Cablegate: Demarche Request: Poland Willing to Scan Ship

VZCZCXRO6064
RR RUEHAG RUEHAST RUEHDA RUEHDBU RUEHDF RUEHFL RUEHIK RUEHKW RUEHLA
RUEHLN RUEHLZ RUEHPOD RUEHROV RUEHSR RUEHVK RUEHYG
DE RUEHWR #1934 2560538
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 130538Z SEP 07
FM AMEMBASSY WARSAW
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 5162
INFO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE
RUEHKW/AMCONSUL KRAKOW 1833
RHMFIUU/HOMELAND SECURITY CENTER WASHINGTON DC
RULSDMK/DEPT OF TRANSPORTATION WASHINGTON DC
RUEAORC/US CUSTOMS AND BORDER PROTECTION WASHINGTON DC

UNCLAS WARSAW 001934

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR EUR/NCE, EUR/ERA, EEB
EUR/NCE FOR LLOCHMAN, BPUTNEY, TYAEGER
EUR/ERA FOR PWALKER
EEB FOR TRA/OTP
BRUSSELS FOR USEU CBP-KCONWAY

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ETRD EWWT PL PTER
SUBJECT: DEMARCHE REQUEST: POLAND WILLING TO SCAN SHIP
CARGO, BUT UNCLEAR WHO'S AT THE HELM

REF: STATE 119837

1. Econoff presented Reftel points on August 29 to Tadeusz
Gorecki, assistant director of the Department of Maritime
Transportation. While noting that Poland shipped almost
38,000 containers directly to the U.S. in the year ending
April 30, Gorecki said he foresaw no problems with Poland's
ablility to scan 100% of all U.S.-bound containers by 2012.

2. Gorecki added, however, that he has not discussed
scanning with the management of Poland's ports. He said
further action was unlikely until after the Polish elections,
scheduled for October 21. He added he was not even sure at
this point which ministry would be directing the operations
of his department after the elections, speculating that it
could be either Agriculture, Economy, or Infrastructure.

3. Commnent. It does not appear that the Polish Ministry of
Maritime Economy is going to consider seriously the cargo
scanning requirement until after the late October elections
and appointment of a new cabinet. At that time, the GOP and
Polish firms may join other groups in opposing the scanning
requirement, as noted in Reftel.
ASHE

© Scoop Media