POLAND: STILL ON BOARD WITH TWO-TRACK APPROACH TO

C O N F I D E N T I A L WARSAW 001049 SIPDIS DEPARTMENT FOR STEPHEN MULL E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/09/2019 TAGS: IR KNNP MNUC PARM PL UK SUBJECT: POLAND: STILL ON BOARD WITH TWO-TRACK APPROACH TO IRAN REF: STATE 103219 Classified By: POLITICAL COUNSELOR DAN SAINZ FOR REASONS 1.4 (B) AND (D ) ¶1. (C) SUMMARY. Poland remains solidly behind the double-track approach towards Iran. While encouraged by the outcome of the P5 1 talks, MFA officials told us they are "prudently skeptical" about Tehran's intentions and will continue to support tougher measures if Iran fails to fulfill its commitments. END SUMMARY. ENGAGEMENT WITH A BACK-UP PLAN -------------- ¶2. (C) In separate meetings on October 8-9 regarding reftel demarche, MFA Iran Desk Officer Piotr Kozlowski and MFA Security Policy Department expert Szymon Bochenski told us that Poland remains committed to the double-track approach towards Iran and will encourage other states not to relax current measures against Tehran. Both said that Poland will continue to back specific penalties, including additional sanctions, if Iran fails to respond in a concrete manner to U.S. and EU diplomatic efforts. Kozlowski emphasized that Poland--unlike EU states such as Germany or France--stands to lose little economically by taking a firm stance against Iran's nuclear ambitions. SKEPTICAL OF IRAN'S INTENTIONS -------------- ¶3. (C) Kozlowski and Bochenski said "it would be great" if the P5 1 approach could generate the desired results, but they were "prudently skeptical" that Iran will follow through on its commitments. Kozlowski argued that the Iranian government wants to appear engaged with the international community through discussions and signing agreements, but this engagement has been mostly "smoke and mirrors." For example, he lamented that the Iranians frequently stonewall implementation of the numerous cultural exchange agreements signed with the Polish Government. Bochenski also expressed doubts about Tehran's sincerity in engaging the international community in light of Iran's recent short and medium range missile tests, as well as revelations about the clandestine enrichment facility near Qom. BRITISH DEMARCHE -------------- ¶4. (C) Tim Moody, a political secretary at the British Embassy, called us to say that he demarched the MFA on the same issue right after we did, and was told that the Americans beat him to the punch with the same message. Moody proposed doing a tandem briefing for the Poles after the next round of P5 1 talks. TULLEY