REQUEST TO POLAND TO SPONSOR AMENDMENT TO CUBA

C O N F I D E N T I A L WARSAW 002222 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/18/2016 TAGS: PREL PHUM UNGA PL SUBJECT: REQUEST TO POLAND TO SPONSOR AMENDMENT TO CUBA EMBARGO RESOLUTION REF: STATE 163498 Classified By: DCM KENNETH HILLAS FOR REASONS 1.4 (B) AND (D) ¶1. (C) DCM met October 19 with MFA Under Secretary Witold Waszczykowski to request that Poland sponsor an amendment to the annual Cuba Embargo Resolution at the UN General Assembly. (Note: PolCouns had raised the issue with UN Acting Director Miroslaw Luczka October 13. End Note.) Waszczykowski, who had just attended a Cuba conference in Florida, noted that he opposed the embargo, but DCM reiterated that the purpose of the amendment would be to add existing EU language on human rights to the annual embargo resolution. He emphasized the importance of such balance given the absence of a Human Rights Council resolution this year. ¶2. Waszczykowski asked if we had any specific wording we would want to see, and whether we had asked any other country to sponsor the resolution. DCM suggested previous EU statements would be a start and provided examples. He also emphasized that we had raised the issue of an amendment at the working levels in other countries (and in Poland) but that we were coming to him at the political level to strongly encourage Poland to step forward and lead the amendment effort. Waszczykowski said he would pursue the issue with his directors and let us know what Poland might be willing to do. ASHE