POLISH VIEWS ON JUNE 15-16 GAERC

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 WARSAW 000596 SIPDIS EUR/CE, EUR/ERA, NEA E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/11/2019 TAGS: PREL PHUM EFIN KNNP IR PK KS PL SUBJECT: POLISH VIEWS ON JUNE 15-16 GAERC REF: 06/04/2009 EUR/ERA E-MAIL Classified By: Political Counselor Dan Sainz for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). ¶1. (C) SUMMARY. In advance of the June 15-16 GAERC, MFA European Correspondent Cyryl Kozaczewski said Poland will press for close coordination with the U.S. on the Middle East and oppose efforts to condition the upgrade of EU-Israel relations on progress in the peace process. Poland views the EU-Syria Stabilization and Association Agreement (SAA) as a useful tool to encourage Syria to sustain dialogue with Israel. Poland shares U.S. views regarding Georgia's territorial integrity and will press for strong language condemning recent Russian actions. Poland supports prolongation of the EUMM mandate by at least a year, along with extension of the mission's activity to include confidence building measures. On Cuba, Poland has not seen signs of improvement despite U.S.-EU overtures. Poland supports continuation of the EU's political dialogue with Cuba, as long as it produces concrete results and includes outreach to civil society. Poland will press for liberalization of the EU's visa regime in the Western Balkans, as well as continuation of U.S.-EU efforts in Bosnia and Herzegovina, which are producing results. On Burma, Poland will support a "multifaceted approach" -- i.e., sanctions, dialogue, and humanitarian/development assistance. END SUMMARY. MIDDLE EAST PEACE PROCESS ¶2. (C) MFA European Correspondent Cyryl Kozaczewski predicted President Obama's Cairo speech would lead many member states to press for increased EU pressure on Israel. Draft Conclusions raise concern about access to Gaza, call on both parties to work toward a two-state solution, stress the need to stop the expansion of West Bank settlements, and call on all parties to renounce violence. Poland will also press for an "unequivocal" declaration of EU support for, and close coordination with, the Obama Administration's new approach to regional issues. ¶3. (C) Poland will object to any effort to condition the upgrade of EU-Israel relations on progress in the peace process. "This would be counterproductive," Kozaczewski said. "The EU would lose a valuable tool for influencing Israel's position." Instead, Poland will stress Israel's growing importance as an EU partner, noting that stronger ties -- without conditions -- would induce Israel to take "positive steps." SYRIA/LEBANON ¶4. (C) Kozaczewski said Poland is one of the few member states concerned about the discovery of traces of uranium in Syria. He noted that a Syrian delegation visited Warsaw several weeks ago to seek Polish support for the EU-Syria Stabilization and Association Agreement (SAA). The Syrians also expressed interest in the Eastern Partnership initiative, and inquired about the possibility of future Syrian participation. Poland views the SAA as a useful tool to encourage Syria to sustain dialogue with Israel. If Syria shows good will, he suggested, it could change regional dynamics. He expected that GAERC Conclusions would offer a "positive evaluation" of Lebanese elections. GEORGIA ¶5. (C) Poland shares U.S. views regarding Georgia's territorial integrity and will press for strong language condemning the Russian decision to take responsibility for protection of the administrative borders of Abkhazia and South Ossetia. The decision is a clear violation of the Sarkozy-Medvedev agreement. Poland will press for prolongation of the EUMM mandate by at least a year, along with extension of the mission's activity to include confidence building measures. Poland supports language urging Georgian authorities and the opposition to start serious, constructive talks aimed at solving the current stalemate. CUBA ¶6. (C) Turning to Cuba, Kozaczewski said EU member states -- Poland included -- would benefit from a U.S. assessment of recent developments. From Poland's perspective, there are not many signs of improvement. "We are still waiting for a response to signals from the U.S. and EU," he said. Poland supports the continuation of the EU's political dialogue with Cuba, provided it is treated as an instrument, and not a goal WARSAW 00000596 002 OF 002 in itself. The dialogue should produce concrete results, i.e., lead to improvements in human rights, and should continue to be subject to periodic evaluation. Poland will press for continued outreach to civil society. In the Poles' view, there is a strong need for "coherence" between the EU's Belarus policy and its Cuba policy. AFGHANISTAN/PAKISTAN ¶7. (C) Kozaczewski said there would not be any AF/PAK discussion at the GAERC, but noted that draft Conclusions for the European Council meeting are now being negotiated at the working level. Poland will continue to press for more EU involvement, particularly on civil reconstruction. To promote a more structured discussion, FM Sikorski will press for a side meeting of a smaller group of "more engaged" member states. WESTERN BALKANS ¶8. (C) Poland supports liberalization of the EU's visa regime in the Western Balkans. Fulfilling the road map requirements should be the only condition for abolishing the visa regime. "It is a technical, not political, issue," Kozaczewski said. Poland will welcome the Commission's positive evaluation of Macedonia and Montenegro's preparations to join the EU's visa-free regime, along with Serbian progress toward the same goal. ¶9. (C) Poland will also press member states to note progress in the internal reform process in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The "concerted U.S.-EU effort is yielding results," Kozaczewski said. Although difficult, the current issues are "manageable." The EU should use all political tools at its disposal to facilitate and support the future transition of the OHR to the EUSR. On the Slovenia-Croatia border dispute, Kozaczewski saw no prospect for a short-term breakthrough. Few member states are inclined to press Slovenia on the issue. BURMA ¶10. (C) Poland will continue to support EU demands for the release of Aung San Suu Kyi and other political prisoners. Poland will press for a "multifaceted approach" -- i.e., sanctions, dialogue, and humanitarian/development assistance. EU sanctions should be maintained, "despite their limited effectiveness," Kozaczewski said. Stricter sanctions will not lead to an improvement in the situation and might be detrimental to the people of Burma. QUANRUD