“We are determined to strengthen our strategic dialogue, especially because there are issues on which we differ rather significantly," Rau told reporters during a joint news conference with Baerbock in Warsaw.
He added that he and Baerbock were meeting against the backdrop of a "radically worsening" security situation in Europe and “a very serious threat to peace on the continent.”
Clearly referring to Russia, he elaborated that "one of the members of the United Nations is using force, or the threat of it," in its foreign policy.
“In the 21th century, the situation we are dealing with is unacceptable,” Rau said.
He added that Poland, which was invaded by both Germany and the Soviet Union in the 20th century, “will never let European politics regress to methods based on a concert of powers and spheres of influence.”
“All too often in the history of Europe, such methods have led to wars and suffering on the part of millions of innocent people,” Rau told the news conference.
No to NS2
Rau emphasised that Poland would "remain opposed" to the controversial Nord Stream 2 pipeline, which is set to carry gas from Russia directly to Germany under the Baltic Sea while bypassing other countries.
He said Warsaw would continue to call “for this project, which is harmful to Europe, to be scrapped.”
Rau thanked Baerbock for "continuing the good tradition” of visiting Warsaw immediately after Paris and Brussels in her role as the new German foreign minister.
"I take it as a reflection of the intention to keep our allied relations a priority and to base them on mutual respect and neighbourly goodwill," he said.
Meeting with president
Earlier in the day, Baerbock met with Polish President Andrzej Duda.
His aides said the meeting “was open and friendly,” exploring “bilateral issues and European policy in the context of energy security."
Baerbock is one of the leaders of Germany's Green Party, a member of the new governing coalition in Berlin under Chancellor Olaf Scholz.
Before embarking on her first diplomatic tour of Paris, Brussels and Warsaw, Baerbock said her main concern as foreign minister would be “to listen to Germany’s closest partners,” Polish state news agency PAP reported.
Scholz, who this week took over as the next German chancellor to replace Angela Merkel, is scheduled to visit Warsaw on Sunday.
(pm/gs)
Source: PAP, TVP Info