The topic of Belarus will be one of the priorities during Poland's presidency of the European Union, as noted by Poland's Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Henryka Mościcka-Dendys, during a meeting with the Deputy Head of the United Transitional Cabinet and Head of the National Anti-Crisis Management (NAU), Pavel Latushka.
Poland's EU presidency begins on January 1, 2025. The Polish Deputy Minister emphasized that one of the main priorities of Poland's presidency will be supporting the democratic aspirations of the Belarusian people.
One of the first major events during Poland's presidency will be the high-level "Kościuszko Forum", organized by initiatives of Poland's Minister of Foreign Affairs, Radosław Sikorski, in early February 2025. The event will invite ministers of foreign affairs from various European countries, as well as the head and representatives of the United Transitional Cabinet, the Coordination Council, and other members of the Belarusian democratic community.
Pavel Latushka expressed gratitude to Poland, as an EU member, for organizing the "Belarusian Week" in Brussels, which served as an important signal of support for the Belarusian democratic community. He also highlighted the importance of the fourth meeting of the "Belarus-EU" Consultative Group, an effective tool for cooperation between Belarus's democratic forces and the EU.
Pavel Latushka further informed the Deputy Minister about the escalation of repression in Belarus ahead of the so-called elections. Both Pavel Latushka and Henryka Mościcka-Dendys agreed that the regime's staged elections cannot be considered democratic or transparent. Poland will take part in shaping the EU's unified position, which is expected to be announced shortly after January 26, 2025.
The meeting also addressed the issue of holding Lukashenko and his accomplices accountable for crimes against humanity against the Belarusian people and war crimes against the Ukrainian people. Pavel Latushka requested support for Lithuania’s referral to the International Criminal Court (ICC) and presented legal grounds for potentially utilizing ICC mechanisms to hold Lukashenko accountable. Henryka Mościcka-Dendys affirmed Poland's political support for this initiative. Mechanisms within the OSCE were also discussed as a means of ensuring accountability for representatives of the Lukashenko regime.
In a discussion involving the Director of the Consular Department of the Polish MFA, Justyna Chrzanowska, visa issues and the legalization of Belarusians in Poland were addressed. This included challenges related to issuing visas based on invitations from Belarusians under international protection in Poland. Pavel Latushka thanked the Polish side for supporting the issuance of humanitarian visas for Belarusians forced to leave their country due to the threat of repression.
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