RECOMMENDATION FOR PRESIDENTIAL DELEGATION TO

UNCLAS WARSAW 001117 SENSITIVE SIPDIS EUR FOR A/S FRIED NSC FOR JUDY AINSLEY WH FOR E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL PGOV PL SUBJECT: RECOMMENDATION FOR PRESIDENTIAL DELEGATION TO ATTEND CEREMONIES MARKING THE 90 ANNIVERSARY OF POLAND'S INDEPENDENCE ¶1. (SBU) Embassy Warsaw recommends that a presidential delegation at the highest possible level represent the United States at commemoration ceremonies in Warsaw on November 11 marking the 90th anniversary of Poland's regaining its independence. This is a tremendously significant milestone for the Poles along the way to their first centennial, and will be marked by private and officials celebrations, notionally to including a ceremony at the tomb of the unknown soldier and a gala ball, hosted by President Lech Kaczynski. This would also be an fitting occasion to draw attention to the upcoming 90th anniversary of U.S.-Polish relations, which officially kicks off in 2009. ¶2. (SBU) The United States is intimately associated with the formation of the modern Polish state. Point 13 in President Wilson's "14 Points" speech called for the re-establishment of a Polish state following World War I. At Versailles peace talks, Wilson pressed hard to ensure that the new state came into being, a position not all participants to the talks shared. No other nation played as central a role in the establishment of the free and independent nation of Poland. ¶3. (SBU) Over the past 90 years, Poland has proven that it is willing to pay a high price for freedom. The Polish population triumphed - at great human cost - over foreign occupation and domestic oppression to become a free democratic state. Poland has evolved into an exceptionally strong partner to the United States in advancing the President's Freedom Agenda around the world. The occasion offers a unique opportunity for the USG to demonstrate solidarity with the Polish people and to thank Poland for its unwavering support. Among other things, Poland has vigorously condemned Russian aggression against Georgia, contributed troops in Iraq and Afghanistan, agreed to host a missile defense interceptor site to protect the United States and Europe, and co-founded both the Proliferation Security Initiative and the Community of Democracies Movement, but the goes on. ASHE