Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09WARSAW433
2009-04-24 11:53:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Warsaw
Cable title:
SIXTH SOFA PLENARY MAKES SIGNIFICANT PROGRESS
how-toVZCZCXYZ0001 OO RUEHWEB DE RUEHWR #0433 1141153 ZNY CCCCC ZZH O 241153Z APR 09 FM AMEMBASSY WARSAW TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 8222 INFO RUEKJCS/OSD WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY RHMFISS/HQ USEUCOM VAIHINGEN GE PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L WARSAW 000433
SIPDIS
EUR/CE FOR YEAGER
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/24/2019
TAGS: PREL PM MAPP PL
SUBJECT: SIXTH SOFA PLENARY MAKES SIGNIFICANT PROGRESS
Classified By: Ambassador Jackson McDonald, Special Advisor for Securit
y Negotiations and Agreements, for reasons 1.4 b and d.
C O N F I D E N T I A L WARSAW 000433
SIPDIS
EUR/CE FOR YEAGER
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/24/2019
TAGS: PREL PM MAPP PL
SUBJECT: SIXTH SOFA PLENARY MAKES SIGNIFICANT PROGRESS
Classified By: Ambassador Jackson McDonald, Special Advisor for Securit
y Negotiations and Agreements, for reasons 1.4 b and d.
1. (SBU) The parties achieved significant progress in round
six of U.S.-Poland SOFA negotiations held in Warsaw April
21-23. Deputy Defense Minister Stanislaw Komorowski, Deputy
Foreign Minister Andrzej Kremer, and Deputy Finance Minister
Jacek Dominik led the Polish delegation. Ambassador Jackson
McDonald, Special Advisor for Security Negotiations and
Agreements, led the U.S. delegation.
2. (C) In the one-on-one initial session, DDM Komorowski
told Ambassador McDonald that he wanted to produce as clean a
text as possible during this round and the next so he could
then seek new instructions (and possibly greater flexibility)
from his political superiors on the last outstanding issues
(e.g., claims, etc).
3. (SBU) The sides reached full, provisional agreement on
several articles, including discipline, determination of
jurisdiction, telecommunications, logistical support,
utilities, and labor. The parties reached near-agreement on
personal tax exemptions and pre-trial detention. The sides
made some progress on jurisdiction, but more work remains.
4. (SBU) On the crucial matter of official tax exemptions,
the Poles agreed to grant exemption for official personnel
and contractors, but differences remain over the mechanism to
achieve tax neutrality -- the Poles want the U.S. to pay VAT
and file for reimbursement; U.S. Department of Defense wants
exemption at the point of purchase.
5. (SBU) The next round is scheduled for June 8-10 due to
unavailability of DDM Komorowski and DFM Kremer before then.
ASHE
SIPDIS
EUR/CE FOR YEAGER
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/24/2019
TAGS: PREL PM MAPP PL
SUBJECT: SIXTH SOFA PLENARY MAKES SIGNIFICANT PROGRESS
Classified By: Ambassador Jackson McDonald, Special Advisor for Securit
y Negotiations and Agreements, for reasons 1.4 b and d.
1. (SBU) The parties achieved significant progress in round
six of U.S.-Poland SOFA negotiations held in Warsaw April
21-23. Deputy Defense Minister Stanislaw Komorowski, Deputy
Foreign Minister Andrzej Kremer, and Deputy Finance Minister
Jacek Dominik led the Polish delegation. Ambassador Jackson
McDonald, Special Advisor for Security Negotiations and
Agreements, led the U.S. delegation.
2. (C) In the one-on-one initial session, DDM Komorowski
told Ambassador McDonald that he wanted to produce as clean a
text as possible during this round and the next so he could
then seek new instructions (and possibly greater flexibility)
from his political superiors on the last outstanding issues
(e.g., claims, etc).
3. (SBU) The sides reached full, provisional agreement on
several articles, including discipline, determination of
jurisdiction, telecommunications, logistical support,
utilities, and labor. The parties reached near-agreement on
personal tax exemptions and pre-trial detention. The sides
made some progress on jurisdiction, but more work remains.
4. (SBU) On the crucial matter of official tax exemptions,
the Poles agreed to grant exemption for official personnel
and contractors, but differences remain over the mechanism to
achieve tax neutrality -- the Poles want the U.S. to pay VAT
and file for reimbursement; U.S. Department of Defense wants
exemption at the point of purchase.
5. (SBU) The next round is scheduled for June 8-10 due to
unavailability of DDM Komorowski and DFM Kremer before then.
ASHE