POLISH RESPONSES TO THE MARCH 10 GAERC

C O N F I D E N T I A L WARSAW 000309 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/28/2023 TAGS: PREL PGOV EUN PL SUBJECT: POLISH RESPONSES TO THE MARCH 10 GAERC REF: STATE 022352 Classified By: Acting Political Counselor David Van Cleve for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) ¶1. (C) Acting PolCouns met with Pawel Herczynski of the MFA's EU Department on March 7 to discuss the March 10 GAERC. Owing to FM Sikorski accompanying PM Tusk to Washington that day, the Polish delegation will be led by MFA Undersecretary Grazyna Bernatowicz. Herczynski said the GOP's top priority is Georgia, but that he expects the longest discussion to be on West Balkans policy, specifically Kosovo. On Georgia, Herczynski specifically mentioned the EU needs to match the same visa policy for Georgia that Russia currently enjoys. Under the current situation, Herczynski noted, Georgian citizens living in Abkhazia and South Ossetia opt for Russian passports because the EU visa fee is half what Georgians must pay. Herczynski said this hardly promotes Georgian national identity. He also stressed the importance of speeding the free trade agreement to send a strong positive signal to Georgia regarding eventual EU accession. ¶2. (C) With respect to Kosovo, Herczynski said "so far, so good" indicating that the GOP is generally pleased with the muted reaction from Russia. Poland anticipates several tense months with respect to EU dealings with Serbia, according to Herczynski. He offered some further explanation for Poland's slower than anticipated recognition of Kosovo, describing the delay a little apologetically as "not planned" by FM Sikorski. He repeated what we heard was President Kaczynski's reservation to rush into recognizing Kosovo, but added that GOP coalition partner, the Polish Peoples Party (PSL) was concerned that Poland should send a "strong message of support to the Serbs." PSL Chairman and Deputy PM Waldemar Pawlak offered to travel to Belgrade to express Poland's support for Serbia's future within the EU. In terms of the future, Herczynski said Poland is most concerned about conditions in Mitrovica, and said that Kosovo's geographic integrity must be maintained. He stressed the need for an ongoing strong military presence to protect Kosovo during the transition. He added the GOP also supports future EU accession of Serbia, provided it cooperates fully with International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY) investigations. ¶3. (C) Poland supports an increased role for the EU in the Middle East Peace Process if current efforts do not yield measurable progress by the second half of the year. Herczynski said the GOP is disappointed by the lack of progress since Annapolis and concerned by events such as the late February suicide attack in Tel Aviv. He said Secretary Rice's trip to the region this week was positive and that the GOP would continue to strongly support U.S. and EU efforts. Herczynski also expressed concern for the political deadlock in Lebanon, where Poland participates in the UNIFIL mission. He was pessimistic about any forward motion from the Arab League with respect to Lebanon. 4) (C) Herczynski briefly mentioned Iran and Zimbabwe. On Iran, he said Poland supports a "two track" approach that maintains effective use of sanctions but also keeps the door open for future negotians. He said the GOP welcomed the third set of sanctions recently approved by the UNSC. With respect to both Pakistan and Zimbabwe, he said the GOP is not in the lead on either of these issues but stressed the EU should maintain a strong consistent involvement in each case. 5) (C) Herczynski mentioned he expects to become the DCM to Poland's UN Mission in New York. Citing family and cost of living concerns, he was considerably unenthusiastic about the possible assignment, but said it was very positive in terms of his career advancement, and thus he was likely to accept and begin in May 2008. ASHE