30 December 2013
A delegation from the Polish Institute of International Affairs (PISM) visited the Foreign Policy Research Department of the Center for Strategic Research (CSR) on 16 December 2013, and discussed security issues and other interested subjects. The PISM that was established in 1997 is an independent think tank focusing on international relations, arms control, WMD non – proliferation, and public diplomacy. It plays a consultative role for the Polish foreign Ministry and other related bodies.
First, Mr Marcin Zaborowski, the director of the institute, addressed security challenges facing the EU. Given the recent developments in the international scene, and especially, U.S. shift towards Asia – Pacific region, Russia's ambitions to assert its influence in the Eastern Europe, and unstable situation in North Africa and the Middle East with its implications for spreading terrorism throughout Europe and triggering illegal immigration flow to this continent, he observed that today, Europe faces several security challenges and to counter them, it should look for reliable regional partners. He said that this had became a more urgent task for Europe, due to the fact that ATO will withdraw its forced from Afghanistan in the end of 2014 and it would be unlikely that this organization undertakes a new out of area mission in the near future. Also, European economic crisis has freed European countries to cut their military expenditures. Stating that there is no direct conflict of interests between Iran and the EU, he expressed hope that Geneva accord would provide an opportunity for ending Iran's nuclear crisis.
Then, Ms. Patrycja Sasnal, the head of the Middle East and North African Study Group of the PISM expressed her views on the foundations of the Polish foreign Policy and its stances towards developments in North Africa and the Middle East. She maintained that Polish foreign folicy is based on the five pillars of enhancing Poland's political and economic status, ensuring its security, its membership in the EU, its relations with its neighbors and Polish Diaspora. Then, she advanced some issues related to relations between Poland and Middle Eastern countries and said Poland has always tried to take a balanced stance towards Arab – Israeli conflict and sought to improve its economic relations with Middle Eastern countries, especially Persian Gulf countries to diversify its energy resources. Also, given the events called "Arab Spring", she observed that Poland had found itself in a position to transmit its experiences on transition to democracy to Arab states.
After that Mr Artur Gradziuk talked about economic achievements of Poland since 1989, especially after joining the EU in 2004. He maintained that now Poland is seeking to diversify its trade partners. He enumerated existing obstacles on the way of trade between Poland and Iran and requested the Iranian side to find a solution for removing these obstacles.
Then, the Iranian side advanced some topics in regard to Geneva accord and its importance in opening a new chapter in relations between Iran and the West, regional threats posed by extremism and terrorism, especially sectarian violence as seen in Syria and Saudis' role in fomenting violent acts, energy security and Europe's dependency on Russia's energy resources and its related risks, and finally missile defense shield and its goals.
In the end, the two sides expressed hope that research cooperation between the PISM and the CSR would continue.
