English

Polish foreign minister meets with leaders of Warsaw-backed Union of Poles in Belarus

Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski met with a large delegation of the Warsaw-backed “unofficial” Union of Poles in Belarus (UPB) in the Polish capital on October 24.

UPB leader Andzelika Orechwo said at the meeting that without support from the Polish government the organization would find it hard to do its work “under the conditions of lawlessness,” according to the Polish foreign ministry’s press office.

“We have managed to survive thanks to such positive steps,” she said, referring to Warsaw’s assistance.

Mr. Sikorski promised that Warsaw would continue supporting the Polish ethnic community in Belarus. He said that Poland spearheaded efforts in the European Union to promote democratic and European values in Belarus. “We are a country that provides the most generous support to both its compatriots and those who seek to create civil society in Belarus,” he was quoted as saying.

The meeting was attended by 45 people, including the leaders of the UPB chapters in Minsk, Brest, Ivyanets and Vawkavysk. Under discussion was cooperation between the Polish foreign ministry and the organization, including the issues of funding, education and support for Polish-language media outlets.

Mr. Sikorski urged the media to provide “responsible” coverage of the situation of the Polish ethnic minority in Belarus. //BelaPAN