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