UNSCR 1701: POLAND GRATIFIED AT UNIFIED POSITION

C O N F I D E N T I A L WARSAW 001684 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/11/2011 TAGS: PREL PTER MOPS UN UNSC IS LE SUBJECT: UNSCR 1701: POLAND GRATIFIED AT UNIFIED POSITION REF: A. STATE 132517 ¶B. WARSAW 1682 (NOTAL) ¶C. WARSAW 1664 (NOTAL) Classified By: CDA Kenneth M. Hillas, reasons 1.4(b) and (d) ¶1. (U) Charge shared Ref A points on UNSCR 1701 with Acting Foreign Minister Pawel Kowal, who stated that MFA U/S Witold Waszczykowski was in the process of drafting a public statement on the resolution. Waszczykowski told Charge separately that the MFA statement would welcome the passage of UNSCR 1701 and say that the GOP was particularly gratified that the international community had come together to achieve a unified position on the resolution. ¶2. (C) Waszczykowski noted privately with some disappointment that media reports indicated the Israeli military was continuing to ramp up its operations in Lebanon even after passage of the resolution. ¶3. (C) Ref B reported on Charge's August 9 meeting with DefMin Radek Sikorski, who stated that Poland would likely maintain its 230-strong UNIFIL contingent as part of the expanded stabilization force. Ref C reported Charge's August 10 conversation with MFA Americas Department Director Henryk Szlajfer, who expressed the GOP's "optimism" on the prospects for "UNIFIL-plus" and its commitment to participation in the new force at at least its current troop levels. HILLAS