Gordon Brown and the Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk have agreed to increase their cooperation on global security issues.
At a joint press conference in Warsaw, Mr Brown said the two leaders had discussed nuclear disarmament and the situation in Afghanistan.
It follows the Prime Minister’s visit to Afghanistan and Pakistan on Monday when he described the border region between the two countries as a “crucible” of terrorism.
Poland has agreed to commit an additional 400 troops to NATO forces in Afghanistan.
Mr Brown said:
“Yesterday in Afghanistan, I talked about the threat that we face from terrorists on both sides of the borders of Afghanistan and Pakistan, and I talked about better sharing of the burden in Afghanistan…I have said that Britain will do more in Afghanistan and I am pleased to welcome Poland’s decision to send an additional 400 troops to Afghanistan. They will provide vital reinforcement to protect Afghan democracy through the elections.”
The economic crisis and the upcoming Copenhagen Summit on climate change were also on the agenda. Prime Minister Tusk also told Mr Brown about his plans to ensure the former Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration camp is preserved as a permanent memorial.
Mr Brown announced that the UK will be among other countries that will support the maintenance of the site.
After the press conference, Mr Brown visited the camp, where he placed a lit candle by the Death Wall in remembrance of those who were murdered there.
The Prime Minister also signed the visitors’ book, and wrote a message calling on everyone to stand up against discrimination.
He said that a new national award will be created to recognise the “extraordinary acts” of British people who helped Jews and other persecuted groups during the Second World War.
Read the PM’s message in the visitors’ book Auschwitz-Birkenau or read an interview given by the PM at the concentration camp
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