Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06WARSAW231
2006-02-14 11:52:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Warsaw
Cable title:  

POLISH FOREIGN MINISTER MELLER TO RESIGN

Tags:  PREL PGOV PL 
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UNCLAS WARSAW 000231 

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PGOV PL
SUBJECT: POLISH FOREIGN MINISTER MELLER TO RESIGN


UNCLAS WARSAW 000231

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PGOV PL
SUBJECT: POLISH FOREIGN MINISTER MELLER TO RESIGN



1. (SBU) Polish Foreign Minister Stefan Meller all but
confirmed during a February 13 press conference that he
intends to resign his post, citing frustration over his
diminishing authority over Polish foreign policy. Meller
denied press speculation that he might step down for health
or family reasons, but allowed that he was weighing
resignation because of ongoing problems in coordinating
policy with the president's and prime minister's
chancelleries. The foreign minister indicated that he was
reluctant to say more until after his foreign policy report
to parliament February 15.


2. (SBU) Meller, a career diplomat with no party affiliation,
was appointed foreign minister after the governing Law and
Justice (PiS) party failed to form a coalition with Civic
Platform (PO) -- which had been widely expected to take the
MFA portfolio. From the outset, it was evident that Meller
is viewed as an outsider by PiS officials (Meller was
excluded from the National Security Council, for example) and
MFA officials often complain about their ministry being
circumvented or cut out entirely by the premier's and
president's staffs.


3. (SBU) Perhaps reflecting PiS's scattershot approach to
such decisions, speculation about Meller's successors
includes a wide field of possible candidates. Among these
are PO foreign policy specialist and MEP Jacek Saryusz-Wolski
(who has denied these rumors),current Defense Minister Radek
Sikorski, Parliamentary Foreign Affairs Committee Chair Pawel
Zalewski, and PiS MEP Wojciech Roszkowski. There have also
been suggestions that one of Meller's deputies might be
elevated to replace him.


4. (SBU) Comment: One wonders who would be interested in the
MFA post, given Meller's difficulties in asserting his
authority before strong and activist rivals. Indeed, the
timing of Meller's departure -- or whether PM Marcinkiewicz
and President Kaczynski will eventually be moved to offer
Meller new assurances -- may be determined by the
government's success in finding someone both qualified and
willing to take the job.
ASHE