G-4 RESOLUTION ON UN REFORM: POLAND CAN'T SAY "NO"

C O N F I D E N T I A L WARSAW 002814

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/12/2015
TAGS: PREL PL UNSC
SUBJECT: G-4 RESOLUTION ON UN REFORM: POLAND CAN'T SAY "NO"
TO GERMANY

REF: STATE 126870

Classified By: Mary Curtin, Charge d'Affaires, reasons 1.4b,d


1. (C) The Polish government has decided to co-sponsor the
Group of Four (G-4) framework resolution based on its
long-standing commitment, dating back to the early 1990's, to
support Germany's bid for a permanent seat on the Security
Council. Reviewing the Polish position, MFA Deputy Director
for UN Affairs Tomasz Chlon explained that Polish officials
share many of the concerns raised by us and other governments
(Chlon remarked that he found our points "surprisingly
positive" and "thoughtful" on the subject of UNSC expansion),
but that the Polish government feels it must honor its
promise to the Germans. "We simply cannot say 'no' to Germany
on this issue," he declared.


2. (C) We cautioned Chlon against equating opposition to the
G-4 resolution with opposition to Security Council expansion.
At issue is a resolution that clearly does not enjoy the
support of many key states and that would expand the UNSC
based exclusively on geographic criteria. It is essential,
we underscored, that divisive debate over Security Council
reform not delay other, more urgent reforms.


3. (C) Chlon repeated that the Polish government finds "much
merit" in these arguments, and allowed that, in any case,
such institutional reform is less of a priority for the Poles
than "conceptual reform" (e.g., ensuring that the UN's
mission is defined to address real challenges and that UN
develop closer cooperation with regional organizations such
as NATO and the EU). However, he emphasized, the Poles feel
duty-bound to support the Germans on this initiative,
concerns about many of the resolution's provisions
notwithstanding.
CURTIN