POLISH PRESIDENT KACZYNSKI'S FIRST VISIT TO

C O N F I D E N T I A L WARSAW 000487

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/13/2016
TAGS: PREL PGOV ENRG PHUM GM PL
SUBJECT: POLISH PRESIDENT KACZYNSKI'S FIRST VISIT TO
GERMANY (EVER)

REF: BERLIN 721

Classified By: Political Counselor Mary Curtin, reasons 1.4b,d


1. (C) Summary: Polish government and German embassy
officials judged Polish President Lech Kaczynski's March 8-9
visit to Berlin (his first-ever visit to Germany, "besides
the Frankfurt airport," as he put it) a success, although low
expectations and an evident sense of relief that it had not
gone worse contributed to that view. Polish officials were
pleased that Kaczynski conveyed his determination to defend
Polish interests vigorously, highlighting concerns about the
Baltic gas pipeline, historical relativism, and the future of
the European Union. The Germans, meanwhile, had braced
themselves for a difficult visit and were encouraged that
Kaczynski had made an effort to moderate his approach on
these and other issues. Both sides agreed that the meetings
had gone well on a personal level between Kaczynski and
Chancellor Merkel and, especially, between the Polish
president and his counterpart, German President Koehler. The
visit provided some signs that the normally aloof and
suspicious Kaczynski may yet warm up to the Germans -- or, at
least, that he recognizes the importance of engagement with
Poland's western neighbor. End summary.


2. (U) Kaczynski himself assessed his visit to Berlin as
"breaking the ice," declaring that better Polish-German
relations are now possible. At a post-trip press event to
review his discussions with German leaders, Kaczynski
emphasized that he had raised his objections to the
German-Russian Baltic gas pipeline and to the establishment
of a Berlin center on post-World War II German expellees, and
that he had also spoken out against the draft EU constitution
and a federal Europe. Although clear differences remain on
these issues, Kaczynski reported that he had been satisfied
with talks he described as open and constructive.


3. (C) Polish officials were enthusiastic about Kaczynski's
performance in Berlin, maintaining that he had sent clear
signals about the new president's and government's resolve to
defend national interests -- whether in response to
challenges to Polish energy security or to attempts to
"falsify history." Kaczynski's foreign affairs director,
Mariusz Handzlik, observed to us that the president was
"tough," but without giving offense. German leaders now have
a better understanding of the new Polish president and his
priorities, Handzlik said, which will contribute to a more
healthy relationship. Handzlik downplayed the significance
of the heavy criticism directed against Kaczynski in the
German press, suggesting that, though exaggerated,
Kaczynski's parochial image abroad is not entirely
inaccurate. The Polish president, he said, shares and
represents the concerns of real, everyday Polish people.


4. (C) The German Embassy political counselor confirmed that
Berlin was well aware of Kaczynski's sensitivity to perceived
slights, and took extra care to give the Polish president a
warm and respectful reception. Their efforts paid off, as
both official and media accounts of Kaczynski's demeanor
during the visit noted that he relaxed visibly and seemed to
enjoy a good rapport with both Merkel and Koehler. Handzlik
allowed that the Germans may have been worried about the
visit beforehand, but Kaczynski himself -- who had never
before set foot in Germany -- was not sure what to expect,
either. Without ceding much, if any, ground on substance,
Merkel reportedly managed to win Kaczynski over and to get
him to lower his usual reserve. Handzlik said that Kaczynski
especially enjoyed his exchanges with Koehler (which were
long on history, Kaczynski's favorite subject) and that the
Polish president readily accepted Koehler's invitation to
attend a June World Cup match in Dortmund between the Polish
and German teams.


5. (C) Among signs that the ice may have indeed broken were
modest concessions from Kaczynski on even those most
contentious bilateral issues. The Polish president appeared
to accept, however grudgingly, Merkel's assertion that the
Baltic gas pipeline will be built. Kaczynski explicitly
endorsed Polish participation in a "Memory and Solidarity"
network (agreed a year ago by Polish, German, Slovak and
Hungarian governments) to commemorate refugees, even as he
maintained his firm opposition to a Berlin center. Although
Kaczynski underscored differences with his German hosts on
the future of the EU, German embassy officials here note that
his remarks could have been much more aggressive -- attacking
German and French domination of the EU, for example. Perhaps
most encouraging was Kaczynski's evident interest in stepping
up bilateral contacts, agreeing not only to travel again for
the football match, but also to receive Koehler in Poland on
no fewer than three occasions in the next few months.
ASHE