EMBASSY BAGHDAD DCM ENGAGES THE CZECHS ON IRAQ

C O N F I D E N T I A L PRAGUE 001302

SIPDIS

EUR/NCE FOR FICHTE

E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/05/2015
TAGS: EZ IZ PGOV PREL
SUBJECT: EMBASSY BAGHDAD DCM ENGAGES THE CZECHS ON IRAQ


1) (C) Visiting Embassy Baghdad DCM David Satterfield
briefed Czech MFA Director for the Middle East Miloslav
Stasek August 31 on the situation in Iraq. Addressing the
future of the insurgency, Satterfield focused on the need to
separate the bulk of the Sunni population from the extreme
Baathist elements on one end of the spectrum and the violent
religious extremists on the other. Regarding future Czech
contributions, Satterfield made a plea for technical
assistance for the Iraqi ministries and also for perimeter
security support for the NTM-I training center

2) (C) Stasek said that GOCR was interested in providing
technical expertise to the evolving Iraqi ministries, but was
unsure whether the security situation would allow such
assistance at this time. Statterfield suggested the GOCR
provide a list of ministries that they would like to help.
U.S. Embassy Baghdad could provide a detailed description of
the security situations in each ministry.

3) (C) Stasek asked if the U.S. would maintain its troops
levels at around
135,000 in 2006. This was pitched in terms of the Czech's
system of one-year
parliamentary authorizations for deployments. Satterfield
answered that the United States opposes a strict timeline for
withdrawal and will assess the situation in various regions
as more Iraqi forces come online.

4) (C) Stasek discussed the mid-September visit of Iraqi
President Jalal Talabani to Prague, following Talabani's
planned visit to the United States. Expressing the GOCR,s
enthusiasm to maximize the visit,s effectiveness,
Satterfield requested U.S. assistance in getting a list of
Talabani,s delegation in order to facilitate Czech planning
for the trip. Embassy Prague is now working with Embassy
Baghdad to provide this list to the Czechs.
CABANISS