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