POLISH APPROACH TO SEPTEMBER 1-2 EU GYMNICH

C O N F I D E N T I A L WARSAW 003234

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/29/2015
TAGS: PREL PGOV PHUM TU PL EUN
SUBJECT: POLISH APPROACH TO SEPTEMBER 1-2 EU GYMNICH

REF: STATE 153187

Classified By: Deputy Pol Counselor Bill Mozdzierz, reasons 1.4bd


1. (C) Responding to reftel points, Polish MFA Director for
CFSP Beata Kolecka confirmed that Poland will hold a firm
line against any new conditions for the start of Turkish
accession talks, resist efforts to soften ICTY conditionality
for Croatia, and maintain positions complementary to the U.S.
approach on Iran, the Middle East peace process, and Iraq.
At the Newport Gymnich meeting, Polish Foreign Minister
Daniel Rotfeld is likely to highlight the challenges posed by
Belarus, Kolecka reported, and will also encourage EU
engagement in Ukraine in the course of discussions on
enlargement.


2. (C) Turkey: Kolecka reiterated Polish opposition to any
new conditions for the start of EU accession talks October 3.
Turkey has fulfilled its obligations, she stressed, and now
the EU must keep its commitments. Furthermore, talk of a
"privileged partnership" for Turkey is unacceptable, Kolecka
stated flatly, indicating that Poland will insist that the
process must be open to full membership. Kolecka admitted
that Turkey's declaration concerning non-recognition of
Cyprus was unhelpful, but noted that Polish legal experts
have determined that this declaration was not legally binding
and therefore should not prove an obstacle to launching
negotiations on schedule.


3. (C) Croatia, Balkans: The Polish position on Croatia has
not changed, despite pressure from some member states, most
notably Hungary, to dismiss concerns about ICTY compliance.
Poland will continue to insist on full cooperation with the
Tribunal, Kolecka assured us. Concerning Romania and
Bulgaria, Kolecka indicated that Poland wants to stick to the
target dates for accession and believes that it remains
premature to discuss any postponement.


4. (C) Middle East: Solana will arrive at the Newport meeting
directly from the Middle East, and so will provide the
foreign ministers with a fresh report on developments there
and what steps can now be taken to move the process forward.
Kolecka highlighted concerns among EU members, Poland
included, about unhelpful moves by Israeli authorities,
including evictions of Palestinians in East Jerusalem and
establishment of new settlements in the West Bank. The
Sharon government's actions in Gaza were extremely positive,
Kolecka observed, but this momentum should not be slowed by
these other measures.

5, (C) Iran, Iraq: Poland's objectives with regard to Iran
remain supporting EU efforts to get Iran to suspend its
enrichment activity and to return to the negotiating table,
Kolecka said, while also ensuring that the EU consults
closely with key partners such as the United States. We must
begin to look ahead to next steps in the context of the next
IAEA report due in September, she noted. On Iraq, Poland
will continue to press to have the EC office opened in
Baghdad as quickly as possible, and will urge EU enhanced
engagement, such as judiciary and police training, and
establishment of more bilateral diplomatic missions.


6. (C) Belarus, Ukraine, Russia: Kolecka explained that the
Poles were unsuccessful in getting Belarus added to an
admittedly already-ambitious Gymnich agenda, but that FM
Rotfeld will certainly highlight Polish concerns about the
deteriorating situation there and may also make a general
appeal for EU support for independent media (if not
specifically mentioning the external broadcast project). In
the context of discussions on enlargement, Rotfeld will
encourage the EU to remain engaged with Ukraine and to move
forward with the action plan. On Russia, the Polish foreign
minister will likely make a philosophical presentation,
Kolecka explained, reviewing the challenges of responding to
retrograde actions by Putin while maintaining vitally
important cooperation with Russia on non-proliferation,
terrorism, energy and other issues. Rotfeld, she said, is
certain to highlight the importance of ensuring that dialogue
between Europe and Russia is not restricted to the
governmental level, but includes all elements of civil
society.
Ashe