CZECHS SUPPORT U.S. APPROACH TO GEORGIA/MOLDOVA

C O N F I D E N T I A L PRAGUE 001448 SIPDIS SIPDIS EUR/NCE FOR ERIC FICHTE E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/28/2016 TAGS: PREL PBTS EUN NATO OSCE MO MOPS GG RU EZ SUBJECT: CZECHS SUPPORT U.S. APPROACH TO GEORGIA/MOLDOVA CONFLICTS REF: STATE 190264 Classified By: Political-Economic Counselor Mike Dodman for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). ¶1. (SBU) The Czech delegation to the upcoming OSCE Ministerial in Brussels on December 4-5 will support the U.S. position on the resolution of conflicts in Georgia and Moldova. MFA Deputy Director of the Eastern Europe Department Martina Tauberova told Poloff on November 24 that Czech FM Alexandr (Sasha) Vondra will attend the Ministerial, and will support a ministerial declaration with elements along the lines of those set forth in reftel. (Tauberova expressed skepticism that the OSCE representatives will agree on strong language.) FM Vondra also plans to meet on the margins of the Ministerial with the Foreign Ministers of Georgia and Moldova to express ongoing Czech support. ¶2. (C) Tauberova also said the Czechs have received information that suggests Russia plans to push for independence for Transnistria within the next year or two, with the ulterior motive of placing a missile defense system on its soil. She requested Washington to confirm whether there is any merit to this information. GRABER