Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06PRAGUE1471
2006-12-04 16:02:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Prague
how-toVZCZCXRO5701 PP RUEHDBU RUEHFL RUEHKW RUEHLA RUEHROV RUEHSR DE RUEHPG #1471 3381602 ZNY CCCCC ZZH P 041602Z DEC 06 FM AMEMBASSY PRAGUE TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 8312 INFO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L PRAGUE 001471
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
FOR EUR/NCE, EUR/SE, EUR/ERA
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/04/2016
TAGS: PREL EZ TU EUN
SUBJECT: CZECHS ON EU-TURKEY DIALOGUE
Classified By: Pol-Econ Counselor Mike Dodman for reasons 1.4 b+d
C O N F I D E N T I A L PRAGUE 001471
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
FOR EUR/NCE, EUR/SE, EUR/ERA
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/04/2016
TAGS: PREL EZ TU EUN
SUBJECT: CZECHS ON EU-TURKEY DIALOGUE
Classified By: Pol-Econ Counselor Mike Dodman for reasons 1.4 b+d
1. (C) PolCouns met December 4 with Czech MFA Director
General of the European Union Section Libor Secka to discuss
Czech views on Turkey-EU negotiations over coming days.
Secka emphasized that the Czech Republic strongly supports
continued negotiations with Turkey; this stance had been
confirmed in a meeting with PM Topolanek earlier in the day.
In terms of an EU decision next week, he said the GOCR hopes
that any restrictions on future negotiations be limited to
technical chapters, since the ports issue is a technical one.
But Secka also said the Czechs believe that the Turks must
make some "gesture" that they and like-minded EU members (and
the Presidency) can use to win over hard-liners in the coming
days.
2. (C) Secka said that PM Topolanek had made this point
directly to the Turks during last week's visit to Prague by
Turkey's Chief EU Negotiator Ali Babacan. Babacan replied
that he had "limited space for flexibility." Secka said that
he did not yet have a readout on the Finnish Prime Minister's
recent visit to Ankara, where he expected this idea would be
discussed further. But he stressed to PolCouns that he
thought it would be important for the USG to reinforce this
message in Ankara.
MUNTER
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
FOR EUR/NCE, EUR/SE, EUR/ERA
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/04/2016
TAGS: PREL EZ TU EUN
SUBJECT: CZECHS ON EU-TURKEY DIALOGUE
Classified By: Pol-Econ Counselor Mike Dodman for reasons 1.4 b+d
1. (C) PolCouns met December 4 with Czech MFA Director
General of the European Union Section Libor Secka to discuss
Czech views on Turkey-EU negotiations over coming days.
Secka emphasized that the Czech Republic strongly supports
continued negotiations with Turkey; this stance had been
confirmed in a meeting with PM Topolanek earlier in the day.
In terms of an EU decision next week, he said the GOCR hopes
that any restrictions on future negotiations be limited to
technical chapters, since the ports issue is a technical one.
But Secka also said the Czechs believe that the Turks must
make some "gesture" that they and like-minded EU members (and
the Presidency) can use to win over hard-liners in the coming
days.
2. (C) Secka said that PM Topolanek had made this point
directly to the Turks during last week's visit to Prague by
Turkey's Chief EU Negotiator Ali Babacan. Babacan replied
that he had "limited space for flexibility." Secka said that
he did not yet have a readout on the Finnish Prime Minister's
recent visit to Ankara, where he expected this idea would be
discussed further. But he stressed to PolCouns that he
thought it would be important for the USG to reinforce this
message in Ankara.
MUNTER