CZECHS SUPPORT CREATION OF FOUNDATION FOR FUTURE

UNCLAS PRAGUE 001559 SIPDIS EUR/ERA FOR LBONO, NEA/PI FOR TWINCUP, EUR/NCE FOR FICHTE E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: EAID PREL PHUM XF EZ SUBJECT: CZECHS SUPPORT CREATION OF FOUNDATION FOR FUTURE BUT UNABLE TO FULLY FUND REF: STATE 190583 1.(U) Action request - see para 4. 2.(U) In response to reftel demarche, Miloslav Stasek, Director of the Middle East and Africa Department at the Czech Ministry of Foreign Affairs, informed Poloff on Nov 2 that the Ministry supports the Foundation for the Future politically, but is not in a position to contribute the minimum required amount of $1 million. Stasek explained that the full Ministry budget for similar projects is only $2 million. He suggested that the Ministry could possibly be able to afford a donation of $250,000. However, any amount would need to be approved by the Czech government at a cabinet session, which would not be possible before next week. Thus based on both timing and funding level, Stasek and Poloff agreed that Czech participation at the November 11 Forum for the Future meeting in Bahrain appeared unlikely. ¶3. (U) Stasek emphasized continued Czech desire to participate in the Foundation for the Future, within its financial capabilities, and requested embassy advise him of appropriate next steps. ¶4. (U) Action request: please provide guidance for us to pass to Czech MFA on next steps in terms of (a) suitability of the notional $250,000 donation, and (b) what this would mean for the CR in terms of their participation in the Foundation for the Future. CABANISS