CZECHS WELCOME INDIA NUCLEAR DEAL, ASK ABOUT

C O N F I D E N T I A L PRAGUE 000259 SIPDIS SIPDIS STATE FOR EUR/NCE E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/08/2016 TAGS: PREL ENRG KSCA IN PARM KNNP ETTC EZ SUBJECT: CZECHS WELCOME INDIA NUCLEAR DEAL, ASK ABOUT LONGER TERM GLOBAL STRATEGY REF: STATE 34761 Classified By: A/DCM Michael Dodman for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) ¶1. (C) A/DCM March 9 met with Czech MFA Political Director Martin Povejsil to solicit Czech support for the U.S.-India Civil Nuclear Cooperation Initiative. Povejsil warmly welcomed the deal, congratulating the United States on successfully completing a difficult negotiation. He shared that the Czech Republic had been closely following progress of negotiations and looked forward to finding a niche in supplying Czech civil nuclear technology to India. Prime Minister Paroubek, visiting India in January, had issued a joint statement with his GOI hosts that looked forward to enhanced nuclear cooperation (an excerpt from that joint statement is listed in paragraph 4). Povejsil said the GOCR would continue to stay abreast of implementation of the agreement both in India and the United States. He also foresaw challenges in the practical management of the division of India's civil and military nuclear assets. ¶2. (C) Povejsil warned that presentation to the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) would have to be done effectively, and promised Czech support for the U.S. in promoting this agreement. He shared that the EU has found no common position on the issue, with a clear dividing line separating those for and against the deal. Povejsil did not fully elaborate on where the divisions lay, but mentioned Ireland as an example of a member state opposed to EU support for the deal. ¶3. (C) Calling the agreement a "redrawing of the global map," Povejsil said other countries in the region and around the world would see the U.S.-India deal as a precedent and would act to take advantage of the new paradigm. He said he would welcome more information on U.S. strategy for global civil-nuclear control in the future, as something different from the Nonproliferation Treaty Regime emerged. He looks forward to discussing the issue further during his consultations in Washington the week of March 20. ¶4. (U) (Begin excerpt of joint press statement) Visit of Prime Minister of the Czech Republic to India, New Delhi, January 19, 2006. The Prime Minister of the Czech Republic, H.E. Mr Jiri Paroubek, paid a working visit to India from January 17 to 19, 2006. H.E. Mr Paroubek held wide-ranging discussions with President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh, Defence Minister Pranab Mukherji, Commerce & Industry Minister Kamal Nath and Minister of State for Heavy Industries & Public Enterprises, Santosh Mohan Dev ... In the context of efforts of both countries for greater energy security and to develop stable, sustainable and efficient energy sources, both sides agreed on the need to promote greater international cooperation in promoting strengthening nuclear energy as a safe, environment-friendly and sustainable source of energy, in accordance with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Statute and other relevant agreements. While following with interest recent developments in the Indian civil nuclear initiatives with other countries, the Czech Republic stands ready to explore the possibilities of opening new trade avenues in the peaceful uses of nuclear energy, consistent with its international obligations. The Czech Republic and India agree to pursue further opportunities for the development of the purely peaceful uses of nuclear energy on the basis of the 1966 bilateral agreement in this regard. (End excerpt) CABANISS