Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06PRAGUE425
2006-04-24 16:16:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Prague
Cable title:  

CODEL DAVIS IN CZECH REPUBLIC: TRANSATLANTIC

Tags:  PREL PGOV CVIS EUN EZ 
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VZCZCXRO2822
PP RUEHFL RUEHKW RUEHLA RUEHROV RUEHSR
DE RUEHPG #0425/01 1141616
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
P 241616Z APR 06
FM AMEMBASSY PRAGUE
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 7250
INFO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RUEHBS/USEU BRUSSELS PRIORITY
RUEHNO/USMISSION USNATO PRIORITY 1725
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 PRAGUE 000425 

SIPDIS

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EUR/NCE FOR ERIC FICHTE

E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/24/2016
TAGS: PREL PGOV CVIS EUN EZ
SUBJECT: CODEL DAVIS IN CZECH REPUBLIC: TRANSATLANTIC
RELATIONS, VISA WAIVER, AND THE MIDDLE EAST

Classified By: Acting Deputy Chief of Mission Michael Dodman for reason
s 1.4 (b) and (d).

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 PRAGUE 000425

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

EUR/NCE FOR ERIC FICHTE

E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/24/2016
TAGS: PREL PGOV CVIS EUN EZ
SUBJECT: CODEL DAVIS IN CZECH REPUBLIC: TRANSATLANTIC
RELATIONS, VISA WAIVER, AND THE MIDDLE EAST

Classified By: Acting Deputy Chief of Mission Michael Dodman for reason
s 1.4 (b) and (d).


1. (C) Summary. On April 21, 2006, a delegation of eight
members of the U.S. House of Representatives met with Czech
Prime Minister Jiri Paroubek and President Vaclav Klaus. Both
leaders stressed the importance of strong U.S.-Czech
relations; Representatives expressed strong appreciation for
these ties and the Czechs' efforts in the war on terror. The
Prime Minister described his commitment to NATO and ongoing
Czech military presence in Afghanistan, Iraq, and Kosovo. On
Kosovo and Iran he urged a cautious approach. The Prime
Minister called the visa waiver dispute the most sensitive
issue in U.S.-Czech relations, but conceded that imposing a
reciprocal visa policy would be counter-productive;
Representatives promised to raise the question on their
return to Washington. End summary.


2. (U) On April 21, 2006, a delegation of eight members of
the U.S. House of Representatives, led by Rep. Jo Ann Davis
(R-VA),met with Czech Prime Minister Jiri Paroubek and
President Vaclav Klaus. Prague followed the Codel's meetings
in Vienna for the biannual session of the US-EU Transatlantic
Legislators' Dialogue. The other members of the delegation
were Rep. Eliot Engel (D-NY),Rep. Gary Ackerman (D-NY),Rep.
Phil English (R-PA),Rep. Silvestre Reyes (D-TX),Rep. Al
Wynn (D-MD),Rep. Susan Davis (D-CA),and Rep. Solomon Ortiz
(D-TX).

--------------
Meeting with PM Paroubek
--------------


3. (C) Prime Minister Jiri Paroubek said the Czech Republic
is a staunch ally of the U.S. and remains committed to a
strong Transatlantic partnership. He also discussed Czech
military commitments, Kosovo, the visa waiver, and Iran.
Rep. Davis thanked the Prime Minister for Czech friendship
and support for U.S. objectives.


4. (C) Paroubek said the Czech Republic remains committed to
the military missions underway in Afghanistan, Iraq, and
notably Kosovo, where the Czech contingent is currently the

largest of any EU member. The Prime Minister pledged that
Czech foreign policy would not change, and would not retreat
from current commitments or NATO responsibilities, if he
remains in office after the June 2-3 elections.


5. (C) The Prime Minister expressed concern about the Balkans
in general, and the question of Kosovo independence in
particular. Drawing a distinction between Czech government
policy and his personal views, he advocated a slow movement
forward on Kosovo, taking into account the complex political
situation, property and religious rights of the minority Serb
population. He repeated his previously stated personal views
that Kosovo may need to be divided in order to protect the
interests of Kosovar Serbs. (Note: Paroubek was careful to
indicate that his personal views on Kosovo did not reflect
government policy. As reported septel, discussion with the
MFA on April 24 confirmed that Czech government views on
Kosovo are very close to those of the USG.)


6. (C) In response to a question from the Codel on the
Iranian nuclear program, the Prime Minister urged the U.S. to
continue negotiating until Iran is convinced to behave in a
responsible and reasonable manner. He shared with the Codel
the conversation he had during a recent visit to Egypt in
which President Mubarak said that Iran could be expected to
use its influence on militant groups to unleash a wave of
conflict around the world if attacked.


7. (C) The Prime Minister described visas as the most
sensitive political issue affecting U.S.-Czech relations. The
Czech public finds the current situation difficult to accept
given the extremely close relationship between the two
nations. However, Paroubek ruled out any reciprocal measures
against U.S. visitors to the Czech Republic, as these would
harm the CR's own interests. In response, Rep. Davis and
other members of the Codel said they intended to raise the
question of Czech membership in the visa waiver program (VWP)
when they returned to Washington. They expressed a desire to
investigate possible changes in U.S. legislation so that the
VWP did not take a "one size fits all" approach, i.e., a
possible shift in legislation such that criteria for
membership in the VWP would be different for allies like the
Czech Republic. In comments to the press reiterating a
desire to discuss the issue in Washington, Rep. Davis was
careful to stress that this was not a promise that

PRAGUE 00000425 002 OF 002


legislation would change, which required the votes of a
majority of the Congress.

--------------
Meeting with President Klaus
--------------


8. (C) The thirty-minute meeting with President Vaclav Klaus
focused on Czech-EU relations, energy security, Hamas, and
Iran.


9. (C) The President said the Czech Republic's primary
challenge today is determining how to "survive being in the
EU." He chided the USG for its lack of criticism of the EU,
claiming that it stemmed from a failure to properly
understand the EU. Klaus, a well-known Euroskeptic, was
critical of the EU's lack of economic dynamism and the
"democratic deficit" of EU institutions. He said EU accession
had entailed a relative loss of freedom and sovereignty for
the Czechs.


10. (C) On European energy security, the President
acknowledged that Russia could have a negative impact.
However, he was more concerned the EU would use energy
security concerns to assert more centralized control and
regulation of member state activities. The President believed
the potential problems posed by reliance on Russian energy
resources were not sufficiently worrisome to justify the
"threat" of greater EU infringement on member state
sovereignty.


11. (C) Turning to the Middle East, the President said the
Czechs enjoy close relations with Israel, and he hoped that
pragmatism would compel Hamas to adopt more "rational" and
"respectable" policies over time. (Note: the GOCR strongly
support the USG position that Hamas must renounce violence,
recognize Israel, and honor all previous agreements). On
Iran's nuclear ambitions, President Klaus echoed the Prime
Minister in urging the U.S. to continue negotiating with Iran.
CABANISS