Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06WARSAW1551
2006-07-28 14:18:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Warsaw
Cable title:
LEBANON - TAPPING INTO POLAND'S POTENTIAL
how-tonull Anne W McNeill 10/19/2006 04:49:13 PM From DB/Inbox: Search Results Cable Text: C O N F I D E N T I A L WARSAW 01551 SIPDIS CXWARSAW: ACTION: POL INFO: AMB AGRI ODC ECON DCM MGT KRA DAO CONS RSO FCS PASC ORA DISSEMINATION: POLO CHARGE: PROG APPROVED: CDA:KHILLAS DRAFTED: POL:DTMORRIS CLEARED: NONE VZCZCWRI866 PP RUEHC RUEKJCS RUEKJCS RHEHNSC RHMFISS RHMFISS RUCNMEM RUEHAM RUEHLB RUEHEG RUEHRH RUEHTV RUEHNO RUCNDT RUEHBS DE RUEHWR #1551 2091418 ZNY CCCCC ZZH P 281418Z JUL 06 FM AMEMBASSY WARSAW TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 1497 INFO RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC PRIORITY RHMFISS/HQ USEUCOM VAIHINGEN GE PRIORITY RHMFISS/CDR USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL PRIORITY RUCNMEM/EU MEMBER STATES RUEHAM/AMEMBASSY AMMAN 0155 RUEHLB/AMEMBASSY BEIRUT 0045 RUEHEG/AMEMBASSY CAIRO 0034 RUEHRH/AMEMBASSY RIYADH 0095 RUEHTV/AMEMBASSY TEL AVIV 1470 RUEHNO/USMISSION USNATO 0044 RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 1349 RUEHBS/USEU BRUSSELS
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)
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
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