Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
05PRAGUE1562
2005-11-03 07:12:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Prague
Cable title:  

CZECH GOVERNMENT APPROVES BILATERAL SCIENCE AND

Tags:  OSCI TSPL EZ EUN 
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UNCLAS PRAGUE 001562 

SIPDIS

STATE FOR L-WHA RRICHARDSON, BUDAPEST FOR KPOSNER-MULLEN

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: OSCI TSPL EZ EUN
SUBJECT: CZECH GOVERNMENT APPROVES BILATERAL SCIENCE AND
TECHNOLOGY AGREEMENT


UNCLAS PRAGUE 001562

SIPDIS

STATE FOR L-WHA RRICHARDSON, BUDAPEST FOR KPOSNER-MULLEN

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: OSCI TSPL EZ EUN
SUBJECT: CZECH GOVERNMENT APPROVES BILATERAL SCIENCE AND
TECHNOLOGY AGREEMENT



1. The government of the Czech Republic approved the draft
of a US-Czech bilateral agreement on science and technology
on October 19. The Czech government is the first of the ten
new EU members to approve a new agreement, which includes
reimbursement for VAT and customs duties imposed on
commodities acquired with U.S. assistance funds.


2. The document was originally scheduled to be approved by
the cabinet at its meeting on October 5. Approval was
postponed at the last minute when Finance Minister Bohuslav
Sobotka asked the Ministry of Education to check with
Brussels on the document's compatibility with EU regulations
and laws. Peter Krenek, who heads the Department for
International Cooperation at the Ministry of Education, told
the Embassy that "there were some problems," but that
officials from the Directorate that handles tax matters met
with Czech officials and, in Krenek's words, "we overcame the
problems by using Article 133 and the principal of usual
privileges, which are often used in such agreements."


3. Embassy Prague wishes to thank OES and L for their
patience and flexibility in suggesting innovative ways to
meet the Czech demand for reciprocity.


4. English and Czech versions of the agreement have been
forwarded to Washington for clearance. Once Embassy Prague
receives clearance from Washington, a signing ceremony will
be arranged. The government has authorized the Minister of
Education Petra Buzkova, or her assistant, Petr Kolar, to
sign the document. After the agreement is signed by both
sides, it will be submitted to both houses of the Czech
parliament, and to the U.S. Congress for ratification.
CABANISS