Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08WARSAW1055
2008-09-11 09:17:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Warsaw
Cable title:
POLISH VIEWS ON SEPTEMBER 15-16 GAERC AND
how-toVZCZCXRO0459 OO RUEHAG RUEHROV DE RUEHWR #1055/01 2550917 ZNY CCCCC ZZH O 110917Z SEP 08 FM AMEMBASSY WARSAW TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 6990 INFO RUCNMEM/EU MEMBER STATES COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUEHSB/AMEMBASSY HARARE PRIORITY 0036 RUEHNR/AMEMBASSY NAIROBI PRIORITY 0118 RUEHMO/AMEMBASSY MOSCOW PRIORITY 2792 RUEHBW/AMEMBASSY BELGRADE PRIORITY RUEHVB/AMEMBASSY ZAGREB PRIORITY 0706 RUEHVJ/AMEMBASSY SARAJEVO PRIORITY 0178 RUEHSQ/AMEMBASSY SKOPJE PRIORITY 0495 RUEHTI/AMEMBASSY TIRANA PRIORITY 0747 RUEHPS/AMEMBASSY PRISTINA PRIORITY 0217 RUEHAK/AMEMBASSY ANKARA PRIORITY 0382 RUEHSI/AMEMBASSY TBILISI PRIORITY 0344 RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK PRIORITY 1422 RUEHNO/USMISSION USNATO PRIORITY 0171
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 WARSAW 001055
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR EUR/ERA AND EUR/CE
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/10/2018
TAGS: PHUM PREL PGOV EUN ZL ZI SO YI TU GG RS PL
SUBJECT: POLISH VIEWS ON SEPTEMBER 15-16 GAERC AND
SEPTEMBER 5-6 GYMNICH
REF: A. STATE 96598
B. LONDON 2284
Classified By: POLITICAL COUNSELOR DAN SAINZ FOR REASONS 1.4 (B) AND (D
)
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 WARSAW 001055
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR EUR/ERA AND EUR/CE
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/10/2018
TAGS: PHUM PREL PGOV EUN ZL ZI SO YI TU GG RS PL
SUBJECT: POLISH VIEWS ON SEPTEMBER 15-16 GAERC AND
SEPTEMBER 5-6 GYMNICH
REF: A. STATE 96598
B. LONDON 2284
Classified By: POLITICAL COUNSELOR DAN SAINZ FOR REASONS 1.4 (B) AND (D
)
1. (C) SUMMARY: MFA EU Correspondent Cyryl Kozaczewski told
us the GoP has avoided responding "emotionally" on Georgia,
notwithstanding the severity of the crisis. The GoP will not
press for strong EU measures against Russia, preferring to
give Russia time to reflect on developments. Although
internal discussions on Poland's contribution to an ESDP
mission in Georgia are still underway, Poland knows it will
be expected to step up, and will not disappoint. Poland will
press the EU to insist the ESDP mission be given access to
South Ossetia and Abkhazia. Kozacewski provided a brief
readout of the September 5-6 Gymnich, noting that other EU
member states are warming to the idea of engaging eastern
neighbors and seem more concerned about energy security than
before. Poland shares U.S. views on Serbia and will likely
join mainstream consensus on Zimbabwe and Somalia. END
SUMMARY.
2. (U) Poloff called on EU Correspondent Cyryl Kozaczewski
to provide U.S. input for the upcoming GAERC based on Ref A
points, and to review the results of the Gymnich.
GYMNICH READOUT
3. (C) As expected, discussion of Georgia dominated the
September 5-6 Gymnich meeting. However, Foreign Ministers
were "very cautious" in their discussion, preferring to wait
for the outcome of French President Sarkozy's September 8
meeting with Medvedev. On the margins of the meeting, the
Polish delegation lobbied EU member states on the
Polish/Swedish Eastern Partnership Proposal. Member states
are reportedly warming to the proposal, particularly its
focus on more engagement with Belarus and drawing Ukraine
closer to the EU. According to Kozaczewski, energy security
was also a prominent topic of discussion.
4. (C) Echoing Embassy London's reporting (ref B) on
Ministers' discussion of the transatlantic relationship,
Kozaczewski said the USG should expect to receive from the EU
a series of "more active proposals" on how to deepen
transatlantic cooperation. FM Sikorski's preference is to
identify a few core issues and engage in strategic
discussions on how to resolve common challenges. Kozaczewski
reported that the Gymnich discussion on the Middle East was
"not substantial."
GEORGIA/RUSSIA
5. (C) On Georgia, Kozaczewski said it is essential that the
EU's ESDP mission cooperate closely with OSCE and UN
observers. The GoP agrees the mission needs to deploy as
quickly as possible in conjunction with the withdrawal of
Russian military forces. Poland will press the EU to insist
that the ESDP mission be given access to South Ossetia and
Abkhazia. The EU mission will reportedly include 100-200
observers. Internal discussions on the Polish contributions
are still underway, but the GoP knows other EU member states
will expect Poland to step up and offered assurances that
Poland "will not disappoint."
6. (C) Kozacewski said the GoP is taking extra care to avoid
being perceived as "emotional" on the issue and, as a result,
will not press for strong EU measures against Russia. The
situation is very delicate and the GoP believes it is
important to allow Russia a "moment of reflection." That
said, it will take a long time to repair the damage.
SERBIA
7. (C) According to Kozaczewski, the GoP agrees the Serbian
WARSAW 00001055 002 OF 002
government should reconsider its unhelpful attitude and
decide whether its wants to accept EU offers of assistance or
to continue to play a destructive role. He agreed that
Serbia's request for an ICJ opinion is counterproductive,
adding that it could prove "dangerous" for the EU. The
arrest and extradition of Karadzic is a step in the right
direction, but Serbia needs to prove it is serious by putting
additional effort into delivering war criminals.
TURKEY
8. (SBU) Kozaczewski said the GoP would continue to support
Turkey's candidacy for accession, primarily because of the
importance of drawing Turkey (and other countries, like
Ukraine) closer to Western institutions.
ZIMBABWE
9. (SBU) Kozaczewski said Poland will likely join the
mainstream EU consensus on Zimbabwe.
SOMALIA
10. (C) On Somalia, Kozaczewski said the GoP has limited
capabilities given its commitments elsewhere. While the GoP
recognizes the severity of the problem, it needs its naval
assets close at hand in order to protect national security
interests.
ASHE
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR EUR/ERA AND EUR/CE
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/10/2018
TAGS: PHUM PREL PGOV EUN ZL ZI SO YI TU GG RS PL
SUBJECT: POLISH VIEWS ON SEPTEMBER 15-16 GAERC AND
SEPTEMBER 5-6 GYMNICH
REF: A. STATE 96598
B. LONDON 2284
Classified By: POLITICAL COUNSELOR DAN SAINZ FOR REASONS 1.4 (B) AND (D
)
1. (C) SUMMARY: MFA EU Correspondent Cyryl Kozaczewski told
us the GoP has avoided responding "emotionally" on Georgia,
notwithstanding the severity of the crisis. The GoP will not
press for strong EU measures against Russia, preferring to
give Russia time to reflect on developments. Although
internal discussions on Poland's contribution to an ESDP
mission in Georgia are still underway, Poland knows it will
be expected to step up, and will not disappoint. Poland will
press the EU to insist the ESDP mission be given access to
South Ossetia and Abkhazia. Kozacewski provided a brief
readout of the September 5-6 Gymnich, noting that other EU
member states are warming to the idea of engaging eastern
neighbors and seem more concerned about energy security than
before. Poland shares U.S. views on Serbia and will likely
join mainstream consensus on Zimbabwe and Somalia. END
SUMMARY.
2. (U) Poloff called on EU Correspondent Cyryl Kozaczewski
to provide U.S. input for the upcoming GAERC based on Ref A
points, and to review the results of the Gymnich.
GYMNICH READOUT
3. (C) As expected, discussion of Georgia dominated the
September 5-6 Gymnich meeting. However, Foreign Ministers
were "very cautious" in their discussion, preferring to wait
for the outcome of French President Sarkozy's September 8
meeting with Medvedev. On the margins of the meeting, the
Polish delegation lobbied EU member states on the
Polish/Swedish Eastern Partnership Proposal. Member states
are reportedly warming to the proposal, particularly its
focus on more engagement with Belarus and drawing Ukraine
closer to the EU. According to Kozaczewski, energy security
was also a prominent topic of discussion.
4. (C) Echoing Embassy London's reporting (ref B) on
Ministers' discussion of the transatlantic relationship,
Kozaczewski said the USG should expect to receive from the EU
a series of "more active proposals" on how to deepen
transatlantic cooperation. FM Sikorski's preference is to
identify a few core issues and engage in strategic
discussions on how to resolve common challenges. Kozaczewski
reported that the Gymnich discussion on the Middle East was
"not substantial."
GEORGIA/RUSSIA
5. (C) On Georgia, Kozaczewski said it is essential that the
EU's ESDP mission cooperate closely with OSCE and UN
observers. The GoP agrees the mission needs to deploy as
quickly as possible in conjunction with the withdrawal of
Russian military forces. Poland will press the EU to insist
that the ESDP mission be given access to South Ossetia and
Abkhazia. The EU mission will reportedly include 100-200
observers. Internal discussions on the Polish contributions
are still underway, but the GoP knows other EU member states
will expect Poland to step up and offered assurances that
Poland "will not disappoint."
6. (C) Kozacewski said the GoP is taking extra care to avoid
being perceived as "emotional" on the issue and, as a result,
will not press for strong EU measures against Russia. The
situation is very delicate and the GoP believes it is
important to allow Russia a "moment of reflection." That
said, it will take a long time to repair the damage.
SERBIA
7. (C) According to Kozaczewski, the GoP agrees the Serbian
WARSAW 00001055 002 OF 002
government should reconsider its unhelpful attitude and
decide whether its wants to accept EU offers of assistance or
to continue to play a destructive role. He agreed that
Serbia's request for an ICJ opinion is counterproductive,
adding that it could prove "dangerous" for the EU. The
arrest and extradition of Karadzic is a step in the right
direction, but Serbia needs to prove it is serious by putting
additional effort into delivering war criminals.
TURKEY
8. (SBU) Kozaczewski said the GoP would continue to support
Turkey's candidacy for accession, primarily because of the
importance of drawing Turkey (and other countries, like
Ukraine) closer to Western institutions.
ZIMBABWE
9. (SBU) Kozaczewski said Poland will likely join the
mainstream EU consensus on Zimbabwe.
SOMALIA
10. (C) On Somalia, Kozaczewski said the GoP has limited
capabilities given its commitments elsewhere. While the GoP
recognizes the severity of the problem, it needs its naval
assets close at hand in order to protect national security
interests.
ASHE