English Section

America’s Pompeo lauds Poland’s leadership of Three Seas Initiative

09.10.2020 07:45
US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has lauded Poland’s “strong leadership role in the Three Seas Initiative,” a spokeswoman has said, referring to a Polish-led initiative backed by Washington that aims to boost business ties among 12 European countries between the Black, Baltic and Adriatic Seas.
US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo.
US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo.Photo: Stefani Reynolds/PAP/CNP/AdMedia

During a phone talk with Polish Foreign Minister Zbigniew Rau, Pompeo also praised Poland’s “long-term commitment to the freedom and independence of Belarus,” according to US State Department spokeswoman Morgan Ortagus.

When the two top diplomats spoke on Thursday, Pompeo congratulated Poland’s Rau on his recent appointment and “reemphasized the importance of our strong bilateral relationship with Poland,” Ortagus said in a statement.

“Secretary Pompeo also thanked Foreign Minister Rau for Poland’s hosting of the third Ministerial to Advance Religious Freedom or Belief, which will be held virtually November 16-17,” the statement said.

Poland's previous Foreign Minister Jacek Czaputowicz in February took part in the launch in Washington of the International Religious Freedom Alliance, "a network of like-minded countries fully committed to advancing freedom of religion or belief around the world."

In his address at the event, he said that "protection of vulnerable groups remains among the priorities of Polish foreign policy," according to the foreign ministry in Warsaw.

Czaputowicz also told the gathering, hosted by Pompeo, that "freedom of religion or belief is currently one of the most threatened and at the same time most neglected freedoms."

The Polish-led Three Seas Initiative seeks to boost infrastructure, energy and business ties among 12 countries between the Black, Baltic and Adriatic Seas.

The initiative brings together Poland, Austria, Bulgaria, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Lithuania, Latvia, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia and Hungary.

The initiative’s key partners are Germany, the European Union and the United States.

(gs/pk)

Source: IAR