US embassy cable - 05WARSAW4009

C O N F I D E N T I A L WARSAW 004009 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/08/2015 
TAGS: PREL, PGOV, ECON, PL, EUN 
SUBJECT: POLISH VIEWS ON DECEMBER 12 GAERC 
 
REF: A. STATE 217518 
 
     B. WARSAW 3998 
 
Classified By: Political Counselor Mary Curtin, reasons 1.4b,d 
 
1. (C) Post delivered ref (A) demarche upon receipt and 
reviewed with Polish MFA Director for CFSP Beata Kolecka 
December 8.  Points on Balkans issues were delivered 
separately and Polish views were reported in Ref (B). 
 
2. (C) The December 12 GAERC and the subsequent European 
Council meetings will be focused almost entirely on the EU 
budget, Kolecka confirmed, leaving little time for discussion 
of foreign policy issues.  She predicted that Kosovo would be 
the only subject covered in any detail, although the 
ministers are expected to approve a draft EU strategy for 
Africa and address Ethiopia/Eritrea and the Middle East with 
prepared statements.  EU foreign ministers will review 
proposals on Kosovo put forward last week by Solana, which 
Kolecka characterized as a collection of initiatives more or 
less already well known to everyone (e.g., EU engagement in 
future police missions, strengthening the EU presence on the 
ground, naming of an EU special representative).  She 
anticipated that the Austrian presidency will ensure that 
these issues remain high on the agenda in 2006. 
 
3. (C) Kolecka acknowledged that there has been some 
"resistance" to granting candidate status to Macedonia, 
particularly from member states where enlargement is least 
popular, but indicated that Poland remains in favor.  The 
Poles agree that this move will have a positive impact not 
only in Macedonia but more broadly in the region, especially 
in advance of Kosovo status talks.  She noted that the Polish 
government would oppose any effort to set an actual target 
date for the start of accession negotiations, however. 
 
4. (C) On Afghanistan, Kolecka reported that the Polish 
government is still waiting for its invitation to the London 
Conference and signaled that Poland will be represented at a 
high level, probably by Foreign Minister Meller.  Poland 
hopes to be in a position to inform the conference about its 
plans for takeover of ISAF, its exact levels of assistance 
and its plans to open an embassy in Kabul in the course of 
the new year. 
ASHE