Zbigniew Rau, Poland’s Foreign Minister, has condemned what he called „hybrid warfare” on Poland’s border with Belarus.
Speaking at a bilateral meeting with his Lithuanian counterpart on Monday, Mr Rau said Belarusian efforts to encourage illegal migration into the EU were a „hybrid attack” and called for EU member states to extend sanctions against the Minsk regime.
Both Poland and Lithuania are facing an ongoing crisis as large numbers of mainly middle eastern migrants attempt to cross the border from Belarus. The European Union has accused Belarus of encouraging vulnerable migrants to make the dangerous journey.
The meeting in the Lithuanian capital Vilnius marks 30 years of diplomatic relations between Poland and Lithuania following the collapse of the Soviet Union and Lithuanian independence.
The two ministers also discussed bilateral and regional issues ranging from minority rights to the conflict in Ukraine.
Belarusian Equestrian Granted Humanitarian Visa by Poland
Another Belarusian athlete has been granted a humanitarian visa and will now stay in Poland after fleeing her home country.
Equestrian Olga Safronova was kept out of Belarus’s summer Olympic team after criticising the government of authoritarian President Alexander Lukashenka.
It comes after another Belarusian athlete, sprinter Krystina Tsimanouskaya, fled the Tokyo Olympic games to seek refuge in Poland after criticising Belarusian sports authorities.
Both Safronova and her husband will now be able to stay in Poland. The dressage rider will also be able to train and compete in Poland.
Polish Defence Spending Above EU Average in 2019: Eurostat
Figures from EU statistics agency Eurostat show Polish defence spending significantly above the EU average.
According to Eurostat data, Poland spent approximately 1.6% of GDP on defence in 2019, compared to just 1.2% on average across the EU.
The figures also don’t take into account a major bump in Polish defence spending in 2020, pushing it above the 2% of GDP target for NATO alliance members.
Estonia, Greece, and the UK topped the 2019 table of big spenders, each spending over 2%. Ireland and Iceland spent the least on defence, at just 0.2% and 0.1% respectively.
Nord Stream 2 Pipeline Nearing Completion
Operators of the controversial Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline have said the project is nearing completion, with the last sections of pipe now welded.
The last of over 200,000 pieces of pipe connecting Russian gas to Germany via the Baltic Sea was welded on Monday and will now be lowered to the seabed off the coast of Germany. Operators say the pipeline should be operational by year’s end.
The controversial pipeline is fiercely opposed by Poland and the US, who claim it will increase European dependence on Russia. Germany and Russia maintain that the pipe is necessary to meet Europe’s growing demand for natural gas.
World Cup Qualifiers: Poland prepare to face England
Poland’s men’s football players are getting ready for a hotly anticipated clash with England tomorrow in Warsaw.
The match is a World Cup qualifier and is expected to be a hard-fought game. England are the bookies’ favourite to win and narrowly came out on top the last time the two sides went head to head back in March.
But the Poles are on home turf this time and are expected to have their star striker Robert Lewandowski up front – a force to be reckoned with for the English defenders.
Tomorrow’s match kicks off at Warsaw’s Stadion Narodowy at 8:45 pm.
Bialo-Zielone Gdansk Take Home Rugby 7s Silver
Gdansk is celebrating its own sporting victory today as the city’s women’s Rugby 7s team comes home from the Club 7s Championship in St Petersburg with silver medals.
The Bialo-Zielone (White & Greens) Gdansk saw off teams from Latvia and Spain, and Russia as well as Polish rivals Black Roses Poznan. Making it all the way to the final, the White & Greens took second place to the formidable CSKA Moscow.
The team return to Gdansk with silver medals and EUR3000 in prize money.
Weather
A beautiful late summer day today with plenty of sunshine and a pleasant 22C, 70F, on the thermometer.
No rain expected and just a light breeze from the south.
A chilly, clear night tonight and another warm, sunny day coming tomorrow with temperatures even pushing into the mid-20s Celsius later in the week.
Thomas Holdstock/MarWer
