TFUS01: CZECH REPUBLIC RESPONSE

UNCLAS PRAGUE 001287 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL AEMR KPAO EZ SUBJECT: TFUS01: CZECH REPUBLIC RESPONSE ¶1. In response to Hurricane Katrina, the Czech government made a general offer of assistance on August 30 in a letter from FM Cyril Svoboda to Secretary Rice. Svoboda wrote "I would also like to assure you of our readiness to provide to the American people our help and assistance." Since then officials from the President's office, Foreign Ministry, Prime Minister's office, and City of Prague have expressed to the embassy their desire to provide some concrete assistance, both immediate and as part of the reconstruction effort (drawing in particular on Prague's experience recovering from heavy flooding in 2002). ¶2. Both President Klaus and PM Paroubek have asked to meet with Ambassador on Monday, Sept 5 to discuss specifics. ¶3. Ambassador Cabaniss, who was at his home in Alabama during the storm, was interviewed on the main Czech television news on Sept 2, immediately after his return to post. During his 15-minute interview the Ambassador expressed thanks for the sympathy and offers of support from Czech officials and private citizens, and drew links between the devastation following Katrina and the impact of the 2002 floods, which also ended up causing damage much greater than was initially anticipated. Interviews with print journalists are planned on Sept 5. ¶4. Post requests TF1 update international assistance matrix to include Czech Republic. CABANISS