Poles know very well the value of peace. Over the past three decades, Poland has benefited from its historic opportunity presented to it by peace in Europe. From a country on the fringes of the Soviet Empire, indebted and overwhelmed by the lack of freedom, we have managed to build a state with a dynamic economy, resistant to external crises, a member of NATO – the most powerful defense alliance in the history of humanity and integration in the EU – free and equal nations that are among the most developed in the world. At that time, Poland became the leader of economic growth in Europe, tripled its gross national income per capita, so that, measured in purchasing power, it fluctuated at the level of 79 percent. EU average. In the next decade we can equalize this indicator. The room has a very measurable value for us
said Minister Rau.
We know the costs of war like no other in Europe. We know very well that armed aggression, especially like the German aggression and occupation in 1939-45, is accompanied by such enormous losses that it is often difficult to compensate for these decades. That is why we must actively shape a system of national security in which armed aggression becomes less and less likely. It’s not just about joining alliances that provide a credible deterrent and effective defense against a potential aggressor. Preventing aggression should always have a measurable financial component – to eliminate it from any rational calculation of a potential aggressor’s gains and losses. In practice, this also means Poland’s participation in organizations and coalitions that can impose economic sanctions on states that threaten the peace. It is an essential part of maintaining world peace
– added the head of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Democratization of international relations
The second principle we follow in our foreign policy is the democratization of international relations, based on the sovereign equality of all states and nations. It is the antithesis of all kinds of imperialism, interplay of powers and spheres of influence. This approach to international politics is deeply rooted in our political and systemic tradition, referring to freedom and equality
said Raw.
We work very closely with the countries in our region. It is no coincidence that the nations of Central and Eastern Europe share unique anti-imperial traditions and experiences. We bring them as our important contribution to shaping the common good in Europe and in the world. We see ourselves as the epicenter of important values that defend Europe against hegemonic tendencies, against drifting towards compromises with authoritarianism. We know better than anyone that the future of Europe cannot be built on a compromise between freedom and slavery, but only on the rejection of imperial traditions. Poland accepted and will not accept the division of countries into better and worse
Rau emphasized.
Tue
Source: wPolityce