POLISH VIEWS ON DECEMBER 12 GAERC

C O N F I D E N T I A L WARSAW 004009

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/08/2015
TAGS: PREL PGOV ECON PL EUN
SUBJECT: POLISH VIEWS ON DECEMBER 12 GAERC

REF: A. STATE 217518


B. WARSAW 3998

Classified By: Political Counselor Mary Curtin, reasons 1.4b,d


1. (C) Post delivered ref (A) demarche upon receipt and
reviewed with Polish MFA Director for CFSP Beata Kolecka
December 8. Points on Balkans issues were delivered
separately and Polish views were reported in Ref (B).


2. (C) The December 12 GAERC and the subsequent European
Council meetings will be focused almost entirely on the EU
budget, Kolecka confirmed, leaving little time for discussion
of foreign policy issues. She predicted that Kosovo would be
the only subject covered in any detail, although the
ministers are expected to approve a draft EU strategy for
Africa and address Ethiopia/Eritrea and the Middle East with
prepared statements. EU foreign ministers will review
proposals on Kosovo put forward last week by Solana, which
Kolecka characterized as a collection of initiatives more or
less already well known to everyone (e.g., EU engagement in
future police missions, strengthening the EU presence on the
ground, naming of an EU special representative). She
anticipated that the Austrian presidency will ensure that
these issues remain high on the agenda in 2006.


3. (C) Kolecka acknowledged that there has been some
"resistance" to granting candidate status to Macedonia,
particularly from member states where enlargement is least
popular, but indicated that Poland remains in favor. The
Poles agree that this move will have a positive impact not
only in Macedonia but more broadly in the region, especially
in advance of Kosovo status talks. She noted that the Polish
government would oppose any effort to set an actual target
date for the start of accession negotiations, however.


4. (C) On Afghanistan, Kolecka reported that the Polish
government is still waiting for its invitation to the London
Conference and signaled that Poland will be represented at a
high level, probably by Foreign Minister Meller. Poland
hopes to be in a position to inform the conference about its
plans for takeover of ISAF, its exact levels of assistance
and its plans to open an embassy in Kabul in the course of
the new year.
ASHE