A meeting of the Visegrad Group countries was held at the Centre for the Meeting of Cultures in Lublin on September 11. The prime ministers of the Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland and Slovakia, the four countries that make up the regional Visegrad Group (V4), met in Lublin to confer about the forthcoming EU summit, the political situation in Belarus and about the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic. Polish Prime Minister, Mateusz Morawiecki, condemned all acts of repression and brutality that have been taking place in Belarus and appealed for the release of the political prisoners.
“We agree that free elections should be held so that the Belarusian people can decide for themselves about their future. We condemn the torture and brutal treatment of the protesters. We call for the release of all political prisoners” stressed the Prime Minister.
He also added that V4 group in a joint statement had urged Russia to carry out a thorough investigation into the poisoning of a Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny. Moreover, the participants discussed the Nord Stream 2 pipeline issue. Another topic of conversation was the coronavirus epidemic. Leaders discussed joint proposals, including temporary travel restrictions. Polish Prime Minister added that countries should be ready to re-introduce restrictions, if necessary.
The Visegrád Group or V4 is a cultural and political alliance of four countries of Central Europe (the Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland and Slovakia), all of which are members of the EU and of NATO, to advance co-operation in military, cultural, economic and energy matters with one another and to further their integration to the EU.
On July 1, the annual rotating Polish Presidency of the Visegrad Group (V4) began. It is the sixth Polish presidency of V4 and the second top-level political meeting in Lublin. The previous one was held in Lublin on July 28. The meeting of the ministers of foreign affairs of Lithuania, Poland and Ukraine concerned the challenges facing the European Union and NATO as well as relations with Ukraine of these two organizations.
