CZECH REPUBLIC: 2005-2006 REPORT ON ALLIED

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 06 PRAGUE 000166 SIPDIS SIPDIS DEPT FOR PM/SNA AND EUR/NCE, DOD FOR OSD/PA&E, OASD/ISA/EUR, OASD/ISA/NP, OASD/ISA/AP, OASD/ISA/NESA AND OASD/ISA/BTF E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: MCAP PREL NATO EZ SUBJECT: CZECH REPUBLIC: 2005-2006 REPORT ON ALLIED CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE COMMON DEFENSE REF: STATE 223383 ¶1. The following information is provided in response to reftel. Note that one dollar equals approximately 23 Czech crowns (CZK). ¶2. General Assessment. The Czech Republic is a close ally of the United States, operating in support of U.S. objectives both in Europe and farther afield. The Czechs have not wavered in their participation in the War on Terror. The Czechs are solid members of the NATO alliance and continue to use NATO priorities to direct the focus of their defense policy. The Czech Republic remains a proponent of NATO expansion and is supportive of U.S. efforts to prevent EU defense planning from sapping NATO resources. The Czech Republic currently contributes over 800 soldiers, observers, monitors, specialists, and civilian police throughout the world. The Czechs, military, capacity-building, and economic contributions to aspects of the War on Terror are detailed in paragraphs 3-4, 6, 10-12, 29 and 32. --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- CZECH DEPLOYMENTS IN 2004-2005 --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ¶3. IRAQ: In 2004 and 2005 the Czech Republic maintained a deployment of 100 troops near Basra to train Iraqi military police. Additionally the Czechs provided a ten-member medical team to work in a British field hospital near Basra from January 2004 until the end of 2005. The Czechs also volunteered for the NATO Training Mission-Iraq, detailing six MPs to Baghdad and approving a USD 200,000 contribution to the Trust Fund to support this mission. Training of Iraqi army soldiers in the Czech Republic is also ongoing, with 100 Iraqi soldiers taking the training in 2005 calendar. In 2005 the Ministry of Defense donated 35 tons of arms and ammunition to the Iraqi Ministry of Culture to assist in the protection of sites of significant cultural heritage. The MFA fully allocated a 200 million Czech crown ($8.7 million USD) fund specifically designated for Iraqi reconstruction. The GOCR in 2004 announced donations of 46 tons of weapons and ammunition for U.S. training of Georgian troops in preparation for a deployment to Iraq. Delivery was completed in 2005 (Note: The donation earned disapproving comments from Russian officials in the press, who claimed such assistance could complicate Georgia,s internal situation. End note). The Czechs were also very active in capacity building for Iraq, see para 10. ¶4. AFGHANISTAN: In 2004-2005 the Czechs maintained between 15 and 50 ISAF specialists in Kabul, fulfilling EOD engineering, demining, and air-traffic-control missions. Between March and September 2004, the GOCR deployed a 112-man Special Operations Force company in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. They served as part of CFC-A, under U.S. command. Upon the return of the special forces the Czechs bolstered their commitment to ISAF by providing 40 light infantry reconnaissance troops and medical staff to the German PRT near Konduz. In 2005 the GOCR began planning for a second deployment of special forces to Afghanistan, again under U.S. command. This mission is on schedule to begin in Spring 2006. The MOD elected to spend much of its USD $6 million Coalition Support Fund allocation on weapons and equipment for this special forces mission. In 2004 the Czech Government also made a donation of 6000 tons of ammunition to Afghanistan, material that was delivered by General Dynamics in 2005. ¶5. THE BALKANS: The Czech Republic continued its robust engagement in the Balkans in 2004-2005 deploying 600 troops for the KFOR mission in Kosovo and 90 troops as part of the EU's operation in Bosnia. In Kosovo they operated in a joint battalion with 100 Slovaks in Multinational Brigade-Center. The Czechs took command of the brigade in August 2005, assuming responsibility for the security of over half of Kosovo,s population. In Bosnia, 25 troops were accompanied by two M-17 helicopters, and 40 Czechs joined 40 Austrians in a mechanized infantry unit. ¶6. NATO: In addition to ongoing contributions to ISAF in Kabul and Konduz, Parliament also authorized the PRAGUE 00000166 002 OF 006 participation of Czech NBC Defense units in the NRF in 2004-2005. The Czechs provided an NBC Reconnaissance Platoon and Decontamination unit to NRF 2. Also from 1 July 2004 to 13 Jan 2005 the Czechs were the lead nation for the Multinational Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear (CBRN) Battalion in NRF 3. The 312th CBRN Battalion n provided the headquarters and a NBC Defense company (plus) to this effort that included a deployment to protect the summer Olympics in Athens. An additional 35-member NBC platoon joined the NATO Reaction Force in the second half of 2005. --- --- --- --- -------------- --- --- --- -------------- --- --- OTHER BILATERAL ACTIVITY WITH THE UNITED STATES --- --- --- --- -------------- --- --- --- -------------- --- --- ¶7. Defense Minister Karel Kuehnl in 2005 offered the use of Czech military training ranges and airspace for the use of U.S. special operations forces stationed in Germany and elsewhere. The United States began such training in December 2005 ¶8. In April 2004 four soldiers from the Texas and Nebraska National Guards participated in a disaster training exercise in Usti nad Labem. In June the Texas Army National Guard sent a 16-man armor platoon to Vyskov to participate in a simulation exercise with the Czech Defense University. In July the Nebraska National Guard sent six instructors to Plzen for three weeks to facilitate English-language discussions focused on military topics at Western Bohemia University. ¶9. In March 2005 Czech infantry soldiers from the 71st Mechanized Battalion trained at the Combat Maneuver Training Center, Hohenfels, Germany, alongside a Texas National Guard infantry company. In June the Czech Military University hosted a 35 member Texas National Guard cavalry squadron staff and platoon at Vyskov and Brno to participate in simulation exercises with a Czech mechanized brigade. In July the Nebraska National Guard again sent six instructors to Plzen for three weeks to facilitate international discussions. In December, as part of a KFOR mission rehearsal exercise, 90 Czech soldiers from the 71st Mechanized Battalion trained with the Kosovo-Bound Texas National Guard Task Force Falcon at the Joint Multinational Readiness Center, also at Hohenfels. --- --- --- --- --- --- - Capacity Building in Iraq --- --- --- --- --- --- - ¶10. The Czech Republic is active in civilian assistance to Iraq. It has contributed to training more than 200 Iraqi judges at the CEELI Institute in Prague, has brought Iraqi diplomats for training at the Czech diplomatic academy and Czech police instructors participate in police training in Jordan as part of an ongoing since November 2003. The Czech government is helping to sponsor a number of Iraqi students pursuing graduate economic studies at the Prague campus of the Center for Economic Research and Graduate Education (CERGE-EI). The GOCR also regularly provided assistance to facilitate Iraqi citizens living in the Czech Republic to vote in the series of Iraqi elections in 2005 ¶11. People in Need (PIN),an NGO with close financial and personnel ties to the Czech Government, began training Iraqi civil society in August 2005 at a center located in Amman, Jordan, with the working title, The Democracy and Transition Center. The project is 75 percent funded by the Czech MFA. This Center trains carefully selected Iraqi journalists on their role in transforming society, and on professional ethics. It also helps Iraqi NGOs develop management skills, and provides training for the trainers. In 2006, PIN plans to expand the training program at the Center to include Iraqi civil servants. ¶12. The MFA remains committed to Iraqi reconstruction and has allocated their entire 200 million Czech crown (approximately $8.7m USD) Iraqi reconstruction budget; a fund that they successfully protected from attempts to raid it after the tsunami disaster in Southeast Asia. In addition, a separate SIPDIS PRAGUE 00000166 003 OF 006 "transformation assistance" fund will continue to offer pilot programs assisting Iraqi NGO's. A project for NGO training in Iraq, which will continue into at least 2008, will be funded by the MFA,s Transformation Assistance Office. Additional Czech assistance to Iraq has focused on the protection of Iraqi cultural heritage (restoration of manuscripts in the National Library of Baghdad),provision of equipment for the Police Academy at Az Zubayr and specialized training programs for experts in various fields. --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- -- DEFENSE STRUCTURE AND REFORM IN THE CZECH REPUBLIC --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- -- ¶13. STRUCTURE: Effective 1 January 2004, the Czechs Integrated the MOD and General Staff, dissolved the services and created two operational commands*the Joint Forces Command, responsible for training, command and control of units in peacetime and the Support and Training Command. Several organizations were kept under the MOD General Staff, e.g. military police, special forces, the Defense University. All Czech forces deployed abroad come under the command of the Joint Operational Commander/Center of the General Staff. In July 2005, Specialized Forces (NBC Defense, Passive Surveillance) were reintegrated into regular Army and Air Force units. These units had previously been part of a special command and later under separate command and control within the JFC. In 2005 the Polish-Czech-Slovak multinational brigade was disbanded. The brigade was based on similar regional units created after the expansion on NATO in 1999. It was seen as a vehicle to assist Slovakia towards NATO accession. That being done the unit lost its principal raison d'etre. With NRF and EU Battle Group requirements the Czechs no longer have the luxury of supporting such units. ¶14. PERSONNEL: The Czech armed forces ended conscription on 31 December 2004, completing the transition to an all-volunteer force. The force was short 2000 professionals in 2005 due to force structure issues. The MOD expects to correct these problems and recruit sufficient numbers in 2006. ¶15. PROCUREMENT AND FORCE MODERNIZATION: The 2004 tender to select a modern supersonic fighter was fraught with problems, including allegations of corruption. The GOCR eventually signed a contract to lease 14 Gripen supersonic fighters for its air force for a period of ten years. These problems were likely the reason that the MOD chose to have an outside body, Price Waterhouse Coopers, manage the Czech Republic,s next major tender (for USD 1 billion in armored personnel carriers),hoping to promote transparency and preserve the integrity of the selection process. Although there were some concerns with the decision by the MOD to reopen the final submission process in late 2005, overall we believe this was the most professionally managed and conducted high value military tender in recent memory. The official result of the tender were announced in early 2006: The government selected Vienna-based Steyr-Daimler-Puch Spezialfahrzeug GmbH, a part of General Dynamics European Land Combat Systems, to supply the Czech army with up to 243 new eight-wheeled Pandur II armored vehicles between 2007 and 2012. In November 2004 the GOCR completed the modernization of its T-72M4 CZ. After some difficulties with suppliers, cost-overruns and force structure changes the program eventually produced 35 tanks, which are now in service. Strategic airlift remains a critical shortfall for the Czech armed forces, which are widely deployed and have relied in part on the U.S. to fund its deployments. Attempts to acquire strategic transport aircraft in exchange for Russian debt floundered in 2004. After first expressing interest in procuring C-130s in 2004, the Ministry of Defense continues to gather information for a possible procurement. In 2005 the Czech Government also proposed to spend $200m to purchase 977 trucks from Tatra, a domestic supplier, a unit of U.S. firm Terex Corp. In July 2005, the Czech government approved a privatization plan for Aero Vodochody, the aircraft company responsible for the L-159 subsonic fighter. Aero Vodochody was formerly partnered with Boeing until their 2004 split. In exchange for the Russian debt, the ACR acquired 7 Mi-35 and 16 Mi-171S helicopters in 2005. An additional 3 Mi-35s will be received in 2006. In 2005, the MOD signed agreements to purchase 24 PRAGUE 00000166 004 OF 006 AMRAAM air-to-air missiles for $16m, the largest purchase to date of U.S. military equipment using Czech national funds. --- --- --- --- -------------- --- --- --- -- Major Developments in Defense Policy --- --- --- --- -------------- --- --- --- -- ¶16. The most important defense-related decisions in 2004 and 2005 centered on ongoing deployments in support of U.S. and NATO-led missions. The results of these decisions are outlined above. The required support in Parliament for overseas deployment was generally good, although there was some hesitancy over the continued presence of Iraqi troops in Iraq, even though the Czech Republic did not experience the level of public dissatisfaction that was expressed in other European countries. The Czech Government and even the opposition parties (with the exception of the Communist Party) have supported the U.S. efforts in Iraq. ¶17. Spending: In 2004 though the economy has recovered from the 2002 floods, Defense spending was USD $2.1 billion, rising to USD $2.22 billion in 2005. This represents approximately 1.81 percent of GDP. Current Defense Minister Karel Kuehnl has waged a public battle for maintaining defense spending at two percent of GDP, saying that a shortfall will have significant consequences for reform and professionalization of the army. ¶18. The cornerstones of Czech defense reform policy remain the acquisition, by the promised dates, of its fourteen Prague Capability Commitments, and its preparations for participation in the NATO Reaction Force. ¶19. In 2004 new Defense Minister Kuehnl listed his priorities as fulfilling the country's obligations toward NATO, continuing defense reform, practicing sound personnel policy, and strengthening civilian control of the military. ¶20. When the reform plan is completed in 2008, the Czech military will have shrunk from a high of 162,000 conscripted soldiers in 1993 when the Czech Republic separated from Slovakia to as few as 30,000 professional soldiers. Territorial defense units will be abolished with the intention of having as many troops available for NATO deployments as possible. By the end of the reform, the Czech Republic will have force structure equivalent to one U.S. mechanized division and one composite air force squadron. They will be able to deploy up to a 3000-person brigade for low-intensity Article V operations. (High-intensity Article V operations would require mobilization, but these troops would generally not be deployable outside the territory of the Czech Republic.) Additionally, by following NATO guidance and remaining firm in their commitment to acquire the capabilities pledged at the Prague Summit in 2002, the Czech Republic's armed forces will become heavily specialized in NBC defense, passive surveillance, and military medical capabilities. As a result of having a smaller, more specialized military, the Czech Republic will rely more on NATO to confront threats to their territorial and national security. The Czech Republic, however, will be able to contribute more to NATO's out of area deployments. A key feature of the reform plan is the Czech plan to participate in operations conducted by the NATO Reaction Force. In order to achieve these goals with fewer resources, the Czech Defense Ministry has implemented a plan of force reduction, civilian layoff, base closures and realignment of existing units. ¶21. Progress of the modified reform plan: The Reform plan revised after budget cuts in May 2003, has been well executed in 2004 and 2005. The cornerstone of this reform has been the full professionalization of the force. Additionally, the past two years witnessed the streamlining of force structure as five operational commands were reduced to two and the MOD and General Staff were integrated. A significant number of obsolete or redundant bases were relocated or closed. Large stores of excess equipment and ammunition were sold, donated or destroyed. Long-term programs which diverted significant funds from the MOD budget such as the L-159 acquisition and the T-72 modernization came to an end. The tender for the PRAGUE 00000166 005 OF 006 new wheeled armored vehicle to replace the ancient OT-64 was approved as was the tender for new medium and heavy trucks. Major progress was made reorganizing the training and education system with the creation of a Defense University. --- --- -------------- EU CFSP/ESDP --- --- -------------- ¶22. The Czech Republic views NATO as the cornerstone of its defense policy and has opposed efforts within the EU to form a separate European command structure or structured military cooperation that would either undermine NATO or create duplicative structures. Prague is a strong supporter of the Berlin-Plus agreement In November 2005 the MFA hosted a major seminar on the European Union,s Battlegroups concept, and announced it would field an EU Battlegroup in 2009. The Czech Republic joined the European Union in May 2004. As one of the new bloc of members the Czechs are gaining confidence in their interactions in Brussels, and have shown themselves to be a reliable U.S. ally when addressing issues such as the EU's China arms embargo. --- --- --- --- NONPROLIFERATION --- --- --- --- ¶23. The Czech Republic is a member in good standing of every major arms control and international regime for the control of weapons of mass destruction and delivery technology. They are members of the Missile Technology Control Regime, the Australia Group, the CBW and the Wassenaar Arrangement. On issues not covered by any treaty, convention or control regime, the Czechs have made notable efforts to conduct all transactions and sales of military equipment in a transparent manner. ¶24. Czech law currently prevents domestic firms from supplying equipment to Iran's Bushehr nuclear power plant. The Czech Republic continues to suffer the effects of an informal trade embargo imposed by Iran in retaliation. In 2004 and 2005 the GOCR was a consistent proponent of maintaining the EU arms embargo against China. ¶25. In May and June 2005 the Czech Republic hosted BOHEMIAN GUARD, a major Proliferation Security Initiative (PSI) exercise. --- --- --- --- -------------- --- --- --- --- --- - LEGAL CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE WAR ON TERRORISM --- --- --- --- -------------- --- --- --- --- --- - ¶26. The Czech Republic have now ratified all major anti-terrorism conventions. In December 2004 the Czech Republic ratified the Convention for the Suppression of Unlawful Acts Against the Safety of Maritime Navigation (SUA),Protocol for the Suppression of Unlawful Acts Against the Safety of Fixed Platforms Located on the Continental Shelf. --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- GRANT AID, PEACEKEEPING AND HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ¶27. The Czech Republic provided grant aid, assistance to humanitarian projects, disaster relief, and support for humanitarian projects in developing countries in 2004-2005. 2005 saw a record total disbursement of USD 16.6 million, up from USD 2.2 million in 2004. Of this USD 8.3 million was for Iraqi reconstruction. In addition, humanitarian relief included Pakistan earthquake relief (USD 4.6 million), Southeast Asia tsunami relief (USD 1.2 million),and U.S. Hurricane Katrina relief (USD 652,000). ¶28. Hurricane Katrina: The Czech contribution for Hurricane Katrina relief in the U.S. was the largest contribution among the Visegrad-4. The Czech Republic provided 24,000 blankets, 600 cots, and 14 large tents for the victims of hurricane Katrina. The items were delivered by NATO airlift. The City of Prague approved CZK 16 million (USD 700,000) in assistance PRAGUE 00000166 006 OF 006 for Hurricane Katrina relief. Both the MFA and Prague City Hall have pledged coordination of their resources for longer-term assistance offers. ¶29. International Disasters: The GOCR provided 230 million crowns of assistance to victims of the Asian tsunami, divided into 40 million crowns of humanitarian assistance and 190 million crowns of reconstruction projects. The Czech government assistance to victims of the Pakistan Earthquake totals approximately $4.6 million (110 million CZK). The Ministry of Defense spent about USD 1.5 million on Pakistan earthquake relief (USD 625,000 to send doctors to a Dutch hospital in Pakistan and USD 835,000 on NATO flights),the Ministry of the Interior spent USD 417,000 on medevacs from Pakistan, In the aftermath of the disaster the Czech Republic sent an initial medical team, tents and 12 tons of other emergency supplies. The team left all medical equipment for local use when they returned home. Czech private donations via local NGOs for relief efforts in Pakistan were estimated at well over $1 million. ¶30. Direct Cost Sharing. Not Applicable. There are no stationed U.S. forces in the Czech Republic. ¶31. Indirect Cost Sharing. Not Applicable. There are no stationed U.S. forces in the Czech Republic. --- --- --- -------------- OUTLOOK FOR 2006 --- --- --- -------------- ¶32. The Czech Republic will increase its engagement in international security in 2006 The Czech Parliament has already given the necessary constitutional approval for deployment of 150 troops to Afghanistan, the continued presence of 100 military police in Iraq, and transfer of Czech troops to NTM-I The government also has approval to maintain up to 590 troops in the Balkans under NATO, and up to 70 troops in that region under the EU. Additionally the parliament has authorized deployment of 20 troops as part of the NATO Rapid Reaction Force that will comprise a CIMIC detachment. The Czech Army will achieve initial operational capability of its reform in 2006. The Czech Republic is currently considering a plan to establish a Provincial Reconstruction Team in Afghanistan. ¶33. In 2006, the MFA hopes to reach a 65/35 balance between assistance funding for emergency relief projects and existing crises. While much of the humanitarian assistance will depend on emerging crises around the world, thus far the GOCR plans to focus on the "forgotten crisis" of sub-Saharan Africa and on avian flu outbreaks. At the recent Afghanistan Donors Conference in London, the GOCR announced over USD 1 million (CZK 25 million) to support Czech NGOs, demining projects, and UN activities in Afghanistan. ¶34. Point of Contact for this report is Brian Greaney, External Affairs Chief, 420-257 530 663 xt 2306 (tel.) 420-257 532 717 (fax),greaneybe@state.gov (email). CABANISS