AMBASSADOR'S OCTOBER 28 MEETING WITH SEJM SPEAKER

C O N F I D E N T I A L WARSAW 001250 SIPDIS EUR/CE FOR MORRIS AND LOCHMAN EUR/OHI FOR KENNEDY, NAKIAN, AND BECKER E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/27/2018 TAGS: PREL MARR MOPS PGOV PHUM AF IZ PL SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR'S OCTOBER 28 MEETING WITH SEJM SPEAKER KOMOROWSKI Classified By: Ambassador Victor H. Ashe for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). ¶1. (C) SUMMARY: During an October 28 meeting with the Ambassador, Speaker of the Sejm (lower house of parliament) Bronislaw Komorowski expressed satisfaction with lessons learned by the Polish military in Iraq. Discussing the November 1 Polish takeover of responsibilities in Afghanistan's Ghazni province, Komorowski stressed the importance of devoting sufficient resources to civilian reconstruction. Komorowski was disappointed that Poland was not among the countries admitted to the Visa Waiver Program and indicated his intent to engage Members of Congress on the issue after the U.S. elections. Komorowski said he views the Ballistic Missile Defense Agreement and the SOFA as a package to be ratified jointly. On prospects for passing legislation on compensation for WWII and Communist-era private property confiscations, Komorowski said he did not expect the legislation to be introduced to the Sejm until next year. Although the government supports the legislation, Komorowski said PM Tusk remains concerned about choosing the "right political moment," an indication that personal tensions between Tusk and President Kaczynski would be the determining factor in passing the legislation. END SUMMARY. IRAQ ¶2. (C) Noting that the final contingent of Polish forces -- with the exception of a 20-man NATO Training Mission (NTM-I) -- had just returned from Iraq, the Ambassador expressed gratitude for Poland's contributions over the past five years. Komorowski noted that the Polish government had originally told the public that Polish forces would only be in Iraq for one year. "The Polish public believes Poland has given 500 percent," he said. He expressed satisfaction with the experience the Polish military had gained in Iraq and resulting improvements in military cooperation between the United States and Poland. AFGHANISTAN ¶3. (C) Komorowski noted that Polish forces will take over responsibility for Ghazni province on November 1. "We need to fulfill our obligations as an ally, notwithstanding the great risk." He stated that the Polish military's experience in Iraq had been instructive and that Polish forces had learned important lessons about the importance of police training and building administrative structures. He emphasized the importance of civilian reconstruction for counter-insurgency operations. "We cannot simply rely on a military presence," he insisted. He noted that Poland plans to commit 40 million PLN (approx. 13 million USD) to civilian reconstruction projects. Komorowski suggested that NATO needs to develop a new strategy in Afghanistan, one that seeks long-lasting solutions to socio-political and economic problems. VISA WAIVER PROGRAM ¶4. (C) Komorowski said the Polish public had high hopes for additional benefits from Polish participation in Iraq and Afghanistan, but that those hopes had not been fulfilled. "I am not saying 'promises', but 'hopes'," Komorowski emphasized. He said it was unfortunate that the previous government had made far-reaching promises on Poland's prospects for entering the U.S. Visa Waiver Program, noting that in the future it will be more difficult to convince the public to support military missions abroad. Komorowski expressed disappointment that Poland was not among the countries admitted to the Visa Waiver Program. "We have to eliminate the sense among the Polish public that Poland received unfair treatment," Komorowski added. He indicated his intent to engage Members of Congress on the issue after the November elections and perhaps visit the United States in Spring 2009. MISSILE DEFENSE / SOFA ¶5. (C) Asked about his plans concerning ratification of the Ballistic Missile Defense Agreement (BMDA),Komorowski said he sees the BMDA and the Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA) as a package. As a result, BMDA ratification will have to wait until SOFA negotiations are concluded. In the meantime, Sejm deputies continue to press for an early debate on missile defense. Because SOFA negotiations are expected to last through the beginning of 2009, Komorowski said, he plans to schedule a debate on MD in the second half of November. He was not precise on when a vote might occur. Komorowski promised to keep the Embassy informed as to the precise timing of the debate. PRIVATE PROPERTY RESTITUTION ¶6. (C) On prospects for passing legislation on compensation for private property confiscated in WWII and the Communist era, Komorowski said he has been "personally engaged" in convincing the Tusk government to move the draft legislation forward as quickly as possible. Although the draft legislation is in the final stages of government approval, Komorowski said Prime Minister Tusk informed him that the legislation will not be introduced to the Sejm until next year, but did not specify a date. ¶7. (C) Komorowski said Tusk is interested in passing the legislation as quickly as possible, but is concerned about "choosing the right moment" to introduce the legislation in the Sejm. Komorowski said he had no doubts that the government-prepared legislation, once submitted, would pass the Sejm, where coalition parties hold a simple majority. The only variable, he said, is whether President Kaczynski would veto the legislation. (NOTE: Coalition parties do not have the supermajority necessary to override a presidential veto. END NOTE.) Because the legislation is not backed by public opinion, "we need to wait until the President will be more open to cooperation with the Government," Komorowski said, hinting that personal tensions between President Kaczynski and PM Tusk would be the determining factor. ¶8. (C) Komorowski said the only outstanding issue within the government is the percentage of compensation. Komorowski said he favors a higher percentage, even though that means extending the period over which claims would be paid out. He stressed that it is important to see the legislation as another alternative to the Polish justice system, noting that claimants currently have the option of using courts to seek compensation or restitution of confiscated private property. 90TH ANNIVERSARY OF U.S.-POLISH RELATIONS ¶9. (SBU) The Ambassador and Komorowski discussed plans to commemorate the 90th anniversary of U.S.-Polish relations in ¶2009. Komorowski noted that the United States played a key role in Poland's regaining its independence in 1918 and in Poland's regaining its freedom in 1989. He said the anniversary is an opportunity to explore ways to strengthen the bilateral relationship. Komorowski expressed an interest in building closer relations between the Sejm and Congress. He voiced the hope that all living former U.S. Ambassadors to Poland might visit together for a forum hosted by the Sejm. ASHE