US embassy cable - 05WARSAW3234

C O N F I D E N T I A L WARSAW 003234 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/29/2015 
TAGS: PREL, PGOV, PHUM, TU, PL, EUN 
SUBJECT: POLISH APPROACH TO SEPTEMBER 1-2 EU GYMNICH 
 
REF: STATE 153187 
 
Classified By: Deputy Pol Counselor Bill Mozdzierz, reasons 1.4bd 
 
1. (C) Responding to reftel points, Polish MFA Director for 
CFSP Beata Kolecka confirmed that Poland will hold a firm 
line against any new conditions for the start of Turkish 
accession talks, resist efforts to soften ICTY conditionality 
for Croatia, and maintain positions complementary to the U.S. 
approach on Iran, the Middle East peace process, and Iraq. 
At the Newport Gymnich meeting, Polish Foreign Minister 
Daniel Rotfeld is likely to highlight the challenges posed by 
Belarus, Kolecka reported, and will also encourage EU 
engagement in Ukraine in the course of discussions on 
enlargement. 
 
2. (C) Turkey: Kolecka reiterated Polish opposition to any 
new conditions for the start of EU accession talks October 3. 
 Turkey has fulfilled its obligations, she stressed, and now 
the EU must keep its commitments.  Furthermore, talk of a 
"privileged partnership" for Turkey is unacceptable, Kolecka 
stated flatly, indicating that Poland will insist that the 
process must be open to full membership.  Kolecka admitted 
that Turkey's declaration concerning non-recognition of 
Cyprus was unhelpful, but noted that Polish legal experts 
have determined that this declaration was not legally binding 
and therefore should not prove an obstacle to launching 
negotiations on schedule. 
 
3. (C) Croatia, Balkans: The Polish position on Croatia has 
not changed, despite pressure from some member states, most 
notably Hungary, to dismiss concerns about ICTY compliance. 
Poland will continue to insist on full cooperation with the 
Tribunal, Kolecka assured us.  Concerning Romania and 
Bulgaria, Kolecka indicated that Poland wants to stick to the 
target dates for accession and believes that it remains 
premature to discuss any postponement. 
 
4. (C) Middle East: Solana will arrive at the Newport meeting 
directly from the Middle East, and so will provide the 
foreign ministers with a fresh report on developments there 
and what steps can now be taken to move the process forward. 
Kolecka highlighted concerns among EU members, Poland 
included, about unhelpful moves by Israeli authorities, 
including evictions of Palestinians in East Jerusalem and 
establishment of new settlements in the West Bank.  The 
Sharon government's actions in Gaza were extremely positive, 
Kolecka observed, but this momentum should not be slowed by 
these other measures. 
 
5, (C) Iran, Iraq: Poland's objectives with regard to Iran 
remain supporting EU efforts to get Iran to suspend its 
enrichment activity and to return to the negotiating table, 
Kolecka said, while also ensuring that the EU consults 
closely with key partners such as the United States.  We must 
begin to look ahead to next steps in the context of the next 
IAEA report due in September, she noted.  On Iraq, Poland 
will continue to press to have the EC office opened in 
Baghdad as quickly as possible, and will urge EU enhanced 
engagement, such as judiciary and police training, and 
establishment of more bilateral diplomatic missions. 
 
6. (C) Belarus, Ukraine, Russia: Kolecka explained that the 
Poles were unsuccessful in getting Belarus added to an 
admittedly already-ambitious Gymnich agenda, but that FM 
Rotfeld will certainly highlight Polish concerns about the 
deteriorating situation there and may also make a general 
appeal for EU support for independent media (if not 
specifically mentioning the external broadcast project).  In 
the context of discussions on enlargement, Rotfeld will 
encourage the EU to remain engaged with Ukraine and to move 
forward with the action plan.  On Russia, the Polish foreign 
minister will likely make a philosophical presentation, 
Kolecka explained, reviewing the challenges of responding to 
retrograde actions by Putin while maintaining vitally 
important cooperation with Russia on non-proliferation, 
terrorism, energy and other issues.  Rotfeld, she said, is 
certain to highlight the importance of ensuring that dialogue 
between Europe and Russia is not restricted to the 
governmental level, but includes all elements of civil 
society. 
Ashe