POLAND SUPPORTS US ON SOUTH OSSETIA AND ABKHAZIA

C O N F I D E N T I A L WARSAW 000314

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

DEPARTMENT FOR EUR/CE

E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/23/2019
TAGS: PREL MOPS PBTS RS BO GG PL
SUBJECT: POLAND SUPPORTS US ON SOUTH OSSETIA AND ABKHAZIA

REF: STATE 24186

Classified By: POLITICAL COUNSELOR DAN SAINZ FOR REASONS 1.4 (B) AND (D
)


1. (C) SUMMARY. The Polish MFA is encouraged by the new U.S.
administration's firm stance on Georgia's territorial
integrity. Tomasz Orlowski, Head of the Central Asia and
South Caucasus Section at the Polish MFA, told us that Poland
and the U.S. appear to be "on the same page." Orlowski said
Polish diplomats accredited to Moscow had no plans to visit
South Ossetia and Abkhazia. Poland plans to send its first
tranche of approximately US $1 million in assistance to
Georgia for 2009. END SUMMARY.

REAFFIRMING GEORGIA'S INTEGRITY
--------------


2. (C) Orlowski told us that Warsaw "fully supports" the U.S.
position on Georgia's territorial integrity, as described
reftel. He noted "some previous concern within the Polish
government" about whether the new U.S. administration would
soften its position toward Russia at the expense of Russia's
neighbors, but he was personally encouraged by our "tough,
consistent statements" regarding Russia's actions on Georgian
territory. Since February, the Polish MFA has noticed "a
renewed effort" by Moscow to pressure Belarus, in particular,
into recognizing the independence of South Ossetia and
Abkhazia. Orlowski emphasized that Warsaw was strongly
urging Minsk to resist Russian pressure.


3. (C) Orlowski appreciated our praise of the EU presidency
statement on Russia's basing plans, as well as Czech Foreign
Minister Schwarzenberg's February 23 statement cautioning
Belarus against recognizing South Ossetia and Abkhazia.
Orlowski said Poland strongly backed Schwarzenberg's
position, noting that the Czech foreign minister sent a
"clear signal that EU pressure against Lukashenka should
remain strong." Orlowski said Russia's proposed bases are
unacceptable" because they violated the August 12 cease-fire
agreement and undermined Georgia's territorial integrity.

MOSCOW VISITS "UNIMAGINABLE"
--------------


4. (C) Orlowski assured us it would be "unimaginable" for
Polish diplomats accredited to Moscow to visit South Ossetia
and Abkhazia. He offered that Poland would be willing to
help dissuade other countries from visiting these regions if
the U.S. had evidence that they planned to do so.

POLAND PLANNING TRANCHE OF ASSISTANCE
--------------


5. (C) Poland was in the process of arranging its first
tranche of assistance projects in Georgia for 2009, according
to Orlowski. He expected the amount to total PLN 3.5 million
(approximately US $1 million),which will be channeled
through NGOs. Altogether, Poland had committed EUR 6 million
in assistance for Georgia for 2008-2010.

COMMENT
--------------


6. (C) Besides confirming U.S.-Polish agreement on Georgia
policy, our conversation served to allay MFA concerns that
the U.S. might seek a grand bargain with Russia at the
expense of Russia's neighbors, particularly Poland, Ukraine,
and Georgia. Orlowski and his staff appeared visibly relieved
that the U.S. would maintain its firm stance on Georgia's
territorial integrity. The MFA would welcome continued
clarification of U.S. policy on Russia, including
reassurances that it will not have a negative impact on
Russia's neighbors.
QUANRUD