CZECH REPUBLIC WILL OBSERVE BAN ON LIGHTERS

UNCLAS PRAGUE 000519 SIPDIS STATE FOR EUR/NCE AND EB/TRA/OTP DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY FOR TSA E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: EAIR PTER EZ EUN SUBJECT: CZECH REPUBLIC WILL OBSERVE BAN ON LIGHTERS REF: (A) STATE 66181, (B) STATE 41383, ¶1. Post delivered the demarche on DHS banning lighters on flights to, from and within the U.S. to Josef Turecky, Director General, Civil Aviation Department, Ministry of Transportation of the Czech Republic, on March 10, 2005. Based on the information in the demarche, the Czech authorities are banning lighters aboard U.S.-bound flights as of April 14, 2005. ¶2. The Czech Republic expects the EU to raise this issue with the United States in diplomatic channels. Nevertheless, the Czechs will observe the ban unless U.S.-EU discussions result in a change. HILLAS