Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06PRAGUE1252
2006-10-09 11:11:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Prague
Cable title:
CZECHS ON UNGA AND CUBA RESOLUTION
how-toVZCZCXRO3488 PP RUEHDBU RUEHFL RUEHKW RUEHLA RUEHROV RUEHSR DE RUEHPG #1252 2821111 ZNY CCCCC ZZH P 091111Z OCT 06 FM AMEMBASSY PRAGUE TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 8070 INFO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE RUEHUNV/USMISSION UNVIE VIENNA 0031 RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 0187 RUEHUB/USINT HAVANA 0071
C O N F I D E N T I A L PRAGUE 001252
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/06/2016
TAGS: UNGA PREL PHUM EUN CU UN EZ
SUBJECT: CZECHS ON UNGA AND CUBA RESOLUTION
REF: A. STATE 163498
B. STATE 168341
Classified By: Political-Economic Counselor Michael Dodman, for reasons
1.4 (B) & (D)
C O N F I D E N T I A L PRAGUE 001252
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/06/2016
TAGS: UNGA PREL PHUM EUN CU UN EZ
SUBJECT: CZECHS ON UNGA AND CUBA RESOLUTION
REF: A. STATE 163498
B. STATE 168341
Classified By: Political-Economic Counselor Michael Dodman, for reasons
1.4 (B) & (D)
1. (U) Polec Counselor and Poloff met October 6 with Czech
MFA UN Department Director Jan Kara to discuss Czech
impressions of UNGA to date, and specifically Ref A proposal
on the Cuba embargo resolution (note that Ref B was received
subsequent to our meeting. Several issues in Ref B were
covered in our meeting and are reported below; remainder will
be covered in a follow-up meeting).
UNGA Resolution on Cuba embargo
--------------
2. (C) Kara was skeptical about the USG proposal to include
language condemning the human rights situation in Cuba in the
expected UNGA Resolution condemning the U.S. embargo of Cuba.
He stressed that the Czechs fully support the human rights
language the USG has proposed (and confirmed that he has
reviewed the proposal with the MFA Human Rights Department,
with whom we had discussed Ref A on September 29). Kara
noted that the USG proposal would be discussed among EU
members in the upcoming COHUM meeting (October 10) and CONUN
(October 11). He could not predict whether or not the EU as
a whole would support, but felt that regardless the idea had
no chance of success in the UNGA, where he expects most
members will object on procedural grounds to a proposal to
add human rights criticisms to the embargo resolution.
Acknowledging that no progress on Cuba could be expected in
the Human Rights Council, Kara wondered why the USG was not
proposing to introduce a resolution on Cuban in the Third
Committee.
Guatemala versus Venezuela
--------------
3. (C) Kara, who had just returned from several weeks in New
York, said he could not predict the outcome of the October 16
vote for the UNSC. He said that the Czech Republic remains a
strong supporter of Guatemala, and confirmed that the Czechs
are working to lobby other countries to vote against
Venezuela. When pressed for details, Kara said that Czech UN
Ambassador Martin Palous was undertaking the effort
personally in New York, and could provide no details on
specific targets or results. (Note: Palous, the former
Czech Ambassador in Washington, is a former dissident and
strong supporter of human rights, notably in Cuba. We
believe he will be an passionate advocate for votes against
Venezuela.)
Czech UNSC campaign
--------------
4. (C) Kara discussed the Czech campaign for a UNSC seat in
2007, estimating that the Czech Republic has secured 80 votes
for its bid as opposed to 30 for Croatia (the Czechs' only
rival for the seat). Kara thought the Croatians probably
lost votes as a result of President Mesic's visit to Cuba for
the Non-Aligned Summit.
New Secretary General
--------------
5. (C) Kara had little to say about the likely new SYG,
except to note that FM Ban did not have the force of
personality that had proven important to the successes of
previous SYGs.
GRABER
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/06/2016
TAGS: UNGA PREL PHUM EUN CU UN EZ
SUBJECT: CZECHS ON UNGA AND CUBA RESOLUTION
REF: A. STATE 163498
B. STATE 168341
Classified By: Political-Economic Counselor Michael Dodman, for reasons
1.4 (B) & (D)
1. (U) Polec Counselor and Poloff met October 6 with Czech
MFA UN Department Director Jan Kara to discuss Czech
impressions of UNGA to date, and specifically Ref A proposal
on the Cuba embargo resolution (note that Ref B was received
subsequent to our meeting. Several issues in Ref B were
covered in our meeting and are reported below; remainder will
be covered in a follow-up meeting).
UNGA Resolution on Cuba embargo
--------------
2. (C) Kara was skeptical about the USG proposal to include
language condemning the human rights situation in Cuba in the
expected UNGA Resolution condemning the U.S. embargo of Cuba.
He stressed that the Czechs fully support the human rights
language the USG has proposed (and confirmed that he has
reviewed the proposal with the MFA Human Rights Department,
with whom we had discussed Ref A on September 29). Kara
noted that the USG proposal would be discussed among EU
members in the upcoming COHUM meeting (October 10) and CONUN
(October 11). He could not predict whether or not the EU as
a whole would support, but felt that regardless the idea had
no chance of success in the UNGA, where he expects most
members will object on procedural grounds to a proposal to
add human rights criticisms to the embargo resolution.
Acknowledging that no progress on Cuba could be expected in
the Human Rights Council, Kara wondered why the USG was not
proposing to introduce a resolution on Cuban in the Third
Committee.
Guatemala versus Venezuela
--------------
3. (C) Kara, who had just returned from several weeks in New
York, said he could not predict the outcome of the October 16
vote for the UNSC. He said that the Czech Republic remains a
strong supporter of Guatemala, and confirmed that the Czechs
are working to lobby other countries to vote against
Venezuela. When pressed for details, Kara said that Czech UN
Ambassador Martin Palous was undertaking the effort
personally in New York, and could provide no details on
specific targets or results. (Note: Palous, the former
Czech Ambassador in Washington, is a former dissident and
strong supporter of human rights, notably in Cuba. We
believe he will be an passionate advocate for votes against
Venezuela.)
Czech UNSC campaign
--------------
4. (C) Kara discussed the Czech campaign for a UNSC seat in
2007, estimating that the Czech Republic has secured 80 votes
for its bid as opposed to 30 for Croatia (the Czechs' only
rival for the seat). Kara thought the Croatians probably
lost votes as a result of President Mesic's visit to Cuba for
the Non-Aligned Summit.
New Secretary General
--------------
5. (C) Kara had little to say about the likely new SYG,
except to note that FM Ban did not have the force of
personality that had proven important to the successes of
previous SYGs.
GRABER