CZECHS OPPOSE ANY KIND OF ADAPTED CFE TREATY

C O N F I D E N T I A L PRAGUE 000433 SIPDIS SIPDIS STATE FOR EUR/NCE, PM/RSAT FOR DOWLEY E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/24/2016 TAGS: MARR PREL RS EZ SUBJECT: CZECHS OPPOSE ANY KIND OF ADAPTED CFE TREATY ROADMAP REF: VOLKER 4/24 E-MAIL Classified By: Acting DCM Michael Dodman for reasons 1.4 (b) & (d) ¶1. (C) POLOFF April 24 discussed the rumored CFE roadmap initiative for the Sofia NATO Ministerial with Veronika Kuchynova Smigolova, Director of the MFA's Security Policy Department. Smigolova shared that the Political Counselor at the German Embassy will call on the MFA April 25 to discuss "a CFE issue." Smigolova said she had made further enquiries, and believed the German will deliver a demarche seeking support for a roadmap towards entry into force of the Adapted CFE Treaty. ¶2. (C) Smigolova said the Czech Republic sees the roadmap concept exactly as the United States does. Such a process had the potential to dilute adherence to the principle that the Russians must fulfill the Istanbul commitments. Smigolova noted she had heard of a recent agreement between Georgia and Russia in relation to troops and bases, but said that agreements that might partially fulfill the Istanbul commitments did not relieve Russia's obligation to fulfill all of its commitments. ¶3. (C) Comment: We believe the GOCR will be a reliable ally if discussions become difficult at the CFE Review Conference in May. The Czechs have not forgotten the experience of having Russian troops on their soil. End Comment. DODMAN