Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
05PRAGUE981
2005-06-29 11:22:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Prague
Cable title:  

CZECH FM ON IRAQ, VISAS AND DOMESTIC POLITICS

Tags:  PREL MARR PGOV CVIS EZ IZ 
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This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 PRAGUE 000981 

SIPDIS

FOR CA/VO, R, EUR AND INR/B

E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/28/2015
TAGS: PREL MARR PGOV CVIS EZ IZ
SUBJECT: CZECH FM ON IRAQ, VISAS AND DOMESTIC POLITICS

REF: STATE 11182

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

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 PRAGUE 000981

SIPDIS

FOR CA/VO, R, EUR AND INR/B

E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/28/2015
TAGS: PREL MARR PGOV CVIS EZ IZ
SUBJECT: CZECH FM ON IRAQ, VISAS AND DOMESTIC POLITICS

REF: STATE 11182

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


1. (C) Summary. The Ambassador met with Czech FM Cyril
Svoboda on June 27 primarily to discuss an extension of the
Czech military police unit in Iraq through 2006 (UN reform
issues covered septel). Svoboda said that the GOCR intended
to ask the parliament to extend the troop deployment this
fall and he believed the request would have solid support in
both chambers, despite the possibility of the issue getting
caught up in early posturing for the June 2006 parliamentary
elections. The two also discussed the work of the Bilateral
Consular Working Group (BCWG) and the status of relocation of
Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, and Svoboda provided his
views on potential new political configurations after the
next elections. End summary.

--------------
FUTURE OF COALITION IN IRAQ
--------------


2. (C) Svoboda was very receptive to the Ambassador's
request to extend the Czech military police presence in Iraq
through 2006. Svoboda stressed that it was necessary for the
coalition allies to remain in Iraq until the new government
can take over the security situation. He said that current
Defense Minister Kuehnl, new PM Paroubek and he all support
the extension and that in general a solid majority in both
chambers of parliament do so as well. He added that he was
pleased with the position of new PM Jiri Paroubek, who after
a trip to London stated, "We will stay in Iraq." The one
difficulty that Svoboda warned about was that the atmosphere
in the parliament would likely be charged with the upcoming
parliamentary elections, which will take place in June 2006.
Some of the left wing members of the governing coalition
could be against an extension of the mandate as part of the
pre-election political positioning.


3. (C) The Ambassador thanked Svoboda for his support as
well as that of the government as a whole, stating that the
strong stance taken by the Czechs encourages other coalition
members to remain firm as well. He also praised Svoboda's

personal support as particularly critical to the long-term
commitment of the Czechs, as Svoboda has been integral to
keeping the GOCR on track in Iraq, throughout the political
upheaval of the past year which brought about several changes
of Prime Minister, Defense Minister and other cabinet
positions. Svoboda reaffirmed his staunch support for
reconstruction of Iraq, stating that Israel is currently the
only democracy in the Middle East and that now is the window
of opportunity to make a difference in Iraq. Svoboda
attended the recent conference on Iraq in Brussels and was
pleased with the meetings and with the extensive attendance
of more than 80 countries, including all of Iraq's immediate
neighbors in the region.

--------------
VISAS AND EXPIRED PASSPORTS
--------------


4. (C) The Ambassador praised the work of the Bilateral
Consular Working Group, noting that the most recent meeting
on June 1 was productive and that a couple of sub-working
groups had been established to work on the specific issues of
the Czech introduction of a biometric passport and on
overstay rates and assumptions. Svoboda was pleased that the
issue of new EU member states joining the Visa Waiver Program
was discussed at the June 20 U.S.- EU summit in Washington.
He added that while this issue is still politically a "hot
potato," it is helpful and important to see signs of
progress. The Ambassador agreed and noted that Washington
was focusing discussion on various aspects of U.S. visa
policy. The Ambassador also took the opportunity to once
again urge the Czech government to allow its citizens to keep
expired passports that had valid U.S. visas in them. Some 25
percent of the current Consular Section workload comes from
the current MOI practice of retaining expired passports,
requiring Czech citizens to obtain new visas anytime they
obtain a new passport. It would save both sides time and
money if the Ministry of Interior would simply cancel the
expired passports and return them to their owners with the
valid visas intact, as is the practice in the U.S. and most
of the EU. Svoboda acknowledged the problem, but said that
any change in the Czech practice would necessitate a change
in one of the existing laws.

--------------
WHEELING AND DEALING IN CZECH POLITICS
--------------


5. (C) The Ambassador took the opportunity to ask Svoboda
his opinions about the new government under PM Jiri Paroubek.
Svoboda answered quite frankly that, "Paroubek has one plan
now, to be in power after the next elections. He will make a
deal with anyone." Svoboda added that Paroubek was getting
stronger and said that he believed Paroubek could restore
CSSD to it's previous level of 25 percent voter support.
However, he added that Paroubek's "flexibility" was
"dangerous" since he believed the PM would form a coalition
with anyone, including the Communist party if they would make
a few changes. He could also envision a scenario in which
the leftist CSSD would willingly again form a grand coalition
with the Civic Democrats (ODS),the largest party on the
right. This is a problem for Svoboda's party, the Christian
Democrats (KDU-CSL),which views itself as the logical
coalition partner for ODS. He noted that for a center-right
coalition to form, it would require that KDU-CSL gain
approximately 25 seats in parliament, while the Civic
Democrats would need another 80 seats. This is difficult to
achieve, and may make ODS look more favorably on forming a
"grand coalition" with the Paroubek's Social Democrats if
they think their voters would accept it (NOTE: There was a
previous grand coalition between ODS and CSSD from 1998-2002,
which is commonly described as a period of increased
corruption and non-transparent political deal-making).


6. (C) Svoboda expressed disappointment that the credibility
of his party, KDU-CSL, had been "nearly destroyed" as a
coalition partner. Since it had been in government with
parties on both the right and the left, it was a convenient
scapegoat and had been accused of betraying its coalition
partners on all sides. This made the current situation very
difficult for the party as it strategized on possible
government formations in 2006.

--------------
RADIO FREE EUROPE/RADIO LIBERTY
--------------


7. (C) Finally, the Ambassador touched briefly on the
progress made to date in efforts to relocate Radio Free
Europe/Radio Liberty to a more secure location in Prague. He
informed Svoboda that RFE/RL and the State Department's OBO
office completed the final report earlier this month,
recommending that RFE/RL accept the final offer made by the
Orco property group to build a new facility in Prague 10.
RFE/RL's deadline to accept this offer is July 31, and it has
already circulated the report to both its supervisory board
(the Broadcasting Board of Governors) and OMB and received
their approvals. The report is now with the relevant
authorizing and appropriations committees of Congress and we
are hopeful that the final approvals will be received
shortly. Once the contract is signed, we will use our
Embassy's good offices to meet with city officials and try to
expedite the planning and construction permits, and we hope
to have the support of the MFA as well. Svoboda assured us
that he would do anything in his power to assist us in the
project.


8. (C) Comment. Svoboda was very relaxed and open in this
meeting and he appears to have survived the various political
machinations of the past year with both his post, and sense
of humor, intact. It was clear from our discussion that most
issues in the coming year will be colored by the 2006
parliamentary elections, as the various parties start to
position themselves for the campaign. We do not expect this
to detract from the transatlantic relationship or the Czech
commitment to troops in Iraq, Afghanistan and elsewhere, as
there is strong U.S. support here across the political
spectrum, but we should be prepared to hear increased
rhetoric and see more caution in the months ahead. End
comment.
CABANISS