CZECH REPUBLIC: SOLICITING SUPPORT FOR UN REQUEST

C O N F I D E N T I A L PRAGUE 001660 SIPDIS EUR/NCE FOR FICHTE E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/27/2015 TAGS: PARM PREL IZ EZ UN SUBJECT: CZECH REPUBLIC: SOLICITING SUPPORT FOR UN REQUEST FOR DEDICATED AIRCRAFT REF: A. SECSTATE 212960 ¶B. IIR 6 824 0132 05 Classified By: Poloff Brian Greaney for reasons 1.4 (B) and (D) ¶1. (C) Poloff and DATT Nov 23 delivered reftel points to Zdenek Borkovec, Policy Director of the MOD,s Strategic Planning Division. The Czechs are unable to provide aircraft. As reported Ref B, Defense Minister Kuehnl has requested U.S. air transport for a visit to Iraq due to the Czechs' own inablity to provide safe air transport in a hostile environment. Borkovic said that the Czechs supported the UN mission in principle, and would be willing to consider such requests in the future. However it would be years before the Czech Air Force had passenger or transport aircraft with adequate defensive countermeasures. CABANISS