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Cablegate: Missile Defense: What the Locals Want

VZCZCXRO6963
RR RUEHIK RUEHPOD RUEHYG
DE RUEHWR #1098 2631442
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 191442Z SEP 08
FM AMEMBASSY WARSAW
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 7038
INFO RUEHZG/NATO EU COLLECTIVE
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC
RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHINGTON DC
RHMFISS/HQ USEUCOM VAIHINGEN GE
RUEHNO/USMISSION USNATO 0173
RUEHKW/AMCONSUL KRAKOW 2163

UNCLAS WARSAW 001098

SIPDIS

STATE FOR EUR/CE DMORRIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: MARR MASS PREL PGOV PL
SUBJECT: MISSILE DEFENSE: WHAT THE LOCALS WANT

1. Paragraph 3 contains the text of a petition presented to Polish
Prime Minister Donald Tusk by the inhabitants of Redzikowo, the
small town near Slupsk where a U.S. missile interceptor site (part
of the "anti-missile shield) is to be located. Tusk received the
petition during his visit to Slupsk on August 29. It provides some
insight into the community's immediate concerns.

2. COMMENT: Per the Ballistic Missile Defense Agreement, the USG
must present analysis of land and airspace restrictions around the
Redzikowo interceptor site to the Polish government no later than
November 19. In this regard, early USG answers to the land use
questions raised in the petition (i.e., status of the Garrison Club,
the direct road from Redzikowo to Jezierzyce, the garden plots and
garages, and the airplane monuments) will assist both Prime Minister
Tusk and our own public outreach to the greater Slupsk area. END
COMMENT.

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3. Begin text of Petition:

Redzikowo, August 29, 2008.

Petition of the residents of Redzikowo, in Slupsk county

To: Donald Tusk, Prime Minister of the Republic of Poland

Dear Mr. Prime Minister:

In connection with the decision to build in Redzikowo, in Slupsk
county, elements of the American anti-missile shield, we the
citizens of Redzikowo demand a guarantee of the safety of our
families.

We come to you with an appeal to take action to compensate us for
losses resulting from building the American anti-missile base on our
terrain.

Also, we would like to ask you to help to solve our local problems,
such as:

1. Building and modernizing technical infrastructure in Redzikowo
(water and sewage systems, roads, sidewalks, heating), and turning
over ownership of such infrastructure to Slupsk county.

2. Providing financial support to Redzikowo's local government in
completing planned investments (building a swimming pool, planned
construction of an ice rink).

3. Constructing a community center in Redzikowo, where cultural and
educational programs could be held (in case of loss of the Garrison
Club).

4. Building a direct road between the villages of Redzikowo and
Jezierzyce, to ease access between two sport centers: a swimming
pool and ice skating rink in Redzikowo and a stadium in Jezierzyce.

5. Providing financial support to insulate apartment buildings in
the neighborhoods of Redzikowo-Osiedle and Redzikowo-SHR.

6. Granting ownership to the inhabitants of Redzikowo of garden
plots and garages used and built by the inhabitants (but which are
currently owned by the Military Property Agency).

7. Renovating and relocating airplane monuments, currently located
on the military base in Redzikowo, to a new location to be agreed
upon by the local community.

Mr. Prime Minister, we would like to believe that you will fulfill
our requests in the matter of improving the quality of life of
residents of Redzikowo, which will allow a decrease in the negative
effects connected with elements of the anti-rocket shield in
proximity to our homes.

End text of petition.

ASHE

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