VZCZCXRO2592
PP RUEHAG RUEHAST RUEHDA RUEHDBU RUEHDF RUEHFL RUEHIK RUEHKW RUEHLA
RUEHLN RUEHLZ RUEHPOD RUEHROV RUEHSR RUEHVK RUEHYG
DE RUEHWR #1359/01 1631336
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 121336Z JUN 07
FM AMEMBASSY WARSAW
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 4533
INFO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE
RUEHKW/AMCONSUL KRAKOW 1741
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 WARSAW 001359
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
STATE FOR G, F, EUR/NCE
EUR/NCE FOR BPUTNEY AND DKOSTELANCIK
STATE PASS USAID
USEU FOR PLERNER
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EAID PREL PO
SUBJECT: POLAND'S FOREIGN ASSISTANCE DIRECTOR WANTS TO
CEMENT TIES WITH US
REF: A. WARSAW 671
B. 06 WARSAW 2255
WARSAW 00001359 001.2 OF 002
1. (SBU) Begin Summary. Jerzy Pomianowski, Director of the
Polish Ministry of Foreign Affairs Development Cooperation
Department (Polish AID) would like to meet with his US
counterparts while in Washington June 25 and 26 for meetings
with the World Bank. Pomianowski is the GOP equivalent of
the USAID Director. He would like to discuss the GOP's plans
for development assistance as the MFA builds its program, as
well as potential areas for cooperation with the USG and
USAID. Pomianowski developed the GOP's new assistance plan
amd priorities and will continue to be responsible for
Poland's transition to a donor country. The GOP shares the
USG belief that development assistance can not be separated
from democracy development and human rights. End Summary.
2. (SBU) Pomianowski holds the rank of Ambassador and his
position is the equivalent of the USAID Director. This will
be Pomianowski's first visit to Washington since being
appointed. He would like to meet with his counterparts in
the USG (he is seeking meetigns with Acting AID Director Fore
and Under Secretary Dobriansky) to explain Poland's
Development plans, gain a better knowledge of USAID programs,
discuss potential cooperation on projects in Central Europe,
as well as continue discussing potential cooperation on
Poland's Belarus TV project. Pomianowski stated that he
would like to consult with the USG on development assistance
and policies in order to better coordinate with USAID. He
believes, as he builds Poland's development capabilities,
that it is important to hear what to do and what not to do in
order to avoid making unneccessary mistakes. He is also
consulting with his counterparts in France and Germany and
was recently in Japan. During his meetings with the World
Bank, he plans to discuss cooperation with the Bank,
especially in the Balkans, Eastern Europe and Central Asia.
3. (SBU) Pomianowski developed Poland's new strategy for
Foreign Assistance during the past year. Previously, Poland
focused its small program on a limited number of countries in
the region or with which Poland has historical ties. As the
GOP expands its program, it is looking for partners and
advice on how to be most effective. For example, Pomianowski
stated that the MFA wants to expand programs in Afghanistan.
One idea is to organize teaching programs for Afghanistani
technical staff. The GOP is planning to offer three month
courses in Poland for technicians and nurses. Pomianowski
stated that he does not expect to achieve results on concrete
projects during this visit and does not expect a USG decision
on whether it can cooperate on the Belarus TV project. He
considers the trip the first step in building closer
cooperation. Pomianowski emphasized that the GOP supports
the US in its belief that assistance can not be separated
from human rights and democracy development. The GOP will
continue to focus its assistance on democracy development and
good governance as well as more traditional development
assistance.
Polish Foreign Assistance
-------------------------
4. (U) Poland's Development Cooperation Department was
formed in September, 2005 as part of the Polish Ministry of
Foreign Affairs as Poland transitioned from being a recipient
to a donor country. The Department currently has 29
employees and manages an annual budget of $250 million, or
-~vI;QmQQl grow as the Polish economy
grows. Poland's donor assistance commitments to the EU will
increase to 0.17% of GDP in 2010 and 0.33% of GDP by 2015.
In 2005 (the last year for which figures are available),
Poland allocated $204.9 million (0.068% of GDP) to support
developing countries, of which $48 million was spent on
bilateral assistance and $157 million on multilateral
assistance. The Department is also writing a draft Act on
Polish Development Assistance that will regularize its
functions as well as give the MFA more flexibility in
responding to emergencies. The new strategy for Polish
assistance expands the scope of Polish activities from
strictly development assistance to include democracy
promotion and cooperation with other donors.
Bilateral Assistance
--------------------
5. (U) Poland's bilateral assistance is targeted at a
limited number of priority countries that are Poland's
neighbors or have historical ties to Poland. Historically,
priority countries for the GOP were countries of Eastern and
WARSAW 00001359 002.2 OF 002
Southeastern Europe, the Balkans, and Central Asia. Priority
countries for Polish assistance are: Belarus, Ukraine,
Moldova, Georgia, Afghanistan, Iraq, Vietman, Angola, and The
Palestinian National Authority. In 2006 the GOP expanded its
assistance so that countries that received Polish assistance
now include:
Ukraine
Belarus
Georgia
Moldova
The Russian Federation
Armenia
Azerbaijan
Kazakhstan
Kyrgystan
Tajikistan
Turkmenistan
Uzbekistan
Albania
Bosnia and Herzogovina
Montenegro
Macedonia
Serbia
Sub-Saharan Africa - including Angola
Cambodia
Mongolia
Poland's bilateral assistance is focused on European
integration, supporting political transformation processes,
local governance development, and the planning and management
of economic development.
Trilateral and Multilateral Assistance
--------------------------------------
6. (U) Poland and Canada established the Polish-Canadian
Development Cooperation Program (PCDC) to jointly support
development assistance projects in developing and countries
in transition. In 2006, the PCDC program had a budget of
approximately 1,400,000 Euros provided by the Polish MFA and
the Canadian International Development Agency. Target
countries for this cooperation are: Ukraine, Georgia,
Moldova, Serbia and Montenegro, and Sub-Saharan Africa. The
MFA also makes contributions to the International Development
Association, The European Bank for Reconstruction and
Development, the UN, and the EU Development cooperation
budget.
Humanitarian Assistance
-----------------------
7. (SBU) The MFA does not have a separate budget amount
available for responding to humanitarian or emergency
appeals. Any additional assistance requests must be
coordinated within the GOP and require Ministry of Finance
approval. Nevertheless, during 2006, Poland provided
approximately $300,000 in assistance and sent a medical team
including employees of the National Centre for Coordination
of Rescue activities to assist the victims of the Indonesian
earthquake. In addition, in early August Foreign Minister
Fotyga allocated approximately $300,000 for humanitarian
assistance in Lebanon. Poland provided 500 soldiers to the
UNIFIL peacekeeping forces. At the Stockholm Conference for
Lebanon's early recovery, the GOP announced an additional 1
million Euro donation to Lebanon, primarily for mine and
unexploded ordinance removal and provision of temporary
shelters.
8. (SBU) Comment: The GOP is an important partner on
security issues, but often comments that the bilateral
relationship could be stronger on economic issues.
Pomianowski's visit is an excellent opportunity to begin to
build cooperation on development issues. As Poland's economy
strengthens its assistance program will grow, especially as
Poland strives to meet its EU commitments. Discussion with
the GOP now on areas of mutual interest can help shape
Poland's policy and programs as they are developed and will
help ensure that Poland's development program focuses on
projects of interest to both the US and Poland.
ASHE