Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
05PRAGUE128
2005-01-27 17:15:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Prague
Cable title:  

CZECH VIEWS IN ADVANCE OF THE JANUARY 31 GAERC

Tags:  PREL PHUM PTER EAID KPAL CU IR IZ UP CH EZ EUN 
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C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 PRAGUE 000128 

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/27/2015
TAGS: PREL PHUM PTER EAID KPAL CU IR IZ UP CH EZ EUN
SUBJECT: CZECH VIEWS IN ADVANCE OF THE JANUARY 31 GAERC

REF: STATE 9678

Classified By: Political Officer, Kimberly C. Krhounek for reasons 1.4(
b) and (d).

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 PRAGUE 000128

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/27/2015
TAGS: PREL PHUM PTER EAID KPAL CU IR IZ UP CH EZ EUN
SUBJECT: CZECH VIEWS IN ADVANCE OF THE JANUARY 31 GAERC

REF: STATE 9678

Classified By: Political Officer, Kimberly C. Krhounek for reasons 1.4(
b) and (d).


1. (U) On January 27, conveyed reftel points concerning
issues to be raised at the January 31 meeting of the GAERC to
Michal Strouhal, Director of the Common Foreign and Security
Policy Department at the MFA. Strouhal's responses follow:


A. (C) TSUNAMI RELIEF: Strouhal said the EU member states
were following up on the January 7 extraordinary session of
the GAERC on post-tsunami relief with a debate today in
Brussels on the proposed EU action plan to assist the region.
The major components of the action plan concern mobilization
and release of financial resources through the EU budget,
debt relief, reconstruction of the primary economic
industries of fisheries and beach tourism (Strouhal noted
that the Czechs do not have specialized expertise on either
to offer, but they hope to be of assistance in reconstruction
of water treatment and educational facilities). Strouhal
also noted that there is on-going action at the EU-level to
develop new mechanisms for civil protection and humanitarian
assistance. The Czechs support the concept of a European
Voluntary Corps for Humanitarian Aid, although such an
organization would have to be coordinated with
non-governmental organizations with expertise. There are
also ideas under discussion to enhance consular cooperation
between the EU and other countries, studies of how military
assets can be used in emergency situations and establishment
of early warning systems.


B. (C) TRANSATLANTIC RELATIONS: Strouhal noted that this is
not a topic for this month's GAERC, although it may appear on
the February GAERC agenda. Strouhal attended last week's
meeting of EU Political Directors in Luxembourg and said that
the Europeans also consider President Bush's February visit
to be an important event and hope to use it to enhance areas

of common approach, as well as debate other areas where our
end goals are the same, but the strategies for achieving them
may differ (such as Iran and China). Strouhal said that one
topic that is increasingly raised during discussions of
transatlantic relations is the importance of a common visa
regime between the U.S. and all EU member states. (Czech
Political Director Jiri Schneider, in a discussion with
Pol-Econ Counselor after the PolDirs meeting, also noted the
effort to craft a common EU position on travel to the U.S.
and said he expected this would become a more prominent
element of transatlantic discussions, although surely not
during next month's Presidential visit.)


C. (C) MIDDLE EAST: Strouhal said that the Middle East is
on the agenda for the Ministerial lunch. The Czech Republic
also appreciated the outcome of the Palestinian elections and
the MFA believes that the implementation of security reforms
in the PA and direct dialogue between Mahmoud Abbas and Arial
Sharon will be crucial to revitalize the roadmap. The
elections demonstrated that political power could
legitimately be transferred within the Palestinian
territories; another major hurdle will be the reform of the
economic infrastructure there.


D. (C) DESIGNATION OF HIZBALLAH AS A TERRORIST ORGANIZATION:
Strouhal said that this is an issue under discussion within
the EU, but as yet no consensus has been reached to designate
the political wing of Hizballah as a terrorist organization.
There is a long technical process to add an organization to
the terrorist list, and Strouhal believes that there needs to
be further debate within the EU how to handle organizations
that separate themselves into two wings.


E. (C) IRAQI ELECTIONS: Strouhal said that the Czech views
regarding the importance of the Iraqi elections taking place
this weekend are very similar to those of the USG. While the
process is made more difficult by the security situation, it
is crucial that the Iraqis gain a feeling of full
responsibility for the development of their country. It is
also important to include Sunni Muslims in the political
process and the preparation of the final constitution.
Strouhal noted that the GOCR was providing buses to transport
Iraqis in the Czech Republic to Germany to vote there in one
of the overseas voting centers. He believed that the EU
would again be providing some monitors to observe Iraqi voter
participation in Iran.


F. (C) BALKANS: Strouhal said that the Czech Republic
supports all of the recently announced EU measures to help
target individuals who do not cooperate with the ICTY. There
will be a conclusion concerning progress towards a
stabilization and association agreement, and the conclusion
will specifically tie this agreement directly to cooperation
with the ICTY. Strouhal believes that if Croatia does not
arrest Gotovina, it would become an obstacle to the launch of
accession negotiations currently scheduled for this March.

G. (C) UKRAINE: Strouhal noted that the present EU-Ukraine
Neighborhood Policy and Cooperation Agreement has been
adopted for three years. A joint EU-Ukraine Partnership
Council is expected to approve it in February. Strouhal said
the main areas of concentration are now on Ukraine's need to
improve its market economy, membership in the WTO and
facilitation of the movement of goods (and possibly people)
between the EU and Ukraine. Regarding possible Ukrainian
membership in the EU, Strouhal said that Ukraine is now "more
realistic" about potential EU membership; as the EU is now
occupied with Turkey and Croatia, its capacity to absorb
another large (and potentially controversial) member is
limited.


H. (C) CUBA: Strouhal said that the "hot issue" for the
GAERC is Cuba. The Czechs feel that it is important to have
a firm EU declaration at the GAERC, so that Cuba does not see
the EU as having a weak position. Currently, the Czechs are
trying to influence the compromise language being circulated.
FM Svoboda does not want the declaration to focus on who
will or will not be invited to national day receptions, which
he sees as simply symbolic. Instead the Czechs was clear
language explaining the planned structured dialogue between
dissidents and EU missions. (According to the MFA America's
Department, the Czechs are still debating what sort of
statement Svoboda will make at the GAERC on Cuba. Septel
will provide additional details on Jan 28.)


I. (C) IRAN: Strouhal said that Iran is not on the agenda
for the Monday GAERC. Currently the EU strategy is to
approach Iran with "carrots" such as restarting talks about a
possible trade and cooperation agreement, but that there will
continue to be pressure on Iran on a range of issues from
human rights to relations with its neighbors.


J. (C) CHINA: Strouhal believes that an EU decision to lift
the arms embargo on China is imminent, likely by March or at
this summer's summit. The Czechs share our concerns about
human rights and the geopolitical situation in the region.
They are still advocating for additional assurances that arms
will not flow into China, including having "greater
transparency" in arms sales. Strouhal also expressed the
hope that if the Toolbox does not provide sufficient
safeguards, the EU could still develop a permanent mechanism
to ensure that there is no radical export of weapons to the
region. He added that the Code of Conduct contains a
specific mention of a criteria on human rights. (Czech
PolDir Schneider expanded on this in a separate conversation.
He noted the Czechs will insist on some human rights
improvements in China before agreeing to lift the embargo;
stressed that the embargo has been more of a political
statement than an effective tool to limit exports to China;
and said the Czechs want to make sure that the toolbox
requires countries to notify other member states of export
approvals, not just denials. Schneider acknowledged that
U.S. Congressional reaction, in particular, will be sharp if
the embargo is lifted without adequate safeguards in place,
and said the GOCR is prepared to be as active as possible in
facilitating the dialogue between Washington, Brussels and EU
capitals.)

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