VISIT OF POLISH PRESIDENT LECH KACZYNSKI TO

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 WARSAW 000159

SIPDIS

FOR THE PRESIDENT FROM AMBASSADOR ASHE

E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/01/2016
TAGS: PREL PGOV PINR ECON MARR PL
SUBJECT: VISIT OF POLISH PRESIDENT LECH KACZYNSKI TO
WASHINGTON

REF: WARSAW 46

Classified By: Ambassador Victor Ashe, reasons 1.4b,d


1. (C) Polish President Lech Kaczynski's determination to
make his second foreign trip (after the Vatican) to
Washington, with less than two months in office, is testament
to our close partnership and to the deep admiration the new
president has for the United States. A longtime activist in
the Solidarity movement, Kaczynski's world view remains very
much shaped by the Cold War and by Poland's tragic history;
he recognizes the strategic imperative of sustained and
active American engagement in Europe. Kaczynski's natural
focus, however, is on his Law and Justice (PiS) government's
domestic agenda, which includes sweeping anti-corruption and
de-communization reforms, aimed at transforming Poland and
establishing PiS firmly as the country's dominant political
force.


2. (C) On a personal level, Kaczynski may strike you as
somewhat stiff (certainly in comparison to his gregarious
predecessor),which stems both from insecurity and his
particular, formal style. I have found President Kaczynski
generally well versed in foreign affairs, although he tends
to stick to familiar themes and can come across as scripted.
With Kaczynski, personal and national pride figure
prominently; he greatly values loyalty and appears ever on
the alert for signs of disrespect or offense.


3. (C) We have been working intensively with the president's
staff and political advisors to manage expectations for this
visit and to encourage the Poles to approach this critical
first meeting on a personal and strategic level. There are
indications that Kaczynski's team understands the need for
him to use this opportunity to forge a good relationship with
you, exchanging views and strategic visions rather than
delving into detailed programs (such as the wish list of
defense assistance prepared by the Polish defense ministry).
More fundamentally, this meeting can help move Polish
thinking about our relationship away from that of a
patron-client toward a partnership.


4. (C) I recommend that you pre-empt any recitation of Polish
contributions (with the implicit suggestion that we owe
Poland greater compensation) by expressing thanks and
acknowledging Polish military engagement in Iraq and
Afghanistan, emphasizing your recognition that Poland has
taken on these tasks because of its commitment to freedom,
democracy and the fight against terrorism. We recognize the
great sacrifices that Poland has made in this effort, and we
will continue to provide support for those missions and to
assist the Polish military with its transformation.


5. (C) Kaczynski will be eager to share Polish concerns about
Russia and energy security, and to exchange views about
support for democracy in neighboring Ukraine and Belarus.
The Polish president will seek reassurance from you that we
recognize the challenge posed by Moscow, even as we cooperate
with the Russians wherever we can without abandoning our
friends or values. Kaczynski is certain to argue for a
common effort to maintain Ukraine's Euro-Atlantic
orientation, including early participation in the NATO MAP
process. On Belarus, you can offer strong U.S. support for
democratic forces there, but you should also gently encourage
Kaczynski to ensure that our activities are well coordinated.
Although the new president and government appear to have
turned a corner in improving relations with Germany,
Kaczynski would benefit from hearing your impressions of
Chancellor Merkel (Kaczynski met with her briefly shortly
before taking office) and of your interest in close relations
between Berlin and Warsaw.


6. (C) There are strong prospects that the minority PiS
government will establish a working coalition with minor
protest parties (Self-Defense and the League of Polish
Families, LPR) that espouse decidedly populist and sometimes
anti-American views (both vigorously oppose the Iraq
deployment, for example). I suggest that you take advantage
of any lunchtime discussion of Polish domestic issues to
encourage Kaczynski to help sustain Poland's strong recent
record of foreign investment though pro-business policies,
and to express your hope that the government's new coalition
partners will not have a negative influence on our common
agenda.


7. (C) Although we believe that President Kaczynski will
focus on strategic issues, I cannot exclude the possibility
that he will succumb to the temptation to raise visa policy.
If he does not mention it, I recommend that you do, offering
him some general assurance that you share his vision of a
future in which Polish citizens no longer require visas to
visit the U.S. If left at that, such a message will allow
Kaczynski to say that he had discussed the issue with you and
that both sides are working toward that end. I also
recommend that you flag our longstanding interest in passage
of legislation for private property restitution in Poland;
although the GOP is nominally committed to such a process, we
fear that this legislation may not be among the new
government's priorities.


8. (C) Mr. President, I encourage you to approach your
meeting with President Kaczynski with a generous spirit.
Although he may not provide a warm or even friendly first
impression, Kaczynski is someone whose loyalty, once forged,
is durable and reliable. Whatever happens in the sometimes
chaotic Polish political scene, Kaczynski will be president
for the next five years, and his support for American
priorities will be critical to maintaining and even deepening
our close strategic partnership.
ASHE