CZECHS AGREE WITH THE U.S. ABOUT THE

C O N F I D E N T I A L PRAGUE 001388 SIPDIS SIPDIS EUR/NCE FOR ERIC FICHTE E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/05/2016 TAGS: PREL ELTN RS MD UP EZ SUBJECT: CZECHS AGREE WITH THE U.S. ABOUT THE CHISINAU-MOSCOW RAIL DISRUPTION REF: STATE 181103 Classified By: Acting Deputy Chief of Mission Michael Dodman for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). ¶1. (C) Czech MFA Director of Eastern Europe Department Tomas Szunyog told Poloffs on November 3 that the Czechs share U.S. concerns about the disruption to the Chisinau-Moscow rail link. Szunyog said the Czechs have already discussed the issue with Ukrainian officials and within the EU, and will raise the issue with Russia as well. He thought that Russia is using the rail disruption to apply economic pressure on Moldova, just as it is doing in Georgia. ¶2. (SBU) On the subject of bilateral meetings with Russia, Szunyog said the Czechs have requested a meeting with Russian FM Sergey Lavrov in Spring 2007 (the two countries traditionally schedule an annual meeting). Czech President Vaclav Klaus also plans a state visit to Moscow in April or May 2007. GRABER