CZECHS WANT TO ADD CUBA TO U.S.- EU DEMOCRACY

C O N F I D E N T I A L PRAGUE 001721 SIPDIS SIPDIS PASS TO JOHN ROBINSON EUR/ERA E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/07/2015 TAGS: PREL KDEM PHUM EUN CU PGOV EZ SUBJECT: CZECHS WANT TO ADD CUBA TO U.S.- EU DEMOCRACY INITIATIVE Classified By: Pol/Econ Chief Michael Dodman for reasons 1.4 b+d. ¶1. (U) Action request in paragraph 5. ¶2. (C) In a meeting with poloffs December 7, Edita Hrda, Czech MFA Director of the Department of Americas, said the Czechs strongly support the U.S.- EU Democracy Initiative. To maximize the results of the initiative, the Czechs think the U.S. and EU should focus their efforts on a limited number of countries. The U.S. has proposed a short list of "first group" countries: Belarus, Burma, Iran, Uzbekistan, and Zimbabwe. The Czechs support the focus on these five countries, but propose adding Cuba to the list. In a follow-up conversation December 15 with Ivan Dubovicky, MFA Americas Desk, Dubovicky said the Czechs have already submitted to the EU their list of six countries, which includes Cuba. The Czechs request U.S. support for adding Cuba as a priority country for the Democracy Initiative. ¶3. (C) The Czechs have also proposed a "second group" of countries, primarily countries on the road to democracy but in need of support (with the exception of North Korea, which is most assuredly not on the road to democracy). The proposed countries are: Afghanistan, Ethiopia, Georgia, Haiti, Iraq, Moldova, North Korea, Palestine, Sudan, and Ukraine. Edita Hrda also requested the Department's support for the idea of a second group of countries, and for the specific countries proposed for that list. ¶4. (C) Comment. The Czechs actively promote human rights and democracy in countries around the world, including Cuba, Belarus, Iraq and other countries of concern to the USG. In various meetings in Washington and Prague, U.S. officials have asked the Czechs to think about ways the U.S. can assist Czech efforts to change EU common policy on Cuba. Hrda's request for U.S. support for adding Cuba to the list of priority countries for the Democracy Initiative is consistent with these offers of assistance, and would serve the USG's policy goals on Cuba. End comment. ¶5. (C) Action request. Post requests a response from the Department to share with the Czechs regarding whether the U.S. will support Czech proposals to: (1) add Cuba to the first group countries, and (2) create a second group of countries for U.S.-EU cooperation. CABANISS