LEBANON - TAPPING INTO POLAND'S POTENTIAL

C O N F I D E N T I A L WARSAW 001551 SIPDIS DEPARTMENT FOR P, EUR AND NEA E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/27/2011 TAGS: PREL MARR EAID LE PL SUBJECT: LEBANON - TAPPING INTO POLAND'S POTENTIAL REF: STATE 119461 Classified By: CDA Kenneth M. Hillas, reasons 1.4(b) and (d) ¶1. (C) SUMMARY. According to senior officials in the MFA and the presidential chancellery, the Polish government is prepared to contribute to the planned stabilization force in Lebanon. In addition, the GOP wants very much to participate in future meetings of the Lebanon Core Group, particularly the planned meeting in New York to discuss security assistance. With over 200 troops currently in UNIFIL Poland could contribute up to a battalion to the stabilization, and the GOP is preparing to provide at least USD one million in humanitarian assistance to Lebanon. END SUMMARY. ¶2. (C) Charge and Acting PolCouns met July 28 with MFA Americas Director Henryk Szlajfer and Security Policy Director Robert Kupiecki to discuss the Rome Conference and the way ahead in Lebanon. Referring to a copy of the July 26 declaration of the Rome Conference on Lebanon (reftel), Szlajfer told Charge that the GOP regretted having not participated in the Rome Conference and was eager to join the Lebanon Core Group for the planned "meeting of partner countries" to discuss security assistance to the Lebanese armed forces and security service. ¶3. (C) Szlajfer noted that Poland has a long history of constructive involvement in Lebanon and the Middle East, including many years as a significant troop contributor to UNIFIL (currently 200 troops),as well as the peacekeeping operations in the Golan Heights, the Sinai and elsewhere in the region. Kupiecki added that Polish officers have served more than once as UNIFIL commanders, and that the current Polish CHOD, Gen. Franciszek Gagor, had served as the Commander of all UN Forces in the Middle East. The GOP therefore felt there was a strong case for Poland's participation in future Lebanon Core Group meetings, and looked forward to playing a constructive role. ¶4. (C) Szlajfer and Kupiecki both confirmed the GOP's readiness to contribute to the stabilization force. Earlier the same day, presidential foreign policy adviser Amb. Andrzej Krawczyk told Charge separately that the Polish government was seriously considering contributing troops to the planned stabilization force in Lebanon. Similarly, on July 27 FM Fotyga told Israeli Amb. David Pelleg told Charge that the GOP was prepared to contribute a battalion to the Lebanon force, confirming this by phone with President Kaczynski in Pelleg's presence. ¶5. (C) Szlajfer said that the current Polish government was under some pressure from the opposition and the media, including the statement by former FM Bronislaw Geremek (and current MEP) in a July 28 radio interview that Poland's exclusion from the Rome Conference was "yet another sign of Poland's marginalization" by other nations on major foreign policy issues. Szlajfer suggested that inclusion in future Core meetings would "open the door for the MOD" to prepare a Polish contingent for the stabilization force. ¶6. (C) Although Szlajfer did not explicitly discuss an invitation for Poland to the separate donors' conference on Lebanon, he did report that the GOP had already set aside USD one million, but added that the cabinet was still discussing whether to increase this amount. HILLAS