DEMARCHE REQUEST: POLAND WILLING TO SCAN SHIP

UNCLAS WARSAW 001934 SIPDIS SIPDIS DEPT FOR EUR/NCE, EUR/ERA, EEB EUR/NCE FOR LLOCHMAN, BPUTNEY, TYAEGER EUR/ERA FOR PWALKER EEB FOR TRA/OTP BRUSSELS FOR USEU CBP-KCONWAY E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: ETRD EWWT PL PTER SUBJECT: DEMARCHE REQUEST: POLAND WILLING TO SCAN SHIP CARGO, BUT UNCLEAR WHO'S AT THE HELM REF: STATE 119837 ¶1. Econoff presented Reftel points on August 29 to Tadeusz Gorecki, assistant director of the Department of Maritime Transportation. While noting that Poland shipped almost 38,000 containers directly to the U.S. in the year ending April 30, Gorecki said he foresaw no problems with Poland's ablility to scan 100% of all U.S.-bound containers by 2012. ¶2. Gorecki added, however, that he has not discussed scanning with the management of Poland's ports. He said further action was unlikely until after the Polish elections, scheduled for October 21. He added he was not even sure at this point which ministry would be directing the operations of his department after the elections, speculating that it could be either Agriculture, Economy, or Infrastructure. ¶3. Commnent. It does not appear that the Polish Ministry of Maritime Economy is going to consider seriously the cargo scanning requirement until after the late October elections and appointment of a new cabinet. At that time, the GOP and Polish firms may join other groups in opposing the scanning requirement, as noted in Reftel. ASHE