CZECHS REQUEST U.S. INFORMATION ON GEORGIA'S

S E C R E T PRAGUE 001522 SIPDIS EUR/NCE FOR FICHTE, USNATO FOR SHEEHAN, TBILISI FOR BRINK, MOSCOW FOR VIGUERIE E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/19/2015 TAGS: IZ EZ PREL PGOV SUBJECT: CZECHS REQUEST U.S. INFORMATION ON GEORGIA'S MILITARY BUILDUP REF: A. PRAGUE 01349 ¶B. PRAGUE 1004 ¶C. IIR 6 824 0046 05 Classified By: Political-Military Officer Brian Greaney for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) ¶1. (U) This is an action request. Please see paragraph 4. ¶2. (S) Czech MFA Director for Common Foreign and Security Policy Peter Kaiser Oct 19 asked Pol-Mil Off whether the United States could share information with the Czech MFA on the current effort by Georgia to build up its armed forces. Kaiser noted there had been a recent spike in applications for export licenses for military material destined for Georgia, but did not elaborate on the types or quantities of equipment covered in the requests. Kaiser said the MFA would like to allow Georgia to build a reasonable national military capability but he is keen to ensure the flow of Czech arms to Tbilisi does not become a trigger for instability. The Czechs, he said, do not have sufficient perspective on current Georgian military capabilities and needs to allow for informed decisions on arms export licenses. The Czechs intend to cease licensing arms shipments to Georgia at some stage, and Kaiser will soon make a judgment about timing the introduction of this new policy. The motivation for this decision, he said, is that "use of Czech arms in unstable areas of Georgia would be a disaster.8 ¶3. (S) In addition to the small quantities of U.S.-funded shipments of training munitions from the Czech republic to Georgia (Refs A and B),the Czechs appear to have sold a large quantity of arms to Tbilisi (Ref C). Russia has been publicly vocal in its opposition to further arming of Georgia by the Czech Republic. The GOCR is both quietly concerned by Russian complaints, and adamant that it wants to ensure Czech arms do not embolden Tbilisi to the point of initiating armed conflict in unstable areas. ¶4. (S) Action request: Post requests a U.S. opinion on whether Georgia is sufficiently armed at this time, and whether a Czech cessation of arms transfers to Georgia would have a positive or negative effect from a U.S. perspective. Post also requests an assessment of Georgia's reasonable military needs for self-defense if such information is available and can be released to the GOCR. CABANISS