CZECHS ON IRANIAN INTERFERENCE IN IRAQI POLITICS

C O N F I D E N T I A L PRAGUE 000377 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/15/2015 TAGS: PREL ASEC IZ IR EZ SUBJECT: CZECHS ON IRANIAN INTERFERENCE IN IRAQI POLITICS REF: A. STATE 41957 ¶B. STATE 44347 ¶C. STATE 44486 Classified By: Political Officer Kimberly C. Krhounek, for reasons 1.4( b) and (d). ¶1. (C) On March 14, we met with Mr. Pavel Mrazek in the Czech MFA Middle East Department to discuss Iranian interference in Iraqi politics (reftel a). We also delivered the non-paper on Hizballah (ref b) and the statement on USG support for EU-3 diplomacy on Iran (ref c),which are discussed more fully septel. Mrazek said that the Czechs had also heard some grumbling about Iranian interference in the formation of the new governing coalition through their embassy in Baghdad. However, he noted that the Czechs are not in a very good position to influence Iran, since relations cooled and the Iranians instituted an "unofficial" trade embargo against the Czech Republic to retaliate against the "Radio Free Iran" broadcasts (part of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty's programming) which began in 1998. ¶2. (C) As background, the Czech Republic has hosted the radios in Prague since 1995, and after RFE/RL began broadcasts targeting Iran, the Iranians refused agrement to a Czech Ambassador and began interfering with Czech business contracts and trade relations. Since this time, both countries are only represented at the level of Charge d'Affairs at their respective embassies. The Iranians deny to the EU that the trade embargo exists, and Mrazek noted that business difficulties wax and wane (adding wryly that if the Czechs have anything the Iranians want that cannot be obtained elsewhere, the Czech company can usually get the contract). Given this state of affairs, the Czechs believe that representations from other EU member states would be more effective. Visit Prague's Classified Website: http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/eur/prague/index. cfm CABANISS