MAY 21 -- CUBA SOLIDARITY DAY

UNCLAS WARSAW 000604 SIPDIS STATE FOR WHA/CCA, EUR/PD AND EUR/NCE E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: KDEM PHUM PREL CU PL SUBJECT: MAY 21 -- CUBA SOLIDARITY DAY REF: A. STATE 51536 ¶B. STATE 46997 ¶1. Embassy Warsaw is working with the Government and local NGO's on outreach efforts related to Cuba Solidarity Day, described in reftels. Poland has an excellent track record with respect to supporting freedom and democracy in Cuba, and believes that its experience in the Solidarity trade movement and its own transition from Communism to a vibrant democracy, give it particular expertise that opponents to the Castro regime can draw upon. NGO Outreach -------------- ¶2. Embassy Warsaw continues its close collaboration with leading Polish NGO's working on Cuban outreach, including the Freedom and Democracy Foundation and the Lech Walesa Institute. Both have active outreach programs planned for May 21. Chairman of the Freedom and Democracy Foundation Tomasz Pisula is working with the Embassy, Capitol Hill offices and USG agencies to promote Cuba Solidarity Day. On May 21, the foundation will unveil two petitions calling for the release of Cuba's political prisoners. One is currently being circulated among members of the Polish parliament. We understand that 130 deputies have signed that petition already, with a goal of 170-200 deputies' signatures by May ¶21. The second will be a public petition available on-line for interested people to sign, and advertised by leading Polish daily Rzeczpospolita. It is not yet available since the foundation is working with the President's Chancellery to have President Kaczynski sign that petition first. We understand that it is not identical to the American petition. Its text is slightly different and drafted with an eye towards Polish audiences. However, Mr. Pisula told us that he worked with U.S. officials on this text before it was finalized. We will highlight the Polish and American petitions on our Embassy website. ¶3. The Lech Walesa Institute just launched its own internet site on Solidarity with Cuba. It builds on the helpful and productive ties between former Polish President Lech Walesa and the dissident community. Embassy Warsaw facilitated a DVC featuring Walesa and dissidents in Cuba in 2006. In August 2007, CODEL Sires, including three Cuban-American Representatives, travelled to Poland to meet with Polish officials and the Cuban American Caucus. The CODEL traveled with President Kaczynski on this plane to mark Solidarity Anniversary events in Lubin, Poland, in addition to meeting with other senior GOP officials. Embassy Efforts -------------- ¶4. The Embassy website already links visitors with the American petition in support of Cuba Solidarity Day, and it will provide a similar link to the Polish petition once it is available. We are planning media outreach to raise awareness of the petition drives and Cuba Solidarity Day more broadly. The Press Office is working to place a post-tailored version of the op-ed provided reftel under Ambassador Ashe's signature. The Ambassador and FM Radek Sikorski discussed Cuba at some length in a meeting last month. Sikorski, like other senior Polish officials, is deeply committed to the cause of freedom in Cuba, and we will continue to consult with the government to coordinate our efforts. ASHE