Poland to apply for UN Security Council post

Photo: sejm.gov.pl

Sikorski was in New York for a meeting of the Inter-Parliamentary Union, which focused on the UN’s development agenda for 2015.

Radoslaw Sikorski announced at the meeting that Poland aspires to claim a spot in the UN Security Council for 2018-19.

“Parliamentary diplomacy has an important place in this, and I hope that the leadership of the Sejm [lower parliamentary house], MPs and senators will support the [Polish] Ministry of Foreign Affairs in these efforts,” Sikorski said.

The UN Security Council is made up of 15 states, five of which are permanent members (USA, UK, France, China and Russia), as well as ten non-permanent members which are chosen every two years. Poland was last a member in 1996-1997.

On financial matters, during his speech Sikorski called for the necessity “to return faith to the ethical foundations of a free-market economy”, as well as underlining the need to try and stamp out tax loopholes.

“The free market is not an all-out war against each other, but rather rivalry under a set of rules,” he said, voicing his dismay that international corporations often pay lower taxes than local companies operating in the same market.

“Global firms pay what they feel is suitable, while local companies pay what they must, thus creating unfair conditions for competition,” Sikorski opined.

Poland’s Parliamentary Speaker also aired his backing of a proposal put forward by the OECD against money laundering and hidden capital. (jb)

Source: PAP