Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
05WARSAW794
2005-02-11 05:15:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Warsaw
Cable title:  

SECURITY PROBLEMS AT WARSAW'S AIRPORT HIT THE PRESS

Tags:  EAIR ECON PREL PL 
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UNCLAS WARSAW 000794 

SIPDIS


SENSITIVE

BRUSSELS FOR TSA C. CELLAR AND FAA J. KLANG
FRANKFURT FOR S. WARD
MONTREAL FOR USICAO

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EAIR ECON PREL PL
SUBJECT: SECURITY PROBLEMS AT WARSAW'S AIRPORT HIT THE PRESS


This message is Sensitive, but unclassified. Not for
Internet Distribution

UNCLAS WARSAW 000794

SIPDIS


SENSITIVE

BRUSSELS FOR TSA C. CELLAR AND FAA J. KLANG
FRANKFURT FOR S. WARD
MONTREAL FOR USICAO

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EAIR ECON PREL PL
SUBJECT: SECURITY PROBLEMS AT WARSAW'S AIRPORT HIT THE PRESS


This message is Sensitive, but unclassified. Not for
Internet Distribution


1. (SBU) Summary. In late January 2005, the European Union
conducted an airport security assessment at Warsaw's Okecie
airport. The EU assessors identified a number of
deficiencies at the airport, including two important security
problems related to passenger/baggage screening and
maintaining the airport's security perimeter. While the EU
has not yet released its final report to the Polish Airport
(PPL) and Civil Aviation Office (CAO) officials, some of the
conclusions of the EU assessment team are public knowledge
after a now-former PPL employee released an internal PPL
working paper on the EU-identified problems to the Polish
press. This public release has upset PPL plans to quietly
solve the identified deficiencies per standard EU aviation
practice. End summary.


2. (U) Polish press published articles over the weekend of
February 5-6, stating that EU inspectors were able to smuggle
a knife and explosive material through the airport control
gates, that metal detectors are not functioning properly, and
that persons without proper ID have access to restricted
areas of the airport. One article characterized the findings
of the EU assessment as "devastating," with another sporting
the headline "Disgrace at Okecie." Reuters wire service also
issued an English-language article about the EU assessment
and the Polish news coverage that appeared in world-wide
media outlets.


3. (SBU) PPL and CAO said many of the deficiencies listed by
the EU agency were minor and don't relate directly to
security issues. Some infractions were serious, however, and
prompted an immediate PPL response. The public disclosures
in the press have upset PPL's plans to quietly solve a number
of the problems. PPL officials told econoff that, normally,
if an airport solves EU-identified deficiencies within four
weeks and has that certified by the national CAO, the EU will
not include the solved problems in the official report that
appears two weeks after the four-week deadline. However,
because the airport's security deficiencies are now so well
known, PPL does not think that the CAO will certify any
solved problems in the coming two weeks.


4. (SBU) PPL security officials, while frustrated by the
public disclosure of the airport's problems in the press,
regard the EU assessment positively as it has helped them
identify areas to improve. PPL said that Polish screeners
had never before been actively tested without warning as
Polish law does not allow unannounced assessments of
screeners, while EU regulations do (PPL understands that
Poland will shortly pass a new law to allow such testing by
Polish authorities). PPL's Director of Security said that
without the EU assessment, they would not have realized how
poorly their metal detectors work and the increased level of
training needed for the screeners. As a result of the
assessment PPL has taken several steps to improve passenger
screening, such as starting the purchasing process for
400,000 EUR worth of new walk-through metal detectors,
additional training for screeners, and increased coordination
of security at non-PPL business sites located at the airport.
PPL officials said that they are committed to solving all
problems that arise in this and any future assessments and
have allocated a budget of 300 million zloty ($100 million)
for security over the next two years to accomplish these
tasks.


5. (SBU) PPL said that it, working in concert with CAO, will
more closely coordinate the operations and training of
security personnel employed by other businesses operating at
the airport, including LOT, LOT Catering services, the Polish
postal service, and cargo carriers. If these businesses
refuse to cooperate, PPL said it would be forced to prevent
them from operating at the airport.


MUNTER


NNNN

2005WARSAW00794 - Classification: UNCLASSIFIED