US embassy cable - 05WARSAW2814

C O N F I D E N T I A L WARSAW 002814 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/12/2015 
TAGS: PREL, PL, UNSC 
SUBJECT: G-4 RESOLUTION ON UN REFORM: POLAND CAN'T SAY "NO" 
TO GERMANY 
 
REF: STATE 126870 
 
Classified By: Mary Curtin, Charge d'Affaires, reasons 1.4b,d 
 
1. (C) The Polish government has decided to co-sponsor the 
Group of Four (G-4) framework resolution based on its 
long-standing commitment, dating back to the early 1990's, to 
support Germany's bid for a permanent seat on the Security 
Council.  Reviewing the Polish position, MFA Deputy Director 
for UN Affairs Tomasz Chlon explained that Polish officials 
share many of the concerns raised by us and other governments 
(Chlon remarked that he found our points "surprisingly 
positive" and "thoughtful" on the subject of UNSC expansion), 
but that the Polish government feels it must honor its 
promise to the Germans. "We simply cannot say 'no' to Germany 
on this issue," he declared. 
 
2. (C) We cautioned Chlon against equating opposition to the 
G-4 resolution with opposition to Security Council expansion. 
 At issue is a resolution that clearly does not enjoy the 
support of many key states and that would expand the UNSC 
based exclusively on geographic criteria.  It is essential, 
we underscored, that divisive debate over Security Council 
reform not delay other, more urgent reforms. 
 
3. (C) Chlon repeated that the Polish government finds "much 
merit" in these arguments, and allowed that, in any case, 
such institutional reform is less of a priority for the Poles 
than "conceptual reform" (e.g., ensuring that the UN's 
mission is defined to address real challenges and that UN 
develop closer cooperation with regional organizations such 
as NATO and the EU). However, he emphasized, the Poles feel 
duty-bound to support the Germans on this initiative, 
concerns about many of the resolution's provisions 
notwithstanding. 
CURTIN