Speaking during a visit to Washington, Foreign Minister Jacek Czaputowicz said that historically Poland has always been a country of religious freedom and tolerance.
While in the US capital this week, Czaputowicz took part in a ministerial conference hosted by the US Department of State and focusing on the advancement of religious freedom.
Speaking at the Ministerial to Advance Religious Freedom conference on Thursday, Czaputowicz said, as quoted by public broadcaster Polish Radio’s IAR news agency: "For centuries, Poland has provided safe shelter for people of different faiths: Greek Catholics, Russian Orthodox, Protestants, Jews and Muslim Tatars."
He added that freedom of religion was among fundamental values for Poland.
Czaputowicz announced that Poland would hold a debate on religious freedom at the United Nations on August 22, the IAR news agency reported.
Poland this year spearheaded a United Nations initiative to condemn acts of violence based on religion, according to the country’s foreign ministry.
The UN General Assembly at a session in New York in May unanimously adopted a resolution designating August 22 as international day to commemorate victims of violence based on religion.
Poland's Czaputowicz was quoted as saying at the time that “the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion, which is commonly referred to as the right to freedom of religion or belief, is a universal right of every human being and the cornerstone of many other rights.”
(gs/pk)
Source: IAR