LIBERTAD ACT: CZECH REPUBLIC

C O N F I D E N T I A L PRAGUE 000858

SIPDIS

FOR WHA/CCA

E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/06/2015
TAGS: PREL ETTC CU EZ
SUBJECT: LIBERTAD ACT: CZECH REPUBLIC

REF: A. PRAGUE 833


B. PRAGUE 832

C. PRAGUE 814

D. 2004 PRAGUE 1733

Classified By: Pol-Econ Counselor Mike Dodman for reasons 1.4 b+d


1. (C) As discussed in ref D reply to the previous Libertad
Act tasking, the Czech Republic is one of the staunchest
European defenders of Cuban dissidents and a proponent of
U.S. policy towards Cuba. Refs A C detail Czech efforts to
toughen the EU policy towards Cuba in a manner that will
support dissidents and civil society without rewarding the
Castro regime with unearned recognition. Ref B discusses
current GOCR assistance to support civil society in Cuba. In
addition, Czech NGOs and leading Czech figures, notably
including former President Vaclav Havel, regularly address
the plight of Czech dissidents and the lack of freedom on the
island; this featured prominently in a speech Havel delivered
May 24 at the Library of Congress.


2. (U) According to Czech National Bank data, there was no
Czech investment in Cuba as of March 2005.
CABANISS