THE MOUSE THAT ROARED: CZECH EFFORTS IN THE MIDDLE

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 PRAGUE 000064

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E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/12/2015
TAGS: PREL KPAL IZ EZ IS
SUBJECT: THE MOUSE THAT ROARED: CZECH EFFORTS IN THE MIDDLE
EAST


Classified By: Political Officer, Kimberly C. Krhounek,
for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).


1. (C) Summary. During a January 10 lunch discussion, MFA
Director of Middle East Affairs Ivo Silhavy discussed the
Czech role in the Middle East Peace Process and upcoming
elections in Iraq. The Czechs see the Middle East as an area
where they can play a role as an honest broker, making use of
its good relations with Israel, Palestinian leaders and
neighboring Arab states, as well as capitalizing on its
"neutral" status as a small country with no ulterior motives
in the region. The Czech Republic will also serve this year
as the NATO Contact Embassy for Israel. Silhavy also
discussed strong GOCR interest in sending observers to
monitor Iraqi elections later this month, and the MFA's
efforts to keep its Iraqi development budget from being
raided by those seeking to boost Czech assistance to victims
of the South Asia tsunamis. End summary.


2. (C) Silhavy said that the Czechs were very pleased with
the January 9 elections in the Palestinian Authority, noting
that they appeared to be largely free and fair. This gives
Mahmoud Abbas a fairly broad mandate to represent the
Palestinian people in re-starting the peace process. He
noted that both sides seemed ready to come back to the
negotiating table -- something that has often been missing
historically. The GOCR has made assisting the Middle East
Peace Process a foreign policy priority and they are
committed to seeing the roadmap implemented. Silhavy said
that the Czech Republic enjoys a reputation in the region as
being "neither pro-Israeli, nor pro-Palestinian" and that it
enjoys good relations with neighboring Arab countries as
well. FM Svoboda completed a trip to the Middle East in
December 2004, where he visited a number of Arab states and
in Israel met with the PM, FM and the Israeli Knesset, as
well as with Palestinian leaders. This year, the Czech
Embassy will serve as the NATO Contact embassy for Israel.
Silhavy stated that one advantage of the Czech Republic is
that, due to it's being a small country rather than a
superpower or major foreign policy player, it can bring ideas
and encouragement to the table without anyone suspecting them
of having another "agenda" where affecting the outcome could
be put to their benefit.


3. (C) Silhavy was also very interested in this month's
elections in Iraq. He said the MFA had identified a small
number of people (probably 2-5) who are willing to go to Iraq
to serve as election observers. The GOCR is now waiting for
further word from the Coalition authorities as to how
security will be managed, in order to complete planning for
their participation. The Czechs met with a group of 25
countries in Ottawa that is considering basing election
observers out of Amman, Jordan, but they are also reviewing
other possible missions where they can contribute. The
missing details about security will determine the final
outcome; they want to know how the coalition plans to
guarantee security for voters and observers on election day.
Silhavy is also occupied with guarding his Iraqi assistance
and development budget (approximately $1.4 million in
transformation and cooperation funds),following the proposal
by Minister of Industry and Trade Milan Urban to raid some of
the Iraq budget to boost Czech assistance to the
tsunami-stricken areas of South Asia. Silhavy said that a

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final decision on this should take place on January 19 and
that he was hopeful that his budget would remain intact.
After all, he noted wryly, "there is always money" if the
government decides it is a priority.


4. (C) The conversation also briefly touched on the issue of
democracy in the Middle East and whether the Palestinian
elections would spur additional democratization initiatives
in the region. Silhavy said that if Iraq can get the
security situation under control, it will be the major test
case for implementing democracy in the Middle East, which is
now being "exported" there, rather than arising domestically.



5. (C) Comment. Silhavy, like the two preceding MFA Middle
East Department Directors, is a strong supporter of USG
policies in the region. Outside of Europe, promoting
democratic change in both the Middle East and Cuba are two of
the GOCR's most significant foreign policy goals. Despite
(or perhaps because of) the lack of a visible connection in
both places, the Czechs have the ability to play a unique
role in supporting USG initiatives there. In both the Middle
East and Cuba, the Czech Republic has shown the willingness
to take a stand within the EU to push for policy initiatives,
it has a wealth of experience in transitioning to democratic
institutions and a market economy to share, and it believes
that as a small country with no ulterior motives, it can play
a significant role as "honest broker." The Czechs want a
strong partnership with the U.S. in these areas. If ket
informed on USG policy initiatives, they will often be
natural allies in helping shape the EU positions on issues
when we seek European backing. End comment.


6. BAGHDAD MINIMIZE CONSIDERED.

HILLAS