Poland reinstates border checks for Middle East conference
PR dla Zagranicy
Grzegorz Siwicki
10.02.2019 08:00
Poland on Sunday reinstated temporary checks at its borders with other EU countries ahead of an international conference on the Middle East in Warsaw.
Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki (left) meets with Polish border guards on Saturday. Photo: PAP/Darek Delmanowicz
A total of 287 locations will be available to travelers planning to cross Poland’s borders with Germany, Lithuania, the Czech Republic and Slovakia until February 16, according to a spokesman for the Polish Border Guard.
Officials said travelers must be prepared to be asked to stop for inspection and show their IDs. Passengers and vehicles will be inspected on a random basis.
Poland and the United States are jointly holding a conference in Warsaw on Wednesday and Thursday to focus on stability and security in the Middle East.
More than 50 countries have reportedly confirmed their participation in the high-profile event, which is officially known as the “Ministerial to Promote a Future of Peace and Security in the Middle East.”
Expected participants include US Vice President Mike Pence and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo. Pence is scheduled to give keynote remarks at the gathering.
According to a joint Polish-US statement cited by the foreign ministry in Warsaw, the “Ministerial to Promote a Future of Peace and Security in the Middle East” on February 13 and 14 aims to be "a forum for countries concerned about instability in the region to share their assessments and offer ideas on a better way forward."
Poland last year temporarily reinstated border controls ahead of a United Nations conference on climate change that was held in its southern city of Katowice in December.
(gs)
Source: IAR/PAP