Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
05PRAGUE1664
2005-11-29 15:43:00
SECRET//NOFORN
Embassy Prague
Cable title:  

CZECHS: DPRK'S VISIT WAS AN INTERNAL PROBLEM, ON

Tags:  EZ KN KNNP MNUC PREL PGOV PHUM CH 
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This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.

291543Z Nov 05
S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 02 PRAGUE 001664 

SIPDIS

NOFORN

EUR/NCE FOR FICHTE

E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/27/2015
TAGS: EZ KN KNNP MNUC PREL PGOV PHUM CH
SUBJECT: CZECHS: DPRK'S VISIT WAS AN INTERNAL PROBLEM, ON
TO CHINA'S VISIT

REF: A. SECSTATE 208503


B. PRAGUE 1515

Classified By: Poloff Brian Greaney for reasons 1.4 (B) and (D)

S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 02 PRAGUE 001664

SIPDIS

NOFORN

EUR/NCE FOR FICHTE

E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/27/2015
TAGS: EZ KN KNNP MNUC PREL PGOV PHUM CH
SUBJECT: CZECHS: DPRK'S VISIT WAS AN INTERNAL PROBLEM, ON
TO CHINA'S VISIT

REF: A. SECSTATE 208503


B. PRAGUE 1515

Classified By: Poloff Brian Greaney for reasons 1.4 (B) and (D)


1. (S) Summary: The Czech MFA understands U.S. dismay over
the October 20 visit of a DPRK Parliamentary delegation to
the Temelin Nuclear Power Plant, and will again oppose any
similar requests for visits or for nuclear cooperation in the
future. The Czechs will not directly focus on China's human
rights during Premier Wen Jiabao's upcoming visit. The Czechs
would welcome in-depth consultations with USG experts on
North Korea, China and other Asian countries -- a suggestion
post strongly supports. End summary.

--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---
NORTH KOREANS AT A NUCLEAR POWER PLANT:
A BAD IDEA FROM THE COMMUNISTS
--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---


2. (S) Ambassador raised reftel A points regarding U.S.
dismay over the DPRK parliamentary delegation's visit to the
nuclear power plant at Temelin with Prime Minister Jiri
Paroubek at a lunch meeting Nov 17. The Ambassador termed the
DPRK visit to Temelin an unfortunate example of Communist
influence on Czech foreign policy. This, along with growing
Communist influence on economic legislation, was causing
growing concern in Washington. Paroubek offered no direct
response.


3. (S) Polecon Counselor Nov 23 delivered reftel A points to
Jan Fury, Director of the MFA's Asia/Pacific Department.
Reiterating the visit was at the invitation of Vojtech Filip,
Vice Speaker of Parliament and Chairman of the Czech
Communist Party, Fury confided the MFA had lobbied strongly
against the trip. Fury shared the text of the Czech MFA's
report on the visit with us (text included para 4). Turning
to the economic aspects of the "Action Plan" the GOCR and
DPRK government signed on 12 September (Ref B),Fury said the
DPRK is now pushing for greater direct economic ties with the
Czech Republic and is seeking export credits. However even

the the Ministry of Industry and Trade, which is almost
always interested in greater foreign economic cooperation,
realized closer economic ties with the DPRK would not be
worthwhile, due to the North Koreans' inability to pay.

--- --- --- --- ---
CHINA COMES CALLING
--- --- --- --- ---


4. (C) Addressing the planned early December visit of Chinese
Premier Wen Jiabao, Fury said the agenda was still being
worked out and the GOCR was searching for a range of
deliverables (Fury expressed some frustration that the MFA
was under much pressure from the Prime Minister - who visited
China earlier this year - to come up with deliverables). The
Chinese had suggested the Czechs ease visa restrictions on
Chinese travelers, something the Czech side is not prepared
to consider. There had also been discussion on the
possibility of introducing direct flights between Beijing and
Prague. Fury thought this would come to nothing, as Czech
airlines does not currently have the capacity to add this
route. Fury indicated the Chinese were hoping to finalize a
bilateral economic agreement, but the deal as currently
negotiated did not meet EU rules. Fury assured us the Czechs
remain solidly in our camp on Taiwan policy. He believed
China's human rights record would best be approached
indirectly, rather than be a focus for discussion. Pol-Econ
Couselor encouraged Fury to ensure that the Czechs' continued
to speak out on China's human rights record.

--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---
ACTION REQUEST:
HELPING THE CZECHS ALIGN WITH U.S. POLICY
--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---


5. (S) Fury, expanding on a previous offer (REF B),said he
would welcome closer cooperation with the U.S. on both the
DPRK and a range of other EAP issues, mentioning China and
Burma as specific priorities. He said he would be willing to
visit Washington in early 2006 to coordinate with State
Department officials on the appropriate policies for the
range of challenges that face both the United States and the
Czech Republic. Embassy Prague strongly supports this
opportunity to ensure the Czechs align even more closely with
our EAP goals, and requests an indication of interest from
the Department. A meeting for Fury with the Department's EAP
leadership may make the Czech Republic a better partner for
the United States on Asia Policy, including in relation to
the DPRK. End action request.


6. (S/NF)
--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---
Text of MFA Report on the DPRK visit
to the Czech Republic (as prepared for
distribution within COREU channels)
--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---

"DPRK Parliamentary delegation visit to the Czech Republic

DPRK Parliamentary delegation headed by Kang Nung Su,
Vice-President of the Supreme People,s Assembly of DPRK,
visited the Czech Republic on the 17-22 October 2005 on the
invitation of Deputy Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies of
the Czech Parliament.

The delegation met the Deputy Speaker, Vice-President of the
Senate, and it was received by the Speaker of Parliament.
MP and Vice-Minister of the Ministry of Commerce Mr. Kim Yong
Jae had a meeting with Vice-Minister of Trade and Industry.

Concerning the results of 6PT, Mr. Kang pointed out that DPRK
would return to the NPT and dismantle its nuclear programme
immediately upon the U.S. provision of LWRs. Kang stated
that DPRK did not insist on full implementation of the
Framework Agreement signed by the Clinton Administration in
1994, but the provision of the LWRs would be a physical
guarantee for confidence-building. He stressed that DPRK
didn,t trust the U.S. verbal commitments and, without its
nuclear deterrent, N. Korea would be in the same position as
Iraq.

The excursion to the nuclear power plant Temelin was a part
of the visit. The Czech side during talks stressed its
principal position towards a nuclear issue and approach to
IAAE and NPT; called upon Koreans to implement in a
transparent and verifiable manner the commitments it made in
the 19 September joint statement by 6PT participants. The
Czech side made it clear that the development in bilateral
relations depends, among others, on the progress in solving
the North Korean nuclear programmes."
CABANISS