MISSILE DEFENSE: WHAT THE LOCALS WANT

UNCLAS WARSAW 001098 SIPDIS STATE FOR EUR/CE DMORRIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: MARR MASS PREL PGOV PL SUBJECT: MISSILE DEFENSE: WHAT THE LOCALS WANT ¶1. Paragraph 3 contains the text of a petition presented to Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk by the inhabitants of Redzikowo, the small town near Slupsk where a U.S. missile interceptor site (part of the "anti-missile shield) is to be located. Tusk received the petition during his visit to Slupsk on August 29. It provides some insight into the community's immediate concerns. ¶2. COMMENT: Per the Ballistic Missile Defense Agreement, the USG must present analysis of land and airspace restrictions around the Redzikowo interceptor site to the Polish government no later than November 19. In this regard, early USG answers to the land use questions raised in the petition (i.e., status of the Garrison Club, the direct road from Redzikowo to Jezierzyce, the garden plots and garages, and the airplane monuments) will assist both Prime Minister Tusk and our own public outreach to the greater Slupsk area. END COMMENT. ¶3. Begin text of Petition: Redzikowo, August 29, 2008. Petition of the residents of Redzikowo, in Slupsk county To: Donald Tusk, Prime Minister of the Republic of Poland Dear Mr. Prime Minister: In connection with the decision to build in Redzikowo, in Slupsk county, elements of the American anti-missile shield, we the citizens of Redzikowo demand a guarantee of the safety of our families. We come to you with an appeal to take action to compensate us for losses resulting from building the American anti-missile base on our terrain. Also, we would like to ask you to help to solve our local problems, such as: ¶1. Building and modernizing technical infrastructure in Redzikowo (water and sewage systems, roads, sidewalks, heating),and turning over ownership of such infrastructure to Slupsk county. ¶2. Providing financial support to Redzikowo's local government in completing planned investments (building a swimming pool, planned construction of an ice rink). ¶3. Constructing a community center in Redzikowo, where cultural and educational programs could be held (in case of loss of the Garrison Club). ¶4. Building a direct road between the villages of Redzikowo and Jezierzyce, to ease access between two sport centers: a swimming pool and ice skating rink in Redzikowo and a stadium in Jezierzyce. ¶5. Providing financial support to insulate apartment buildings in the neighborhoods of Redzikowo-Osiedle and Redzikowo-SHR. ¶6. Granting ownership to the inhabitants of Redzikowo of garden plots and garages used and built by the inhabitants (but which are currently owned by the Military Property Agency). ¶7. Renovating and relocating airplane monuments, currently located on the military base in Redzikowo, to a new location to be agreed upon by the local community. Mr. Prime Minister, we would like to believe that you will fulfill our requests in the matter of improving the quality of life of residents of Redzikowo, which will allow a decrease in the negative effects connected with elements of the anti-rocket shield in proximity to our homes. End text of petition. ASHE