Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
05PRAGUE126
2005-01-27 16:30:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Prague
Cable title:  

CZECH REQUEST FOR USG TRANSPORT OF ARMORED

Tags:  MOPS PREL EZ IZ 
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This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.
C O N F I D E N T I A L PRAGUE 000126 

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/27/2015
TAGS: MOPS PREL EZ IZ
SUBJECT: CZECH REQUEST FOR USG TRANSPORT OF ARMORED
VEHICLES TO BAGHDAD


Classified By: Political-Economic Counselor Michael Dodman for reason 1
.4 b+d

C O N F I D E N T I A L PRAGUE 000126

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/27/2015
TAGS: MOPS PREL EZ IZ
SUBJECT: CZECH REQUEST FOR USG TRANSPORT OF ARMORED
VEHICLES TO BAGHDAD


Classified By: Political-Economic Counselor Michael Dodman for reason 1
.4 b+d


1. (U) Action request in para 5.


2. (C) Summary: The Czech government requests USG assistance
in transporting two armored vehicles to Baghdad. The
vehicles will be used by protective forces guarding the Czech
ambassador and other Czech diplomats in Baghdad. The Czechs
are prepared to cover some of the cost.


3. (C) The Czech government request was made initially on
December 14 when Minister of Interior Frantisek Bublan raised
the issue with visiting Attorney General Ashcroft.
Representatives of the Czech MFA and Interior Ministry asked
to meet with Polec Counselor Jan 26 to provide additional
details. Miroslav Kosek of the MFA's Security Department and
Colonel Libor Lochman, Director of the Czech Police's Rapid
Response Unit, provided the following information:

-- The Czech embassy in Baghdad currently operates with an
Ambassador (Martin Klepetko),three diplomats, several
support staff, and 11 guards from the Rapid Response Unit
(URNA).

-- The embassy currently has three armored vehicles: two
have "level 4" armor and one has "level 6" armor. The GOCR
believes that in the current security environment the lesser
armored vehicles are not sufficient. They propose to swap
two new Toyota Land Cruisers fitted with level 6 armor for
the two level 4 vehicles.

-- There was a second level 6 armored vehicle in Baghdad.
This was attacked on September 1, 2004, on the street close
to the Czech embassy. Thirty bullets hit the vehicle. The
ambassador was not in the vehicle at the time. The two URNA
guards in the vehicle survived, but the GOCR is certain that
they would not have survived had they been in a vehicle with
level 4 armor. That vehicle has since been returned to
Prague for refurbishment.

-- The Czechs do not have the equipment to fly the vehicles
to Baghdad themselves. The alternative to airlift, according
to the GOCR, is overland travel from Amman. GOCR officials
have rejected this given security risks: they referenced a
recent attack on German guards bringing in vehicles along
this route that resulted in the death of two guards.

-- Col Lochman said he had heard from his Portuguese
counterpart that they were able to get new vehicles to
Baghdad for their embassy on a U.S. military cargo flight
that originated in Spain. They request a similar
arrangement: the Czechs are prepared to get their vehicles
to Germany or another departure point and seek a lift into
Baghdad on a U.S. flight. According to Mr. Kosek, the GOCR
hopes this transported could be provided to the Czechs, as a
coalition partner, at no charge. But the GOCR is prepared to
discuss reimbursement, if required. Finally, the GOCR would
also like to discuss the possibility of their two level 4
armored vehicles returning to Europe on a U.S. aircraft.


4. (C) Comment: The Czechs have just extended the deployment
of their 98-man military police unit in southern Iraq through
the end of 2005 (septel follows on today's Senate approval);
they also have a ten-man Army surgical team in Iraq through

2005. The government and Czech NGOs are carrying out
numerous projects to support civil society: training police
and judges, helping to protect cultural heritage, and funding
educational material in advance of the election on democracy
and tolerance. They are a committed, albeit relatively
small, member of the coalition. The September 2004 attack on
the Czech Ambassador's car has understandably heightened
their concern about security in Baghdad, but they have kept
their embassy functioning and adequately staffed. Their
embassy facilitates much of the Czech assistance in Iraq, and
serves as a symbol of continued Czech commitment to the Iraqi
people. We encourage Washington agencies to give the Czech
request full and favorable consideration.


5. (U) Action request: Embassy requests USG response to GOCR
request, or designated point-of-contact with whom Czechs can
discuss further details.
CABANISS