CZECHS ON NOVEMBER 13-14 GAERC

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 PRAGUE 001406 SIPDIS SIPDIS EUR/NCE FOR ERIC FICHTE E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/08/2016 TAGS: PREL PGOV PHUM UNAUS EUN YI SR BK CG IS LE IR, RS, UZ, CU, KPAL, EZ SUBJECT: CZECHS ON NOVEMBER 13-14 GAERC REF: A. STATE 183545 ¶B. STATE 664065 ¶C. PRAGUE 1387 ¶D. PRAGUE 1386 Classified By: Acting DCM Mike Dodman for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). ¶1. (C) Summary. At the November 13 GAERC the Czechs expect the focus to be on the Middle East (Iran, Israel/Palestine, Lebanon),Russia, and the Balkans. Czech policy closely mirrors U.S. policy in these regions/countries. Specifically, the Czechs support: (1) a strong UNSC resolution with sanctions for Iran, (2) continuing sanctions for Uzbekistan, (3) close cooperation with Russia (while remaining firm on Russian human rights violations),(4) a stronger EU common position on Cuba, (5) no or minimal delay in final status for Kosovo, (6) full compliance with ICTY for Serbia, and free or low cost visas for Serbian youth. Also, the EU plans to discuss ways to provide increased civilian assistance in Afghanistan, and issue conclusions calling for an end to Israeli overflights in Lebanon. End summary. ¶2. (SBU) Poloff met November 9 with Czech MFA's CFSP Department officials Veronika Musilova and Magda Janesova to discuss the November 13 GAERC and deliver ref A talking points. -------------- Balkans -------------- ¶3. (C) The Czech position on the Balkans remains unchanged. On Kosovo, Czechs agree that delay of the status process makes little sense. However, if a very short delay becomes necessary because of the December Serbian elections, the Czechs suggest a delay until February, when Slovakia is presiding over the UNSC, rather than January, when Russia is presiding. The Czechs would be interested in leadership positions in the new civilian mission in Kosovo (and are pleased that Antonin Zlinsky from the Czech Ministry of Defense is serving this mission as the security and logistics officer),or a position as political advisor to the commander of the KFOR mission. ¶4. (C) On Serbia, the EU will discuss what can be offered to Serbia at the upcoming GAERC. The desire is to offer Serbia support without appearing to offer "compensation" for the possible loss of Kosovo. Czechs continue to call for full ICTY compliance, and encourage Serbia's Euro-Atlantic aspirations. The Czechs believe visas to Europe should be free or low cost, especially for young Serbs (90% of whom have never left Serbia). The EU will announce a visa facilitation mandate for Serbia at the GAERC, which will allow negotiations on visas to begin. ¶5. (C) On Bosnia, the Czechs are pleased with the election results. They are encouraging the Bosnians to take the needed reforms seriously, especially police reform. Stabilization and Association Agreement talks cannot proceed without significant progress on these reforms. -------------- Russia -------------- ¶6. (C) Czechs agree the U.S. and EU should continue to cooperate with Russia on international issues. Clearly, Russia is an important partner. However, the U.S. and the EU must remain firm on Russia's human rights violations and anti-democratic trends. Regarding Russia's announced plan to double the cost of gas for Georgia, MFA Director of Eastern European Department Tomas Szunyog told poloff in a separate meeting on November 3 that the Czechs believe Russia acted improperly. Szunyog explained that the Czechs do not oppose market prices for Russian gas; however, the correct market price (which may not be the price paid by wealthy Western European countries) and the timing of the increase should be fairly negotiated between the countries without political pressure, and the increase to the negotiated rate should be implemented over a period of time, not in January 2007. -------------- Israeli-Palestinian Issues -------------- ¶7. (C) The Czechs urge the Israelis and the Palestinians to PRAGUE 00001406 002 OF 003 exercise restraint. They hope Palestinian President Abbas will succeed in establishing a unity government that will accept the Quartet principles. The Czechs agree that movement and access remains an important issue, and support the Karni plan. Janesova called the humanitarian situation in Palestine "alarming," and said the Czechs would like Israel to consent to the opening at Karni to ease the suffering. ¶8. (C) In a separate meeting on November 8, Acting Director of the Middle East and Africa Department Pavel Rezac expressed concern that the current funding mechanism for humanitarian aid in Palestine does not appear to function as intended. Without providing further information Rezac said he believed the funds are being disbursed primarily to supporters of Hamas. -------------- Lebanon -------------- ¶9. (C) The Czechs share the U.S. view that there is an Hizballah/Syrian effort to bring Prime Minister Siniora down or force him into a new cabinet where his opponents will have a "blocking one-third" (Ref B). In a separate meeting on November 8, Czech Ambassador to Lebanon Jan Cisek predicted that if "consultations" proposed by Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri failed to achieve a compromise acceptable to Hizballah and Syrian actors, Hizballah could call people into the streets as early as November 18. ¶10. (C/NF) The EU is concerned about continuing Israeli overflights, which it believes undermines the sovereign authority of, and public support for, the Siniora government. The Czechs share EU concerns, but were concerned that the original draft conclusions on the overflights were unbalanced. The Czechs asked for the term "provocative" to be removed, and asked for a statement about the reason for the overflights to be included in the final text. -------------- Iran -------------- ¶11. (C) The Czechs continue to support a strong UNSC resolution to impose sanctions on Iran. However, the Czechs are open to renewed negotiations with Iran if it ceases enrichment. The foreign ministers will discuss Iran's nuclear activities at the GAERC Foreign Ministers' lunch, and plan to explore ways to support Iranian civil society at the next GAERC in December. -------------- Congo -------------- ¶12. (U) The Czechs welcomed the peaceful elections and call on both candidates to respect the election results. -------------- Uzbekistan -------------- ¶13. (C) The Czechs support continuing sanctions on Uzbekistan. However, some EU member states support weakening existing sanctions. -------------- Cuba -------------- ¶14. (C) The Czechs continue to look for ways to raise support within the EU for a Cuba common position with teeth. (Note: The Czech NGO International Committee for Democracy in Cuba (ICDC) will host a conference on Cuba in Berlin during the German presidency in support of this objective. End note.) The Czechs will continue to urge the EU to call on the regime to release political prisoners, respect fundamental human rights, and permit free and fair multi-party elections. -------------- Afghanistan -------------- ¶15. (C) The EU will explore ways to increase civilian missions in Afghanistan to help stabilize the country. The Czechs, who will open an Embassy in Kabul in January, PRAGUE 00001406 003 OF 003 strongly support this initiative. The Czechs plan to send police trainers to serve with a German team already working in-country. Post intends to seek further information on this initiative. GRABER