CZECHS ON MAY 15 GAERC

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 PRAGUE 000508 SIPDIS SIPDIS EUR/NCE FOR SONYA TSIROS E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/11/2016 TAGS: PREL PARM UN EUN MW SR BO IR IZ CG SU LI EZ SUBJECT: CZECHS ON MAY 15 GAERC REF: A. STATE 74555 ¶B. STATE 74589 Classified By: Acting Political-Economic Counselor Karen C. Reider for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). ¶1. (C) Summary. At the May 15 GAERC, Czechs expect the focus will be on the Balkans, the Middle East, and Africa. On Serbia, the Czechs agree with the EU decision to suspend accession talks for failure to comply fully with ICTY. They urge Montenegro to use the Czech-Slovak "Velvet Divorce" as a model if voters choose independence. On Iran, Czechs urge the international community to achieve consensus on further action on Iran. However, if consensus cannot be reached, the Czechs would consider the possibility of "unilateral action" carried out by a coalition of the willing, including the U.S. and the EU. The Czechs are undecided on the question of providing humanitarian aid to the people of Palestine. On Sudan, the Czechs urge pressure to bring all parties to the table to sign the Sudanese peace agreement. Czechs would consider visa restrictions for those who fail to support the peace process. End summary. ¶2. (SBU) Poloff met May 11 with Miroslav Kolalek, Deputy Director of the MFA's Common Foreign and Security Policy Department, to discuss the May 15 GAERC and reftel B demarche on Sudan visa restrictions. The discussion focused on the Balkans, Middle East, and Africa. -------------- Balkans -------------- ¶3. (C) Kolatek said the Czechs generally support the European Council's draft conclusions on the Balkans. On Bosnia, the Czechs regret that the Bosnian Parliament was unable to pass the necessary constitutional reform legislation. The Czechs regard the strengthening of state structures as a precondition to EU accession. ¶4. (C) On Serbia, Kolatek said the Czechs agree Serbia has failed to fully comply with ICTY. Therefore, the Czechs support the EU decision to suspend Stabilization and Association (SSA) talks. However, should a break-through occur in coming days, the Czechs would support continuation of the SSA talks with a view toward completing them by the end of the year. ¶5. (C) On Montenegro, the Czechs hope the referendum will be conducted as democratically as possible. If the voters choose independence, the Czechs will urge both republics to look at the Czech-Slovak model of division. The goal of division should be to provide maximum freedom of movement for the people of both republics, and to foster stability in the region. -------------- Middle East -------------- ¶6. (C) On Iraq, the Czechs support the Council's draft conclusions, which call on Iraqi political parties to form a new government by May 27. The Czechs regard a government with the broad support of the Iraqi people as a precondition to any discussion about withdrawal of coalition forces. To prevent further destabilization, any decision to withdraw must be the result of an agreement between the Iraqi government and coalition forces. ¶7. (C) Turning to Iran, the Czechs hope for a diplomatic solution as a matter of principle. At the same time, they understand that Iran's actions have made a diplomatic solution difficult to achieve. The Czechs support a UNSC resolution under Article 7. Kolalek said the Czechs urge the international community to try to achieve consensus on further action on Iran. However, if consensus cannot be achieved, the Czechs think the possibility of "unilateral action" carried out by a coalition of the willing, comprised of U.S., the EU, and like-minded countries, cannot be overlooked. ¶6. (C) On Palestine, Kolatek said the EU plans to provide humanitarian aid directly to the Palestinian people, and the European Commission is currently considering the type of PRAGUE 00000508 002 OF 002 mechanism that can be employed to deliver this aid. The Czech position on the EU plan to provide aid is not fully defined. -------------- Africa -------------- ¶7. (C) On Sudan, the Czechs urge the use of pressure to bring all parties to the table to sign the Sudanese peace agreement. The Czechs also support a UN operation, and would consider NATO logistical support of such an operation. Regarding humanitarian assistance, the Czechs support EU plans to provide assistance, and believe the Sudanese government should remove all obstacles to receiving such assistance. On the question of visa restrictions for members of the Justice and Equality movement (ref B),Kolatek said the Czechs would likely be supportive if the movement fails to support the peace agreement. ¶8. (C) Uganda and Cote d'Ivoire are on the GAERC agenda, and Kolatek said the Czechs support the draft conclusions on these countries. He was not able to comment on the Czech position on the Democratic Republic of Congo or Liberia. -------------- Cuba -------------- ¶9. (C) Kolatek said the Czechs do not plan to raise Cuba, informally or otherwise, at the May 15 GAERC. CABANISS