CZECH POLITICAL DIRECTOR ON UN REFORM, CCIT AND

UNCLAS PRAGUE 001056 SIPDIS SENSITIVE FOR IO/PSC LMALENAS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL PTER KUNR KPKO EZ UNGA UNSC ECOSOC SUBJECT: CZECH POLITICAL DIRECTOR ON UN REFORM, CCIT AND PEACEBUILDING COMMISSION REF: A. STATE 128008 ¶B. STATE 126870 ¶C. STATE 130530 ¶D. PRAGUE 1007 ¶1. (U) This message is Sensitive But Unclassified - Not for Internet Distribution. ¶2. (SBU) Summary. On July 14, the Charge d'Affairs met with MFA Political Director Martin Povejsil to discuss reftels regarding the G-4 proposal on UN Security Council reform, support for the Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism (CCIT) and creation of a UN Peacebuilding Commission. Povejsil reaffirmed our earlier report on Czech support for the G-4 proposal (ref D),stating that they believe it is the best option for countries of their size to serve with some frequency on the Security Council. At the same time, the Czechs are supportive of our administrative reform goals and "agree 100%" that UNSC reform efforts should not block or delay other very necessary reforms. Povejsil said that the Czechs have been supportive of the CCIT and hoped that the conflict over the definition of terrorism would be resolved. Finally, he reaffirmed Czech support for the creation of the Peacebuilding Commission, a point which was later confirmed by the Director of the UN Department at the MFA, Jan Kara. Kara was pleased to finally see a concrete proposal on establishing the Peacebuilding Commission and agreed that it should function as a subsidiary organ of the UNSC. End Summary. ¶3. (SBU) The CDA opened the meeting by detailing our ref B concerns about the G-4 proposal and USG desire that the rush for UNSC reform not overtake other serious reform needs. Povejsil admitted that the primary motivation behind the Czech's support for the G-4 proposal is that it is one of the few options that they believe would allow a country of its size to serve on the UNSC with "reasonable frequency." He added that with the security contribution that the Czechs are making, they would like to see a reformed UNSC with adequate space and opportunity for it to participate regularly, particularly as the regional group to which it belongs is "incapable of reaching consensus" on important issues. At the same time, Povejsil "agreed 100%" that it is vital for the UN that Security Council enlargement not prevent overall reform of the system. According to him, the G-4 proposal is simply one element of the reform package that they hope everyone can agree on. ¶4. (SBU) In discussing the CCIT, Povejsil stated that the Czech Republic had long been supportive of the treaty, but that the crucial problem has been the definition of terrorism. He also hoped that the coordinator's draft text would be acceptable. This is in line with our meeting last week with Director of the Department Jan Kara (ref D) who said that adoption of the CCIT was also a priority for the EU countries, and thus the Czech Republic. Kara also noted that the U.S. points on the definition of terrorism were definitely ones that the Czechs "can easily live with." Kara added today that the Czechs are hoping that the CCIT will be ready for signature by their Prime Minister when he travels to New York in September to participate in the High-Level Event. ¶5. (SBU) Finally, Povejsil reiterated Czech support for the creation of a Peacebuilding Commission. In a follow-up conversation with Jan Kara, he was very interested in the USG proposal. According to Kara, while many countries have expressed interest in the concept, the USG is one of the first to make a concrete proposal about how the Peacebuilding Commission should be set up. Furthermore, he agreed with the USG proposal that the Commission should be be created via UN Security Council resolution and function as a subsidiary organ of the UNSC as the UNSC has the primary mandate for peace and security issues. He added that putting it under UNSC control would also make the Commission "more prompt and rational" in its operations. Visit Prague's Classified Website: http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/eur/prague/index. cfm DODMAN