ACTION REQUEST: LETTER FROM MFA PROPOSES

C O N F I D E N T I A L WARSAW 002154

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

STATE FOR EUR/PRA ANITA FRIEDT

E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/23/2017
TAGS: PARM MASS ETTC PGOV PREL GG PL
SUBJECT: ACTION REQUEST: LETTER FROM MFA PROPOSES
U.S.-POLISH EXPORT CONTROL SEMINAR IN TBILISI

REF: WARSAW 001748 AND PREVIOUS

Classified By: Charge Kenneth Hillas for reasons 1.4(b) and (d).


1. (C) ACTION REQUEST: Post requests that the Department
respond positively to the Polish government's invitation to
participate in a Polish-U.S. seminar on export controls in
Tbilisi, Georgia as outlined in the letter text quoted below.
END ACTION REQUEST.


2. (C) Background: Ambassador received a letter from MFA
Under Secretary Witold Waszczykowski dated October 19
proposing a joint Polish-U.S. seminar on export controls in
Tbilisi. (The text of the letter follows in para 3.)
Reftels describe Embassy efforts to persuade the Polish
government not to sell shoulder mounted GROM missiles
(MANPADS) to Georgia because of our general concern about the
proliferation of MANPADS, and the Polish government's
decision to go forward with the sale. As part of the
discussion we exchanged information on the current status of
Georgia's export control procedures and our mutual desire to
improve that. Although we were not pleased that Poland went
ahead with the sale, Embassy recommends that we accept
Poland's invitation to participate in a seminar on export
controls, as it remains in our interest that Georgia improve
its system as part of its overall improvement of its military
and security system. Post believes incoming government will
maintain the outgoing government's support for and close ties
with Georgia. End Background.


3. (C) Begin Text:

Following the conversation with your deputy, Mr. Kenneth
Hillas, on the 10th of August 2007, concerning the export of
Polish "Grom" Man-Portable Air Defense Systems (MANPADS) to
Georgia, I would like to confirm our interest in dialogue and
cooperation with the USA in the field of improvement of the
Georgian export control system.

We noted with satisfaction the convergent views of our
countries on the necessity to improve the air defense system
of Georgia. Poland has taken the first step in this respect
and we are ready to cooperate closely with the U.S. in
further states of improving Georgian defense capabilities.

Already in September 2006 we had informed the representatives
of the U.S. Embassy in Warsaw about our plans to export
armament to Georgia, during the realization of deliveries we
have taken all the necessary precautions in order to ensure
the safety of the transfer and physical storage facilities.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Poland
initiated organization of two inspections in Georgia, aimed
at assessing and verifying the existing and implemented
measures regarding storage of sensitive armament, as
specified in relevant international documents. These
inspections resulted in formulating a comprehensive set of
guidelines to be implemented by Georgia prior to signing the
contract. Moreover, Poland conducted series of trainings for
the representatives of Georgian administration, which covered
issues of protection of the storage facilities for armament
and control of its transfers and exports. Polish experts
positively verified implementation of the recommended
guidelines, particularly in the field of physical protection
of armaments storage facilities.

Georgia lifted standard of its military base to proper level.
Additionally, we received official written commitment of the
Minister of the National Defense of Georgia to comply with
the guidelines and recommendations based on Wassenaar
Arrangement and OSCE documents on MANPADS storage facilities.
These facts reflect full understanding and willingness of
the Georgian party to upgrade its armament storage and export
control systems. All relevant stipulations are included in
the end-user certificate, which includes guarantees for the
Polish party to conduct post-shipment inspections.

In our view, further works on upgrading armament transfer and
export control systems in Georgia are extremely important.
Knowledge, capabilities and means of the U.S., along with
Polish experience in legal issues and procedures in
transformation period, would allow for optimal support for
Georgian efforts to upgrade its export control system.

Referring to the proposal of the U.S. Embassy in Warsaw,
submitted in July 2007, we suggest to organize, in the first

half of 2008, a joint Polish-U.S. seminar in Tbilisi. Such a
seminar would allow for a complex evaluation of the present
condition of the Georgian export control system as well as
defining directions of its further development. It would
also allow to bring together Georgian institutions dealing
with export control with the representatives of producers and
brokers who are not subject to any training activities at
present. As a result, we will be able to define areas we
should focus on during further cooperation with Georgia in
the context of export control as well as institutions and
people who will be our partners in this cooperation. This
issue was already raised by Polish diplomats during their
meetings with U.S. State Department officials. Initial talks
were conducted in March 2007, with the Director of Office of
Export Control Cooperation.

We believe it is necessary to take above mentioned measures
also in the context of works of international institutions
referring to arms transfers, particularly the Wassenaar
Arrangement. Joint Polish-U.S. initiative in this field
would reflect the actions undertaken by the Wassenaar
Arrangement in order to support reforms in the third states
to ensure security and transparency of armament transfers
(outreach). It is an important goal for Poland and it is
inseparably associated with armament export to Georgia.

Poland continuously counts on the close cooperation with the
U.S. on the fora of international organizations and
agreements dealing with armament export control and non
proliferation of weapons of mass destruction.

Signed (Waszczykowski)

End Text.
HILLAS