CZECHS AFFIRM SUPPORT FOR U.S. MIDDLE EAST POLICY

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 PRAGUE 001545

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

EUR/NCE FOR ERIC FICHTE; NEA/FO FOR PDAS JEFFREY

E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/14/2016
TAGS: PREL IZ IR EZ
SUBJECT: CZECHS AFFIRM SUPPORT FOR U.S. MIDDLE EAST POLICY
DURING VISIT OF PDAS JEFFREY


PRAGUE 00001545 001.2 OF 002


Classified By: Political-Economic Counselor Mike Dodman
for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).


1. (SBU) Summary. During a visit to Prague December 10-11,
NEA PDAS James F. Jeffrey met with MFA officials and members
of the Czech Parliament Foreign Relations Committee to
discuss Iran, recommendations of the Iraq Study Group, and
Middle East issues generally. The Czechs responded favorably
to Jeffrey's visit and affirmed their steadfast support of
U.S. policy in the Middle East and of the efforts of Radio
Free Europe/Radio Liberty. Officials at the RFE/RL
headquarters in Prague briefed Jeffrey on the USG's
Persian-/FARSI-language Radio Farda broadcasts into Iran.
End summary.


2. (SBU) During this visit, Jeffrey thanked the Czechs for
their cooperation in Iran, Iraq, Afghanistan, and Lebanon and
provided a frank assessment of the threats posed by Iran and
the situation in Iraq. He met separately with: MFA
officials, including Deputy FM Tomas Pojar, Acting Director
of the Middle East Department Pavel Rezac, Deputy Director of
the Policy Planning Department Jaroslav Olsa, and future DCM
to the Czech Embassy in Tehran Lukas Gjuric; members of the
Czech Parliament Foreign Relations Committee, including
Chairman Jan Hamacek (CSSD),former FM Cyril Svoboda
(Christian Democrat),and Jan Schwippel (ODS); Jiri
Schneider, Director of the Prague Security Studies Institute
and former MFA political director who served as Czech
Ambassador to Israel; and RFE/RL officials, including Acting
President Jeff Trimble, Chief of Staff Beth Portale, and
Director of Radio Farda Kaveh Basmenji.

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Iran, Iraq, and the ISG Report
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3. (C) The Czechs agreed with the U.S. goal not of regime
change in Tehran, but of forcing the government to change its
behavior. Officials expressed support for current U.S.
efforts on a Chapter 7 UNSC resolution and coordination to
dismantle Iranian financial networks that fund extremist
activity. (Note: the Czech government has consistently
supported U.S. policies on Iran. End note.) Deputy FM Tomas
Pojar expressed confidence that there will be no change in
Czech policy on Iraq. He promised, too, that Czech support
of USG efforts to reach out to the Iranian people through
Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty's (RFE/RL's)
Persian-/FARSI-language Radio Farda broadcasts, based in
Prague, would continue.


4. (C) During discussions on Iraq Study Group (ISG)
recommendations, Pojar initially seemed to favor the idea of
dialogue with Iran and Syria, noting the United States
maintained open lines of communication with the U.S.S.R.
throughout the Cold War. However, following more give and
take, he acceded that talks with Iran or Syria would do
little to resolve the violence in Iraq.


5. (C) Pojar agreed the situation in Iraq is not linked to
the Arab-Israeli conflict, but thought major improvements to
general regional stability might result if even moderate
progress is made in Palestine, although he was not optimistic
about the prospects. He spoke about his hope for a National
Unity Government that accepts the Quartet principles, and
noted that ongoing Jewish settlement in the occupied
territories is unhelpful.


6. (C) Pojar asked about the possibility of independence for
Kurdistan. (The Czech Republic established a trade office in
Iraqi Kurdistan in 2004.) Jeffrey said U.S. policy is and
will continue to be that Iraq should remain united. Pojar
noted the Czechs hope to open an office in Basra, similar to
the one in the northern part of the country, to promote trade
in the South as soon as security in that area improves.


7. (C) Parliamentary Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Jan
Hamacek doubted that dialogue with Iran on Iraq would be
successful. He echoed Pojar's belief that progress on the
Arab-Israeli conflict is necessary, and said the EU has an
important role to play. He expressed concern that Iraqi
troops may be unable to assume responsibility for the
security of the country because of lack of training and
equipment.


8. (C) Former FM Cyril Svoboda appreciated that the United
States has not changed its goals in the region. Apologizing
in advance for his "provocative question," however, Svoboda

PRAGUE 00001545 002.2 OF 002


asked why the U.S. is changing its tactics in Iraq only now.
He seemed to accept the argument that the surge in sectarian
violence, which has intensified since August 2006, calls for
a new political approach that will distance the Sunni
insurgency from Al Qaeda and bring Shia militias under
control. Svoboda also expressed concern about the
possibility of Iraq splitting up. Jeffrey explained that the
situation is different than the Balkans: governments in the
region and most people in Iraq oppose dividing the country.
It seems evident to all the major players that chaos would
result if Iraq is divided, particularly because the
unavoidably messy attempt to split up oil revenues would not
provide a "velvet solution."

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RFE/RL and Radio Farda
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9. (U) Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL) officials
briefed on the current status of its Persian-/FARSI-language
broadcasts into Iran. Their current data shows that 13.5 per
cent of Iranians over age 15 listen to Radio Farda despite
jamming by Iranian authorities. RFE/RL also showcased the
new RFE/RL website, launched just two weeks prior.

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Comment
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10. (C) Comment. The Czechs clearly welcomed the opportunity
to gain an insider's perspective on the ISG Report and the
changing situation in Iraq. The USG can count on ongoing
Czech cooperation in the Middle East, including support for
the Radio Farda mission in Prague. End comment.


11. (U) This cable has been cleared by PDAS Jeffrey.
GRABER