POLAND REJECTS RUSSIAN RECOGNITION OF SOUTH

C O N F I D E N T I A L WARSAW 001009

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/27/2018
TAGS: PREL PGOV GG RU PL
SUBJECT: POLAND REJECTS RUSSIAN RECOGNITION OF SOUTH
OSSETIA AND ABKHAZIA AS INDEPENDENT STATES

REF: SECSTATE 91894

Classified By: Political Counselor F. Daniel Sainz. Reason 1.4 (d)


1. (C) MFA Director for Eastern Policy Jaroslaw Bratkiewicz
told us that the Polish Foreign Minister's public statement
of August 27 makes clear the GoP's rejection of Russian
recognition of Georgia's breakaway regions. Bratkiewicz
noted in particular that Russian actions are in violation of
the sixth point in the cease-fire agreement negotiated by the
Presidents of France and Russia, which called for
international discussions of the status of Abkhazia and South
Ossetia. PolCouns expressed U.S. appreciation for Poland's
leadership during the Georgia crisis, and informed
Bratkiewicz that the USG would be encouraging similar
opposition to the Russian recognition worldwide, based on
reftel points.


2. (C) Bratkiewicz said the President and Prime Minister
are still wrestling with the question of who will represent
Poland at the September 1 European Council summit on Georgia.
The two will meet August 29, and both may attend the summit.
It is too early to predict the results of the EU summit,
Bratkiewicz said, but he welcomed the visible hardening of
German Prime Minister Merkel's position toward Russia.
However, he said there remains a gap between Merkel and
Foreign Minister Steinmeier, who tends to be more
conciliatory toward Russia.


3. (C) Bratkiewicz said the Russians are stuck in an
anachronistic policy of maintaining its "sphere of influence"
in the near abroad. He said Russian practitioners of
realpolitik appear to see brutal force as an occasionally
useful instrument, and view agreements like the
Medvedev-Sarkozy cease-fire as "mere pieces of paper."
Bratkiewicz said Russian UN PermRep Vitaliy Churkin betrayed
a certain arrogance in his televised appearance dismissing
the possibility that a UN Security Council emergency session
on Georgia could have any effect on events. However, he
suggested that despite Medvedev's comments about Russia not
fearing a Cold War, the Russians would want continued
contacts with the West, even if relations become chilled.
QUANRUD