POLAND ON MISSILE DEFENSE: NO PRECONDITIONS, NO

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 WARSAW 001445 SIPDIS WHITE HOUSE FOR OVP OSD FOR ASD PETER FLORY PRAGUE FOR DASD BRIAN GREEN AND BG MCNAMARA E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/16/2016 TAGS: PREL MARS MASS PL SUBJECT: POLAND ON MISSILE DEFENSE: NO PRECONDITIONS, NO INSURMOUNTABLE PROBLEMS AND STRATEGICALLY IMPORTANT Classified By: CDA Kenneth Hillas for reasons 1.4(b) and (d) ¶1. (C) SUMMARY: In a meeting with the CDA on July 17, two senior MFA officials, Americas Director Henryk Szlajfer and International Security Policy Director Robert Kupiecki, reiterated Poland's continuing strategic interest in negotiating a bilateral agreement on Missile Defense (MD) with no preconditions. Robert Kupiecki, Director of Security Policy, stressed that Working level MOD officials who, on July 10, outlined a hoped-for series of U.S.-funded support projects at the Joint MD Operations Sub-group meeting had created "a grave misunderstanding." He clarified that Poland had "no preconditions" and saw no "insurmountable obstacles" to MD cooperation, but Poland would need "maximum specificity" in any U.S. proposal when it comes time to start formal negotiations on an MD site. In closing, Kupiecki asked to meet DASD Brian Green before the regular session of the U.S.-Poland Joint MD Plenary scheduled for July 20 in Warsaw, which post has tentatively scheduled. END SUMMARY. -------------- Technical Talks Produced Misunderstandings -------------- ¶2. (C) In his role as chief of Poland's interagency working group on MD, Kupiecki asserted that the series of projects presented by his colleagues on July 10 at the MD Operations Sub-group meeting was actually an enumeration of "concerns" and "areas of potential future military cooperation, but did not represent preconditions. Noting that a misunderstanding had arisen out of last weeks discussions, he clarified that, "a Polish MD site does not contain a price tag." He also sought to remove any doubts about Poland,s views on MD, reiterating that an MD site in Poland would, in the GOP,s view, strengthen its strategic partnership with the United States. In response to the Charge,s questioning of some statements at last week,s Working Group, Kupiecki categorically rejected the assertion that an MD site could represent a net negative for Poland,s security, noting that such assertions did not reflect the GOP,s position. That is not our view, he reaffirmed. He further acknowledged that there is an awareness among Polish policymakers that an MD site could provide coverage against an ICBM attack. -------------- -------------- No Preconditions, Ready To Cooperate, Interested In Details, But Need Discretion -------------- -------------- ¶3. (C) Kupiecki underscored that Poland brought no preconditions to MD negotiations and saw no insurmountable obstacles. He read an excerpt from a draft of the new Prime Minister,s program, to be unveiled on July 19, that offered a balanced and positive view of potential MD cooperation with the U.S. However, he stressed that any U.S. proposal should clarify what a Missile Defense site entails as well as U.S. expectations about a site,s operation. He noted that sovereignty-related issues are the area that will require that greatest care in managing. Looking ahead in the event of a positive USG decision to locate a site in Poland, Kupiecki said a proposal on an MD site that is substantive and not vague would allow a more committed Polish response. He acknowledged the need for two documents: a general agreement and a technical protocol, noting that while the Poles would prefer a general agreement to have more substance than the USG, this could be worked out. There are no insurmountable obstacles, he repeated on several occasions. Kupiecki cautioned that the general agreement should make it clear that, "the GOP is not selling a piece of Polish territory." Finally, he asked that the USG ensure that a decision to move ahead on MD cooperation reach Poland before it hits the press. -------------- -------------- MFA Wants to Meet DASD Green Before OOB on July 20 -------------- -------------- ¶4. (C) Kupiecki said that he wanted to meet DASD Brian Green at 0900 on July 20 before the first executive session of the U.S.-Poland Joint MD Plenary. He underscored that nothing in the Polish position had changed. He speculated that if the MD project goes forward, Deputy Ministers of MFA and MOD would take the lead in negotiations. Kupiecki's colleague, Henryk Szlajfer, Director of the Americas Department, was not enthusiastic about including Presidency reps in the Working Group session, but did not exclude this idea, which the Embassy will discuss with the Presidential Chancellery. Charge informed Kupiecki that the US MD team would be holding discussions in Prague prior to its arrival in Warsaw. ¶5. (C) COMMENT: Already aware of the concerns that arose out of the sub-group meeting last week, Kupiecki was eager to convey a positive message on MD and remove U.S. concerns about linkages, or the perception that the GOP views MD as negatively impacting on Polish security. He and Szlajfer went to great lengths to make clear the GOP understands the strategic significance of MD for advancing its security and its ties to the US; that there are no preconditions with regard to military assistance; and that there are no insurmountable problems that cannot be resolved, including the negotiation of two agreements - one general and one technical -- so that movement ahead is not held hostage to the conclusion of one omnibus agreement covering all technical details. END COMMENT. HILLAS