CZECHS EMBRACE TRANSFORMATION DIPLOMACY AND

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 PRAGUE 000058

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

PASS TO ERIC FICHTE EUR/NCE

E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/20/2016
TAGS: PREL KDEM EZ
SUBJECT: CZECHS EMBRACE TRANSFORMATION DIPLOMACY AND
DEMOCRACY PROMOTION

REF: 05 PRAGUE 1614

Classified By: A/DCM Michael Dodman for reasons 1.4 b+d.


1. (U) Summary and comment. Democracy promotion is at the
heart of Czech foreign policy. Because GOCR efforts
complement U.S. transformational diplomacy efforts, the
Czechs are natural partners for cooperation in countries such
as Cuba, Belarus, and Iraq. January 25-27, 2006, Gabriela
Dlouha, Director of the Czech MFA Transformation Promotion
Unit will visit Washington to meet with counterparts at the
State Department, USAID, and NGOs to explore opportunities
for cooperation on democracy promotion. As background for
these meetings, this cable provides the "nuts-n-bolts" of the
Czech approach to democracy promotion. Details of current
Czech democracy promotion projects in Cuba, Belarus and
Eastern Europe, and Iraq will be provided septel. A septel on
Czech humanitarian assistance is also planned. End summary
and comment.

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Democracy Promotion: A Legacy and The Right Thing to Do
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2. (U) Czech government officials and NGOs alike claim that
Czechs have a moral obligation to help others struggling to
be free because of their own peaceful transition to democracy
in 1989. However, the GOCR also recognizes the security
benefits of democracy promotion: the Czech Security Strategy
identifies the promotion of "freedom, democracy, and the
principles of rule of law" as a strategic national interest.
The Czechs also acknowledge that democracy promotion is a
niche capability that enhances the reputation of the Czech
Republic in the international community.


3. (U) Czechs use the phrase "transformation cooperation" to
refer to democracy promotion in third countries through
bilateral efforts and multilateral cooperation. According to
the MFA, the primary characteristic of transformation
cooperation is the "systematic cooperation with civil
society" in the target country. Because the focus is on civil
society, Czechs believe that contacts with the official
government authorities may be deliberately excluded.


4. (U) The key partners in Czech transformational diplomacy
are the MFA, People in Need (PIN),former Czech President
Vaclav Havel, and the International Committee for Democracy
in Cuba (ICDC). As described below, the nexus between these
partners is deep-seated and personal, which helps to explain
the sophistication of the Czech effort.

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"TRANS" Mandate and Projects
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5. (U) The Transformation Cooperation Unit (TRANS) is the MFA
department responsible for democracy promotion. As described
below, TRANS works in partnership with People in Need (PIN)
and other Czech NGOs to help civil society in priority
countries plan for their own successful "velvet revolution."


6. (C) According to TRANS Director, Gabriela Dlouha, TRANS
projects complement Czech political and diplomatic efforts to
promote democracy. Hence, transformation cooperation has a
political focus, unlike traditional development, which may
not. Thus, priority countries for TRANS projects are selected
on the basis of their importance to Czech foreign policy
priorities. The current priority countries for TRANS
programming and funding are: Belarus, Bosnia, Burma, Cuba,
Georgia, Iraq, Moldova, Serbia, and Ukraine.


7. (U) TRANS monitors the status of democracy, human rights,
and fundamental freedoms in these priority countries. As
needed, TRANS identifies projects to establish and reinforce
democratic institutions in these countries (primarily through
educating civil society and supporting peaceful opposition).


8. (U) NGO partnership is an important aspect of Czech
transformation cooperation. TRANS selects NGO partners to
provide the expertise and staffing necessary to implement
these projects. PIN is currently the primary TRANS partner
thanks to connections between TRANS and PIN described below,
and PIN,s substantial experience working in the priority
countries. However, TRANS works with other Czech NGOs,
foreign NGOs, Czech political groups, Czech educational
institutions, and even individuals.


9. (U) Another hallmark of the TRANS program is joint
financing. TRANS typically provides up to 80% funding for its

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projects. The NGO partner is expected to provide additional
funding. In 2006, TRANS will manage a budget of approximately
$1.3 million. Of that amount, roughly $487,500 will fund
existing projects, primarily in Iraq (e.g., the training
program in Jordan) (reftel); $487,500 will fund new projects;
and $325,000 will be held in reserve to fund emergency
projects and general needs, such as TRANS publications.


10. (C) Although PIN was the primary recipient of TRANS funds
in 2005, the TRANS funding process was recently formalized to
make it more transparent and competitive. TRANS issued a
request for proposals for 2006 projects on December 15, 2005.
Proposals are due in February 2006, and will be reviewed by a
committee formed for that purpose, composed of members of
TRANS, MFA territorial representatives, and external experts.
Grants awarded will be announced in March 2006.


11. (C) According to Dlouha, TRANS prefers to fund targeted,
small, short-term projects because they are easier for NGO
partners to implement, and harder for host governments to
impede. Other hallmarks of TRANS projects are: they increase
capabilities of Czech NGOs, can be replicated easily in other
countries, and often take place in the Czech Republic (which
has the advantage of providing a safe training location,
access to experienced trainers, and allows program oversight).


12. (U) TRANS projects are tailored to the individual needs
of the target country, and typically include:

-- Educating civil society on fields of key importance (e.g.,
economics, self-governance, judicial reform, defense, social
systems, police and military reform, restitution and
privatization issues);

-- Promoting free elections (by supporting multi-party
systems, political dissent, and election monitoring; and by
promoting free media and training journalists);

-- Providing financial assistance to the persecuted; and

-- Creating public awareness (through conferences, cultural
events, foreign government briefings, etc.)


13. (U) Septel will discuss specific TRANS-funded work in
greater detail.

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TRANS Partners
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14. (U) The links between TRANS, PIN, President Havel, and
the ICDC are many. To begin with, it is worth noting that the
founders of TRANS are Gabriela Dlouha, Tomas Pojar, Simon
Panek, and Petr Kolar. Dlouha is the Director of TRANS, and a
former staffer of President Havel. She reports to Pojar, MFA
Deputy FM for Bilateral Affairs, who has ties to PIN: he is a
former PIN Director, and PIN,s current Executive Director.
Panek is PIN's current Director and its Founder. And Kolar is
the new Czech Ambassador to the U.S., and was Pojar's
predecessor as Deputy FM. All are personal friends of
President Havel. (Note: in addition to Dlouha's visit to
Washington January 25-27, Deputy FM Pojar intends to hold
consultations in Washington during the week of February 19,
following his participation in a meeting of Western
Hemisphere Czech Ambassadors to be held in Miami.)


15. (U) PIN is the largest NGO in Central Europe, and has
administered over $55 million in its 12-year history. It has
multiple funding sources in addition to the GOCR, including
the EU, National Endowment for Democracy, etc. PIN's mission
has a dual focus: to provide humanitarian relief to people in
need, and to promote democratic freedoms. With respect to the
latter, PIN claims it has a "special commitment to supporting
groups and people working against totalitarian regimes." PIN
supports dissidents in target countries the same way Czech
dissidents were helped during the Communist era: namely, by
supporting political prisoners and their families;
documenting torture, executions, and crimes against humanity;
and supporting human rights.


16. (U) Former President Havel uses his international
reputation to promote democracy and human rights globally,
and continues to be the driving force behind Czech democracy
promotion efforts. One example of his influence is the recent
report he and Desmond Tutu commissioned on Burma, which
succeeded in drawing the world,s attention to the gravity of
the situation there. Notably, President Havel has focused
much of his energy on Cuba. In 2003, following Castro,s
brutal crackdown on dissident groups, President Havel founded

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the International Committee for Democracy in Cuba (ICDC),
below.


17. (U) The ICDC is an assembly of international leaders
committed to democracy in Cuba, including President Havel,
Madeleine Albright, and former presidents and prime ministers
from Latin American and European countries. ICDC's goals are
to: (1) show political solidarity with Cuban dissidents, (2)
provide economic support to political prisoners, (3) create a
commission of experts to help the Cuban people in their own
transition, and (4) change public opinion in Latin America
and Europe. It is worth noting that TRANS funds the ICDC, and
PIN provides offices and staff for the ICDC secretariat.


18. (U) While PIN is the largest and best known Czech NGO,
there are many others operating in the area of democracy
promotion. TRANS has expressed a desire to expand Czech NGO
capacity, which means that TRANS funds will increasingly be
disbursed to qualified NGOs in addition to PIN.

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Other Czech Initiatives
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19. (U) Although not the subject of this cable, the Czech
MFA, under the leadership of FM Cyril Svoboda, also promotes
democracy via traditional diplomatic channels, such as by
supporting pro-democracy initiatives in the EU, the UN, and
as part of the transatlantic dialogue. The GOCR also
participates in the OSCE and Communities of Democracies, for
example by providing and training election monitors. And
Czech military forces promote regional stability in places
where democracy is taking root, such as in the Balkans and
Afghanistan.
CABANISS