VZCZCXRO2610
OO RUEHAG RUEHAST RUEHDA RUEHDBU RUEHDF RUEHFL RUEHIK RUEHKW RUEHLA
RUEHLN RUEHLZ RUEHNP RUEHPOD RUEHROV RUEHSK RUEHSR RUEHVK RUEHYG
DE RUEHWR #0418 1071254
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 171254Z APR 09
FM AMEMBASSY WARSAW
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 8193
INFO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RUEHBW/AMEMBASSY BELGRADE PRIORITY 0031
RUEHSW/AMEMBASSY BERN PRIORITY 0919
RUEHPS/AMEMBASSY PRISTINA PRIORITY 0256
RUEATRS/TREASURY WASHDC PRIORITY
RUEHKW/AMCONSUL KRAKOW 2271

UNCLAS WARSAW 000418 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
TREASURY FOR DANIEL SCHMERIN, STATE FOR EEB/IFD/OMA, 
EEB/IFD/OFD CHIP LAITENIN, EUR/SCE FOR SEIJI SHIRATORI 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: ECON EFIN PREL KV PL
SUBJECT: POLAND: KOSOVO'S IMF AND WORLD BANK MEMBERSHIP BID 
 
REF: SECSTATE 33709 
 
Poland committed to vote on Kosovo membership before May 5 
and is leaning toward a favorable position, but still may 
formally cast an abstaining vote.  DCM delivered reftel 
demarche on April 9 to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs' (MFA) 
Political Director Witold Sobkow.  Sobkow noted that Poland 
has recognized Kosovo and is supportive of Kosovo's bid in 
principal, but said no decision had been made.  Acting Econ 
Counselor later met with Michal Baj, Director of 
International Relations at the Ministry of Finance.  Baj 
reassured us that Poland would cast their votes by May 5.  He 
strongly believes that Poland will vote in favor of Kosovo 
membership, but is waiting for an opinion from the MFA. 
While Poland is supportive of Kosovo's membership bids, the 
Poles are sensitive to Serbian pressure, particularly because 
Serbia is in their constituency group at the IMF and has 
threatened to leave the group over the issue.  The Poles 
believe the Swiss may abstain for that reason also.  As of 
April 17, the MFA still had not expressed an opinion.  Post 
will continue to follow up with the MFA and MOF and report 
any decision. 
ASHE