NEW POLISH FM SIKORSKI AND MOD KLICH LIKELY TO

C O N F I D E N T I A L WARSAW 002246 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/15/2022 TAGS: EUN PREL PGOV PL SUBJECT: NEW POLISH FM SIKORSKI AND MOD KLICH LIKELY TO ATTEND NOVEMBER 19-20 FOREIGN MINISTERS MEETING (GAERC) REF: STATE 156474 Classified By: Political Counselor Mary T. Curtin for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). ¶1. (C) Poloff delivered reftel non-paper on November 15 to Pawel Herczynski in the MFA's EU Department, in anticipation of the November 19-20 GAERC in Brussels. Herczynski said he was "99% sure" that Poland would be represented by new FM Radek Sikorski, who would be accompanied by new Minister of Defense Bogdan Klich, who were sworn into office the morning of November 16 with Poland's new government. Herczynski described the meeting as "packed," and sought USG opinions on the upcoming EU-Africa Summit, to be held in early December in Lisbon, as well as expressing Poland's hope that it will be included in the upcoming Annapolis meeting between Israeli and Palestinian leaders. EU-Africa Summit -------------- ¶2. (C) Pawel Herczynski of the MFA's EU Department told poloff on November 16 that Poland has not yet decided what level of representation it will send to the December EU-Africa summit, in light of the possible participation of Zimbabwe's President Robert Mugabe. Herczynski said the British would downgrade their participation if Mugabe attends, that there was a split in the EU, and that Poland, for the time being, remains undecided. Herczynski sought USG views on Mugabe's participation, which we will pass on to MFA. On Sudan, Herczynski mentioned that Poland will have the second largest contingent of peacekeepers after France, and described Polish concerns about logistical complications and costs. Israeli-Palestinian Peace Poland would Like Invitation to Annapolis Conference -------------- ¶3. (C) Herczynski asked that the Embassy convey Poland's pronounced interest in participating in the upcoming Annapolis international meeting as an observer state. Polish authorities have expressed that interest to both the Palestinian FM and Israeli leaders, whom Herczynski described as supportive of Polish participation. (Comment: We had heard this from the Israeli Ambassador, but this is the first time a Polish official has raised it with us. End comment) Other Issues -------------- ¶4. (C) Herczynski otherwise mentioned that Poland's positions on a range of issues remains unchanged. --On Iran, Poland supports unilateral EU sanctions if the UNSC fails to find a way forward on Iran's nuclear program. --On the upcoming visit of the Iraqi FM to Brussels, Herczynski noted that Poland (which represents the EU Presidency in Baghdad) is very much in favor of an increased EU role in Iraq and looks forward to an exchange of views with the Iraqis. --He described the situation in the Balkans and Kosovo as wholly unchanged. --On Georgia, Herczynski voiced Poland's support for Georgia's European and Euro-Atlantic aspirations, but cautioned these must be achieved through adherence to democratic values and respect of human rights. He expressed concern that the new visa regime with Russia resulted in EU visas being cheaper for Russian nationals than for Georgian nationals; in break away territories of Georgia, Herczynski said, people are applying for Russian passports in order to save money. HILLAS