POLES SUPPORT US GOALS FOR LONDON CONFERENCE ON

C O N F I D E N T I A L WARSAW 000055 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/21/2020 TAGS: PREL PGOV ECON EFIN PL SUBJECT: POLES SUPPORT US GOALS FOR LONDON CONFERENCE ON AFGHANISTAN REF: SECSTATE 6355 Classified By: Political Counselor Daniel Sainz, Reason: 1.4 (b,d) ¶1. (C) The Polish Government fully supports U.S. objectives for the London Conference on Afghanistan, according to Ambassador Jerzy Wieclaw, of the MFA's Asia-Pacific Department. Wieclaw told PolCouns that international media may indeed distort the transition planning process to suggest that ISAF is preparing for an imminent withdrawal. Therefore, he emphasized the importance of referring to planning for a "responsible" transition, as President Obama has said in his public remarks. Wieclaw noted that whereas the U.S. is talking about looking at the transition process on a province by province basis, top British officials are talking about a "district by district" transition, which should come only at a later stage, in his view. ¶2. (C) Wieclaw said the GoP would strongly support the creation of a reintegration fund, although Poland would not be in a position to pledge a fixed amount at the London Conference. He said Poland's Afghanistan assistance funding for 2010 had already been allocated, and it would likely be necessary to look outside the Afghanistan pots of money for additional funds. He said Foreign Minister Sikorski would provide instructions after the Conference. Wieclaw expressed confidence that the EU would present well-coordinated positions at the Conference, after all the work done on the EU intiative, Enhanced Engagement with Afghanistan-Pakistan. ¶3. (C) Wieclaw said a successful conference would require the Afghan Government to be well-prepared, in light of the incomplete government cabinet. He called for a clear signal that the Afghans will build a more inclusive political process, with special emphasis on reforming the electoral system. ¶4. (C) Ambassador Wieclaw will attend the January 25 PRT Conference in Prague, and has agreed to participate in the closed meeting with counterparts of Deputy SRAP Paul Jones. Wieclaw will leave the PRT conference early to join Foreign Minister Sikorski and Deputy Foreign Minister Najder at the London Conference. FEINSTEIN