CZECH REPUBLIC: AMBASSADOR'S COURTESY CALLS ON

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 PRAGUE 001376

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

STATE FOR EUR/NCE EFICHTE

E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/04/2016
TAGS: PGOV MARR CVIS PREL EZ
SUBJECT: CZECH REPUBLIC: AMBASSADOR'S COURTESY CALLS ON
HEADS OF SENATE AND CHAMBER OF DEPUTIES


Classified By: Ambassador Richard W. Graber for reasons 1.4 b+d


1. SUMMARY. (SBU) Ambassador Graber paid courtesy calls on
the heads of the upper and lower chambers of the Czech
legislature on November 1. The two men, through from rival
political parties on opposite sides of the political
spectrum, shared similar views on foreign policy issues of
interest to the United States, such as missile defense and
foreign deployments, but differed significantly on the best
way out of the ongoing political stalemate in the Czech
Republic. END SUMMARY


2. (U) On November 1, Ambassador Graber met separately with
Premysl Sobotka, Civic Democrat (ODS) President of the Czech
Senate, and Miloslav Vlcek, Social Democrat (CSSD) Speaker of
the Chamber of Deputies. Sobotka, a Senator for ten years,
has been President of the Senate since December 2004 (and is
very likely to be returned to the position when the Senate
convenes next month with the members elected to the third of
Senate seats that were contested in last month's election).
Vlcek, on the other hand, was only made Speaker on August 14
of this year and has already promised to step down should his
party succeed in forming the next government, or should any
other party fail in the next attempt. The bookshelves in
Vlcek,s office were bare. His office, though grand, looked
as though he had not moved in yet.


3. (C) In discussions on the possible hosting of elements of
the U.S. missile defense system, both leaders made the point
that Czech public opinion needs to be better managed. Sobotka
said that he would personally welcome a U.S. facility, but
that the public and the media are opposed and need to be
shown why the system is of benefit to the Czech Republic.
Sobotka believes a referendum on the issue is not needed,
pointing out that the nation did not hold a referendum on
NATO membership. He said a simple majority in both houses
would be sufficient to approve an installation, but that the
issue will continue to be sensitive to politicians of all
stripes if the nation heads towards early elections.


4. (C) Vlcek echoed that sensitivity, claiming that the issue
could not have come at a less convenient time because some
parties were trying to exploit the issue ahead of the recent
elections. He said CSSD wanted to link the issue to a
referendum. But Vlcek, echoing CSSD Chair Paroubek, stated
that if the USG offers only a radar facility, "then a
referendum is not needed." He also stressed that many Czechs
still clearly remember the unpleasant experiences of Soviet
occupation. He believes that this explains some of the
public skepticism about a missile defense facility, and also
the public sense that the government might be "cooking
something up without the people knowing about it." Vlcek was
even-handed in saying both the United States and the Czechs
could have done a better job with public relations, noting
that a more transparent discussion to date would have reduced
some of the skepticism and misinformation. Vlcek concluded
by stating that "if we make the proper arguments, we can get
a good result. If I am still Speaker when the U.S. decision
is made, I will do what I can to help."


5. (SBU) Vlcek also said the CSSD parliamentary caucus
supports the fight against terrorism, including the
deployments in Iraq, and the promotion of democracy in places
such as Belarus and Burma.


6. (U) Sobotka was the only one of the two to raise the visa
issue, which he called "a priority." He said, though a small
issue, it is one of great symbolic importance to the Czech
people. Sobotka said he is working on a bill that would allow
Czech citizens to retain expired passports and use the valid
visas within. (Thousands of Czechs who still have valid
American visas have to apply for new visas each year because
the Czech government requires that they turn in the expiring
passport when applying for a new one. A similar bill failed
in the previous parliament when it was bundled along with
other legislation.) Sobotka said he thought the drafting of
the new bill could begin in January or February of 2007.


7. (U) The one issue on which the two political figures
differed was the question of how to break the current
political deadlock. Sobotka (ODS) argued that the Czech
electorate had sent a clear signal -- initially in the June
general election and later, more strongly, in October,s
municipal and Senate polls -- that they want a center-right
government. Sobotka said an early election in 2007 is the
only way to definitively settle the impasse.


PRAGUE 00001376 002 OF 002



8. (SBU) Vlcek, on the other hand, said he thought the
problem would be resolved "in a month," and listed three
possible scenarios, the first two of which did not include
elections next year. He thought a CSSD minority government,
a grand coalition with ODS, or a caretaker government were
all possible. On the subject of early elections, Vlcek said
that a bill introduced by Senate President Sobotka that would
alter the Constitution to facilitate the dissolution of
parliament was "interference" since it would go against the
intent of those who wrote the Constitution. He believes the
only path to early elections lies in the collapse of three
successive governments. He repeated his promise to resign if
the second government attempt were not successful. Vlcek
also made the argument that elections are costly. He
estimated that another general election would cost the nation
more than 1.5 billion crowns ($67 million) at a time when the
government is doing all it can to cut costs.
GRABER