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