CZECH OPINION ON RUSSIA-UKRAINE GAS NEGOTIATIONS

C O N F I D E N T I A L PRAGUE 000112 SIPDIS SIPDIS STATE FOR EUR/NCE E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/23/2016 TAGS: ENRG ECON EZ PREL UP RS SUBJECT: CZECH OPINION ON RUSSIA-UKRAINE GAS NEGOTIATIONS REF: STATE 17066 Classified By: Acting PolEc Chief Mark Canning for reasons 1.5 (b) & (d) ¶1. (C) PolOff Feb 2 conveyed reftel points to Tomas Szunyog MFA Director for South Eastern and Eastern Europe. Szunyog responded that the Czechs had been following the issue with concern for some time. Additionally, he knew that concern was growing both in the EU and in NATO. Vladimir Muller, Deputy Foreign Minister for European Affairs, had conveyed this concern to the Ukrainian Deputy Foreign Minister during a January 22-24 visit to Kiev. Szunyog said he believed the current crisis is being prolonged as a result of the buildup to the March elections. He cautioned action in the short term could lead to finger-pointing that would hurt the political prospects for the pro-Europeans. Szunyog said the GOCR, convinced the matter needed very careful handling, would support a U.S. initiated multilateral effort, should we chose to mount one. ¶2. (C) Szunyog also shared that Ukrainian Prime Minister Yekhanurov has expressed interest in the upcoming NATO Forum on Energy Security Technology to be held in Prague Feb 22-24 (www.energy-security.org). He said Yekhanurov is considering a working visit to Prague at that time, which would include a bilateral meeting with PM Jiri Paroubek. If the trip were to go ahead, the Czechs would take advantage of the opportunity to raise their concerns. CABANISS