Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06PRAGUE170
2006-02-16 17:45:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Prague
Cable title:
CZECHS OPPOSE VENEZUELA'S UNSC AMBITIONS; THOUGHTS
how-toVZCZCXRO9956 OO RUEHFL RUEHKW RUEHLA RUEHROV RUEHSR DE RUEHPG #0170 0471745 ZNY CCCCC ZZH O 161745Z FEB 06 FM AMEMBASSY PRAGUE TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 6969 INFO RUEHBS/USEU BRUSSELS PRIORITY RUEHNO/USMISSION USNATO PRIORITY 1687 RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK PRIORITY 0092 RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE RUEHCV/AMEMBASSY CARACAS 0008 RUEHGT/AMEMBASSY GUATEMALA 0010
C O N F I D E N T I A L PRAGUE 000170
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
STATE FOR EUR/NCE
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/15/2016
TAGS: PREL UN UNSC GT VE EZ PL
SUBJECT: CZECHS OPPOSE VENEZUELA'S UNSC AMBITIONS; THOUGHTS
ON SECRETARY GENERAL; PLANS FOR PEACEBUILDING COMMISSION
REF: A. STATE 20173
B. STATE 22833
Classified By: Acting DCM Michael Dodman for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)
C O N F I D E N T I A L PRAGUE 000170
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
STATE FOR EUR/NCE
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/15/2016
TAGS: PREL UN UNSC GT VE EZ PL
SUBJECT: CZECHS OPPOSE VENEZUELA'S UNSC AMBITIONS; THOUGHTS
ON SECRETARY GENERAL; PLANS FOR PEACEBUILDING COMMISSION
REF: A. STATE 20173
B. STATE 22833
Classified By: Acting DCM Michael Dodman for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)
1. (U) A/DCM February 16 delivered reftel demarches on (a)
Venezuela's UNSC ambitions, and (b) U.S. thoughts on the next
UN Secretary General, to Jan Kara, Director of the Czech
MFA's United Nations Department.
2. (C) Kara shared that the Czech Republic is similarly
opposed to Venezuela's campaign to win a non-permanent seat
at the UN, and has already pledged to support Guatemala's
candidacy to represent Latin AMERICA in 2007-2008.
3. (C) Kara welcomed the Unites States' focus on selecting a
competent manager as the next UN Secretary General, rather
than adhering to the customary regional rotation. Kara shared
that the Czechs and others in the region are disappointed
with the focus on Asian candidates for the post, believing
that the time has come for a Central or Eastern European to
hold the job. Kara said both Thailand and South Korea had
asked for Czech support for their candidates, but the Czechs
had replied they could not commit at this stage, as they
waited to see if a Central or Eastern European candidate
would become viable. Kara noted that the problem was that
Russia had broken ranks with other CEE states on the issue
and supported an Asian candidate, presumably as a means to
ensure that no candidate from a former Soviet state or ally
won the job. Czech leaders, including PM Paroubek, have
already spoken out in favor of former Polish President
Kwasniewski's bid, but Kara indicated there was not a formal
government position as of yet.
4. (SBU) A/DCM asked for an update on the Czech Republic's
own candidacy for a non-permanent Security Council seat. Kara
was optimistic, saying that with a year and a half to go
until the election, the Czechs had already secured the
backing of between 50 and 60 countries. He hoped the expected
departure of FM Svoboda after the June elections would not
result in a weakening of the Czech campaign for a Security
Council seat. The Czechs' opponents are Croatia and Georgia.
Kara was less optimistic about Czech chances for election to
the UNCHR, noting Polish candidacy and recent Czech
membership in the Commission.
5. (SBU) Kara also briefed us on discussions within the EU on
the new UN Peacebuilding Commission. He indicated that the
Czech Republic and Poland are the only two members of the
"ECOSOC Group" to express an interest in a seat, and
therefore Kara expected that they would end up splitting a
two-year term, with the Poles going first.
CABANISS
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
STATE FOR EUR/NCE
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/15/2016
TAGS: PREL UN UNSC GT VE EZ PL
SUBJECT: CZECHS OPPOSE VENEZUELA'S UNSC AMBITIONS; THOUGHTS
ON SECRETARY GENERAL; PLANS FOR PEACEBUILDING COMMISSION
REF: A. STATE 20173
B. STATE 22833
Classified By: Acting DCM Michael Dodman for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)
1. (U) A/DCM February 16 delivered reftel demarches on (a)
Venezuela's UNSC ambitions, and (b) U.S. thoughts on the next
UN Secretary General, to Jan Kara, Director of the Czech
MFA's United Nations Department.
2. (C) Kara shared that the Czech Republic is similarly
opposed to Venezuela's campaign to win a non-permanent seat
at the UN, and has already pledged to support Guatemala's
candidacy to represent Latin AMERICA in 2007-2008.
3. (C) Kara welcomed the Unites States' focus on selecting a
competent manager as the next UN Secretary General, rather
than adhering to the customary regional rotation. Kara shared
that the Czechs and others in the region are disappointed
with the focus on Asian candidates for the post, believing
that the time has come for a Central or Eastern European to
hold the job. Kara said both Thailand and South Korea had
asked for Czech support for their candidates, but the Czechs
had replied they could not commit at this stage, as they
waited to see if a Central or Eastern European candidate
would become viable. Kara noted that the problem was that
Russia had broken ranks with other CEE states on the issue
and supported an Asian candidate, presumably as a means to
ensure that no candidate from a former Soviet state or ally
won the job. Czech leaders, including PM Paroubek, have
already spoken out in favor of former Polish President
Kwasniewski's bid, but Kara indicated there was not a formal
government position as of yet.
4. (SBU) A/DCM asked for an update on the Czech Republic's
own candidacy for a non-permanent Security Council seat. Kara
was optimistic, saying that with a year and a half to go
until the election, the Czechs had already secured the
backing of between 50 and 60 countries. He hoped the expected
departure of FM Svoboda after the June elections would not
result in a weakening of the Czech campaign for a Security
Council seat. The Czechs' opponents are Croatia and Georgia.
Kara was less optimistic about Czech chances for election to
the UNCHR, noting Polish candidacy and recent Czech
membership in the Commission.
5. (SBU) Kara also briefed us on discussions within the EU on
the new UN Peacebuilding Commission. He indicated that the
Czech Republic and Poland are the only two members of the
"ECOSOC Group" to express an interest in a seat, and
therefore Kara expected that they would end up splitting a
two-year term, with the Poles going first.
CABANISS