POLISH MFA REQUESTS U.S. SUPPORT FOR CANDIDATE FOR

C O N F I D E N T I A L WARSAW 003625 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/18/2010 TAGS: PARM ETTC KNNP PL EUN SUBJECT: POLISH MFA REQUESTS U.S. SUPPORT FOR CANDIDATE FOR ZANGGER COMMITTEE CHAIR Classified By: Political Counselor Mary T. Curtin, for reasons 1.4(b) a nd (d) ¶1. (C) Pol-Mil Chief was called in to MFA October 17 by Deputy Director for Security Policy Tadeusz Chomicki to discuss the upcoming selection of a new chairman for the Zangger Committee. Chomicki explained that the Polish delegation had provided to the British Mission in Vienna, which acts as secretariat for the Zangger Committee, a note announcing the candidacy for the chairmanship of Jacek Bylica, Polish Ambassador to the UN Organizations in Vienna. However, a Czech candidate was, in Chomicki's words, "suddenly announced even before the Polish note was circulated." According to Chomicki, Bylica and the Czech, a counselor at the Embassy in Vienna, are the only two candidates. ¶2. (C) Chomicki asked for U.S. support for Bylica's candidacy, stating that Bylica had discussed the issue with UNVIE Ambassador Schulte in an October 14 meeting, and had provided a copy of the diplomatic note and his own CV as well. Chomicki stressed the strongly cooperative U.S. relationship both in Vienna and more broadly on export control and non-proliferation, not to mention in Iraq and the GWOT. He suggested that the Czech candidate had neither the rank nor the long record of experience in export control and non-proliferation that Bylica had. ¶3. (U) The text of the Polish dip note follows: Begin text. "No. 149/05 The Permanent Mission of the Republic of Poland to the United Nations Office and International Organisations in Vienna presents its compliments to the Secretary of the Zangger Committee and has the honour to inform that the Government of Poland is ready to make available Ambassador Jacek Bylica, Permanent Representative of the Republic of Poland to International Organisations in Vienna, for the function of the Chairman of the Zangger Committee. The Government of Poland is convinced that diplomatic experience in the fields of non-proliferation and exports control as well as proven results in the previous posts and functions held make Ambassador Bylica a suitable candidate to chair the Zangger Committee. Curriculum Vitae of Ambassador Bylica is enclosed herewith. In reference to the Secretary's mandate to conduct the search for a new Chairman, the Republic of Poland is confident that an open and transparent consultation process will result in a decision which would be best for the future work and standing of the Zangger Committee. The Permanent Mission of Poland would be most grateful if this note and the enclosed CV are circulated expeditiously to all other Members of the Committee. The Permanent Mission of Poland avails itself of this opportunity to renew to the Secretary of the Zangger Committee the assurances of its highest consideration. Vienna, 10 October 2005 Mr. Tim Andrews Secretary of the Zangger Committee SIPDIS Deputy Head of Mission UK Permanent Mission to the United Nations in Vienna Enclosure: Curriculum Vitae of Amb. Jacek Bylica" (NOTE: Post did not receive the CV, but Chomicki said it was provided to Amb. Schulte.) End text. ¶4. (C) COMMENT. Although Post cannot comment on the Zangger Committee or Amb. Bylica's tenure in Vienna, he was a long-term close contact of this Embassy when he was posted here in Warsaw, most recently as Director of the Security Policy Department, which covers not only export control and non-proliferation, but also NATO and other multilateral security cooperation and transnational threats such as terrorism. END COMMENT ASHE