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Poland’s new top diplomat at meeting of EU foreign ministers

28.08.2020 11:00
Poland’s new top diplomat, Zbigniew Rau, is taking part in an informal meeting of European Union foreign ministers in Berlin, with the crisis in Belarus and the bloc’s relations with Russia among topics up for discussion.
Zbigniew Rau.
Zbigniew Rau. Photo: German Federal Foreign Office/Handout/Anadolu Agency/ABACAPRESS.COM

The two-day meeting, which started on Thursday, marks Rau’s first foreign trip following his appointment.

Rau, who previously served as chairman of the Polish lower house’s foreign affairs committee, was sworn in as the country’s top diplomat by President Andrzej Duda at a ceremony in Warsaw on Wednesday.

The get-together of EU foreign ministers in Berlin is being held in the so-called Gymnich format. Such meetings are held twice a year, hosted by the country holding the rotating presidency of the Council of the European Union.

The gathering is also being attended by the European Union’s foreign policy chief, Josep Borrell.

Amid massive demonstrations that have swept Belarus this month, a Polish deputy foreign minister said on Thursday he had told the Belarusian ambassador that Warsaw was concerned about “completely unfounded” accusations by strongman leader Alexander Lukashenko.

Meanwhile, Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki said his government had urged Russia to ditch any plans for a military intervention in Belarus.

(pk/gs)

Source: IAR