CZECH FM WILL RAISE RUSSIAN NGO LAW WITH PUTIN

C O N F I D E N T I A L PRAGUE 001716 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/13/2015 TAGS: PGOV PHUM PREL RS EZ SUBJECT: CZECH FM WILL RAISE RUSSIAN NGO LAW WITH PUTIN DECEMBER 20 REF: A. STATE 222292 ¶B. PRAGUE 1687 Classified By: Pol/Econ Chief Michael Dodman for reasons 1.4 b+d. ¶1. (C) Poloff delivered reftel talking points December 9 to Czech MFA Russia Desk Officer, Josef Broz, and also delivered courtesy copies to Jaromir Plisek, MFA Director General of Territorial Section 1 (including Russia and Eastern Europe), and MFA Human Rights Director, Veronika Stromsikova. ¶2. (C) Broz reiterated the Czech Republic shares U.S. concerns on the draft Russian NGO law, and noted his government's concern about the impact the law could have on Czech NGO People in Need. He added the Czech Republic supports the EU common position on the law, which Broz described as "strong." He said, however, the Czechs do not plan to demarche the GOR on the law prior to December 16 for three reasons: (1) the Czechs previously raised the issue on November 16 in Prague with Putin's special representative, Anatoli Safonov; therefore, the Russians are fully aware that the Czechs are concerned; (2) the Czechs believe the EU will deliver a demarche in Moscow prior to December 16; and (3) The Czechs feel further meetings with the Russians on the subject at this time would not be productive because MFA officials have already told the Russian Embassy that FM Cyril Svoboda will raise the issue with Putin during his visit to Moscow on December 20. CABANISS