POLAND'S FOREIGN ASSISTANCE DIRECTOR WANTS TO

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 WARSAW 001359 SIPDIS SIPDIS STATE FOR G, F, EUR/NCE EUR/NCE FOR BPUTNEY AND DKOSTELANCIK STATE PASS USAID USEU FOR PLERNER E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: EAID PREL PO SUBJECT: POLAND'S FOREIGN ASSISTANCE DIRECTOR WANTS TO CEMENT TIES WITH US REF: A. WARSAW 671 ¶B. 06 WARSAW 2255 WARSAW 00001359 001.2 OF 002 ¶1. (SBU) Begin Summary. Jerzy Pomianowski, Director of the Polish Ministry of Foreign Affairs Development Cooperation Department (Polish AID) would like to meet with his US counterparts while in Washington June 25 and 26 for meetings with the World Bank. Pomianowski is the GOP equivalent of the USAID Director. He would like to discuss the GOP's plans for development assistance as the MFA builds its program, as well as potential areas for cooperation with the USG and USAID. Pomianowski developed the GOP's new assistance plan amd priorities and will continue to be responsible for Poland's transition to a donor country. The GOP shares the USG belief that development assistance can not be separated from democracy development and human rights. End Summary. ¶2. (SBU) Pomianowski holds the rank of Ambassador and his position is the equivalent of the USAID Director. This will be Pomianowski's first visit to Washington since being appointed. He would like to meet with his counterparts in the USG (he is seeking meetigns with Acting AID Director Fore and Under Secretary Dobriansky) to explain Poland's Development plans, gain a better knowledge of USAID programs, discuss potential cooperation on projects in Central Europe, as well as continue discussing potential cooperation on Poland's Belarus TV project. Pomianowski stated that he would like to consult with the USG on development assistance and policies in order to better coordinate with USAID. He believes, as he builds Poland's development capabilities, that it is important to hear what to do and what not to do in order to avoid making unneccessary mistakes. He is also consulting with his counterparts in France and Germany and was recently in Japan. During his meetings with the World Bank, he plans to discuss cooperation with the Bank, especially in the Balkans, Eastern Europe and Central Asia. ¶3. (SBU) Pomianowski developed Poland's new strategy for Foreign Assistance during the past year. Previously, Poland focused its small program on a limited number of countries in the region or with which Poland has historical ties. As the GOP expands its program, it is looking for partners and advice on how to be most effective. For example, Pomianowski stated that the MFA wants to expand programs in Afghanistan. One idea is to organize teaching programs for Afghanistani technical staff. The GOP is planning to offer three month courses in Poland for technicians and nurses. Pomianowski stated that he does not expect to achieve results on concrete projects during this visit and does not expect a USG decision on whether it can cooperate on the Belarus TV project. He considers the trip the first step in building closer cooperation. Pomianowski emphasized that the GOP supports the US in its belief that assistance can not be separated from human rights and democracy development. The GOP will continue to focus its assistance on democracy development and good governance as well as more traditional development assistance. Polish Foreign Assistance -------------- ¶4. (U) Poland's Development Cooperation Department was formed in September, 2005 as part of the Polish Ministry of Foreign Affairs as Poland transitioned from being a recipient to a donor country. The Department currently has 29 employees and manages an annual budget of $250 million, or -~vI;QmQQl grow as the Polish economy grows. Poland's donor assistance commitments to the EU will increase to 0.17% of GDP in 2010 and 0.33% of GDP by 2015. In 2005 (the last year for which figures are available), Poland allocated $204.9 million (0.068% of GDP) to support developing countries, of which $48 million was spent on bilateral assistance and $157 million on multilateral assistance. The Department is also writing a draft Act on Polish Development Assistance that will regularize its functions as well as give the MFA more flexibility in responding to emergencies. The new strategy for Polish assistance expands the scope of Polish activities from strictly development assistance to include democracy promotion and cooperation with other donors. Bilateral Assistance -------------- ¶5. (U) Poland's bilateral assistance is targeted at a limited number of priority countries that are Poland's neighbors or have historical ties to Poland. Historically, priority countries for the GOP were countries of Eastern and WARSAW 00001359 002.2 OF 002 Southeastern Europe, the Balkans, and Central Asia. Priority countries for Polish assistance are: Belarus, Ukraine, Moldova, Georgia, Afghanistan, Iraq, Vietman, Angola, and The Palestinian National Authority. In 2006 the GOP expanded its assistance so that countries that received Polish assistance now include: Ukraine Belarus Georgia Moldova The Russian Federation Armenia Azerbaijan Kazakhstan Kyrgystan Tajikistan Turkmenistan Uzbekistan Albania Bosnia and Herzogovina Montenegro Macedonia Serbia Sub-Saharan Africa - including Angola Cambodia Mongolia Poland's bilateral assistance is focused on European integration, supporting political transformation processes, local governance development, and the planning and management of economic development. Trilateral and Multilateral Assistance -------------- ¶6. (U) Poland and Canada established the Polish-Canadian Development Cooperation Program (PCDC) to jointly support development assistance projects in developing and countries in transition. In 2006, the PCDC program had a budget of approximately 1,400,000 Euros provided by the Polish MFA and the Canadian International Development Agency. Target countries for this cooperation are: Ukraine, Georgia, Moldova, Serbia and Montenegro, and Sub-Saharan Africa. The MFA also makes contributions to the International Development Association, The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, the UN, and the EU Development cooperation budget. Humanitarian Assistance -------------- ¶7. (SBU) The MFA does not have a separate budget amount available for responding to humanitarian or emergency appeals. Any additional assistance requests must be coordinated within the GOP and require Ministry of Finance approval. Nevertheless, during 2006, Poland provided approximately $300,000 in assistance and sent a medical team including employees of the National Centre for Coordination of Rescue activities to assist the victims of the Indonesian earthquake. In addition, in early August Foreign Minister Fotyga allocated approximately $300,000 for humanitarian assistance in Lebanon. Poland provided 500 soldiers to the UNIFIL peacekeeping forces. At the Stockholm Conference for Lebanon's early recovery, the GOP announced an additional 1 million Euro donation to Lebanon, primarily for mine and unexploded ordinance removal and provision of temporary shelters. ¶8. (SBU) Comment: The GOP is an important partner on security issues, but often comments that the bilateral relationship could be stronger on economic issues. Pomianowski's visit is an excellent opportunity to begin to build cooperation on development issues. As Poland's economy strengthens its assistance program will grow, especially as Poland strives to meet its EU commitments. Discussion with the GOP now on areas of mutual interest can help shape Poland's policy and programs as they are developed and will help ensure that Poland's development program focuses on projects of interest to both the US and Poland. ASHE