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