POLES TO FOCUS ON KOSOVO, EASTERN DIMENSION AT

C O N F I D E N T I A L WARSAW 002341 SIPDIS SIPDIS EUR/ERA FOR CHIP DEAN E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/11/2022 TAGS: PGOV PREL PL SUBJECT: POLES TO FOCUS ON KOSOVO, EASTERN DIMENSION AT DECEMBER GAERC REF: STATE 164327 Classified By: Political Counselor Mary T. Curtin for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) ¶1. (C) POLOFF passed reftel talking points to Pawel Herczynski, in the MFA's EU Department. Herczynski said the December 9-10 GAERC will focus primarily on Kosovo and EU Neighbors policy. Herczynski said that the GOP will be very disappointed if the EU fails to speak in one voice with respect to Kosovo. He expects nonetheless that the decision of possible recognition of an independent Kosovo will be left up to individual member states. Herczynski held out a "slim hope" that between the GAERC and the Lisbon Summit next week that the EU's position could evolve. Nevertheless, Herczynski said that the EU's "Plan B" would be to roll out a unified position of ongoing EU support for the ESDP mission in Kosovo, and a long term, substantial role for the EU in Kosovo. ¶2. (C) With respect to the EU's "Eastern Dimension," Herczynski said that Poland believes there is a clear imbalance between the EU's approach to its southern neighbors through the Barcelona process and Mediterranean Dialogue, and the lack of any similar, multilateral initiative towards the EU's neighbors to the east. Herczynski said that Poland would push for a more concerted response, specifically saying that membership for Ukraine should remain open, even if it is years away. ¶3. (C) Herczynski said that other subjects, including Iran, Sudan, Burma and the Middle East Peace Process were "all standard." Herczynski complained about the late receipt of the USG's talking points, in some measure because the GOP seeks to incorporate our concerns into their position on a wide range of EU issues, but must receive the points more than one working day in advance for them to be fully useful. ASHE