CZECH FOREIGN MINISTER CALLS IN AMBASSADOR ON

UNCLAS PRAGUE 000540

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL CVIS PGOV EUN PL EZ
SUBJECT: CZECH FOREIGN MINISTER CALLS IN AMBASSADOR ON
SENATE VISA WAIVER LEGISLATION



1. (SBU) Czech FM Cyril Svoboda called in the Ambassador on
the morning of May 19 to discuss the recently approved Senate
amendment to immigration reform legislation that would extend
the visa waiver program (VWP) to Poland, but not to the Czech
Republic. Svoboda, who faces re-election in two weeks, noted
that the timing of the amendment was particularly difficult
in that he had just returned from a visit to Washington,
which included a meeting with Senator Lugar. Lugar had told
him on May 16 that the lobbying by senior officials from
Central European capitals -- including the Poles -- would
have "no influence" in the question of extending the VWP.
Svoboda reminded the Ambassador that he had gone out of his
way in recent weeks, including in his public statements after
the meetings with Lugar and Secretary Rice, to praise the
United States for the balanced and engaged approach the USG
is taking to extend VWP, as demonstrated by the visa roadmap.
He asked the Ambassador for an explanation of what had
happened.


2. (SBU) Ambassador stressed that the amendment was the
initiative of individual Senators, and certainly did not
represent a change in USG policy. He also noted that the
fate of the amendment is uncertain, given that the full
immigration bill still requires Senate approval and
reconciliation with a competing House version. He also noted
the statements of several officials from the region,
including the Czech Ambassador in Washington, that this
amendment represents an opportunity for further discussion
with U.S. lawmakers.


3. (SBU) FM Svoboda expressed great frustration with the
wording of the amendment, particularly that it did not
address the full contribution of coalition allies to the
GWOT, but only troop contributions to OIF and OEF. Svoboda
noted that the CR has over 300 troops in total on the ground
in Iraq and Afghanistan, including those serving under NATO
commands (Comment: Post also notes that the USG is urging
allies, including the Czechs, to move more of their forces to
NATO command). When analyzed on a per capita basis, the
Czech Republic -- along with other nations, particularly the
Baltics -- have a larger troop contribution to the GWOT than
the Poles. Further, the Czechs have contributed in many
other ways, including substantial reconstruction and
humanitarian assistance in Iraq and elsewhere.


4. (SBU) Svoboda did not hide the fact that the Senate action
comes at a very difficult moment. Not only for him
personally, given his visit to Washington this week, but for
the entire government facing elections on June 2-3. But
beyond the electoral concerns, Svoboda stressed that Czech
public opinion is likely to interpret the Senate vote as a
sign that the Czech contribution to the GWOT is not valued in
Washington. Svoboda made clear that the Czech government
(and he personally) would be active in putting forward a
positive message and trying to correct misperceptions. But
he encouraged the Ambassador to do the same.


5. (U) Post has received numerous press inquiries about the
Senate vote. There was significant press coverage on May 19,
and more is expected over the weekend. Radio coverage on
morning of May 19 contained some inaccuracies about the
status of the Senate bill. Embassy issued a media advisory
mid-day on May 19 stating that USG policy on VWP had not
changed and that we remain committed to the visa roadmap
process, and also clarifying the steps that still lay ahead
for the immigration bill.
CABANISS