CZECHS ON PAKISTAN RELIEF AND REHABILITATION

C O N F I D E N T I A L PRAGUE 001581 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/04/2015 TAGS: EAID PHUM PREL PK EZ SUBJECT: CZECHS ON PAKISTAN RELIEF AND REHABILITATION REF: A. STATE 195483 ¶B. STATE 200915 Classified By: Pol-Econ Chief Mike Dodman for reasons 1.4 B+D ¶1. (U) DCM met November 11 with Czech Deputy Foreign Minister Tomas Pojar to discuss Czech assistance to Pakistan. Pojar, who was until recently Director of the Czech NGO People in Need, provided the following information: -- Czech government assistance to date totals approximately $4.5 million (110 million CZK). Of this amount, approximately $3.5 million has already been allocated, covering the initial Czech medical team (which returned from the region this week),tents and other emergency supplies, and relief efforts provided by NATO, UNHCR, WFP, and Czech NGOs. -- A second military medical team was sent to Pakistan this week to relieve the first rotation. Length of deployment is not yet know, but will be under 60 days in order to prevent the need for Parliamentary authorization of a foreign deployment. -- Czech private donations via local NGOs for relief efforts in Pakistan are estimated at well over $1 million to date. ¶2. (SBU) Czech FM Cyril Svoboda intends to visit Pakistan November 16-17. In addition to meeting with the Pakistani FM, Svoboda plans to travel to the Kashmir region to see the work of Czech relief workers. ¶3. (C) Discussing next steps, Pojar said he will be directing GOCR efforts to focus on long-term reconstruction. In addition to ensuring that international assistance meets humanitarian requirements, Pojar said he believes it is important that western donors remain firmly engaged in managing the rehabilitation phase so that it does not fall under the control of Islamist charities. CABANISS