CZECHS STATE THAT UIGHUR RESETTLEMENT IS POSSIBLE,

S E C R E T PRAGUE 001446 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/05/2015 TAGS: PHUM PREL MOPS EZ SUBJECT: CZECHS STATE THAT UIGHUR RESETTLEMENT IS POSSIBLE, BUT ASK, "HOW IMPORTANT IS THIS TO U.S.?" REF: STATE 183800 Classified By: Poloff Sarah C. Peck for reasons 1.4(b) and (d). ¶1. (U) Action request paragraph 5. ¶2. (S) Poloff met on October 6 with Tomas Haisman, Director of Asylum and Migration Policies at the Czech Ministry of Interior, to discuss resettlement of 15 Uighur detainees (reftel). Haisman called the situation "shocking," but nevertheless held out hope that at least some of the Uighurs could be resettled in the Czech Republic -- but only if sufficient political will exists at the highest levels of the Czech government. He has already sent the request to Frantisek Bublan, Minister of Interior, who will decide whether to forward the request to PM Jiri Paroubek. ¶3. (S) Haisman said the Czech response will depend in part on how important this issue is to the USG. To improve the chances of a positive response, he advised arranging a meeting between Ambassador Cabaniss and senior Czech officials to signal that this issue is a high priority. He was less enthusiastic about the possibility of a call from Washington. Haisman also said the Czechs will want to conduct their own evaluation of the detainees to satisfy themselves that the detainees do not pose an unacceptable security risk. ¶4. (S) Comment: the Czechs are currently working to strengthen relations with China and may conclude that the cost of accepting the Uighurs -- thereby incurring China,s wrath -- is just too high. To outweigh this concern, the USG would need to demonstrate the importance of this issue by arranging meetings between Ambassador Cabaniss and high-ranking Czechs, possibly including PM Paroubek. We expect that in the final analysis, other USG support, including financial support for the resettlement of the Uighurs, may be required. ¶5. (S) Action Request: In light of the initial Czech response, Post requests additional points and Washington guidance on how, and if, to approach senior Czech leadership. CABANISS