CZECH PARLIAMENT MAY INVESTIGATE ALLEGED RENDERING

S E C R E T PRAGUE 000699

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/10/2015
TAGS: PINR PREL EZ
SUBJECT: CZECH PARLIAMENT MAY INVESTIGATE ALLEGED RENDERING
FLIGHTS THROUGH CZECH REPUBLIC


Classified By: DCM Kenneth Hillas for Reasons 1.4 B+D


1. (SBU) Summary: Czech press in past week has picked up the
story from the "New York Times" and other American press
about CIA rendering flights that have allegedly transited the
Czech Republic. Opposition politicians plan to call for a
Parliamentary Foreign Affairs Committee hearing to discuss
the flights and what knowledge Czech authorities had about
them. End summary.


2. (SBU) Beginning May 5, Czech dailies, citing information
published in the "New York Times," reported that at least one
CIA-operated flight rendering terrorism suspects to
Uzbekistan landed in the Czech Republic. Czech aviation
officials subsequently confirmed that a flight bound for
Tashkent departed an airport in the Czech Republic on 21
September 2003. Other reports quote airport workers who
state that the Boeing jet in question has been seen at least
twice at Prague's Ruzyne airport.


3. (U) Czech officials have stated that they have no
knowledge of any such flights. Interior Minister Frantisek
Bublan stated on May 8 that he "inquired whether the Czech
Republic is involved and I know that we are not." He added
that during the 2003 flight in question no passengers entered
or left the plane, and therefore Czech authorities had no
requirement to seek information about the passengers.


4. (U) Opposition politicians and left-leaning critics within
the ruling Social Democratic Party have said that they intend
to hold Parliamentary hearings on the flights. Foreign
Relations Committee Chairman Vladimir Lastuvka and Vice Chair
Jan Kavan (Social Democratic Party) said they intend to seek
formal answers from the Foreign Affairs and Defense
Ministers, as well as heads of the Czech intelligence
services, about the flights. Committee Vice Chairman Vaclav
Exner (Communist Party) has said deputies may use the general
question time to also seek more information from the
government.


5. (S) Czech intelligence agency officials have said they are
not interested in pursuing the matter and view opposition
calls for hearings as "pure politics." They have voiced no
complaints about the matter.


6. (C) Other than discussions with intelligence services,
post has not received any formal inquiries from the GOCR
about the case. In response to the few press inquiries we
received, Embassy has stated that we are not in a position to
comment on these reports. However, it is possible that
parliamentary hearings could prompt could prompt a direct
approach from the Foreign Affairs Committee or the Government
itself. It is also possible that Prime Minister Paroubek
will raise the issue during Ambassador's initial call on him,
likely to take place in the week following the May 13 vote of
confidence.


7. (C) For now, this issue does not appear to have the
potential to significantly impact U.S.-Czech relations. The
Embassy will, therefore, continue to use the same response
for inquiries from the Czech Government as has been used with
the media, unless otherwise instructed.
HILLAS