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