CZECH PM SUPPORTS NEW U.S. IRAN POLICY

C O N F I D E N T I A L PRAGUE 000597 SIPDIS SIPDIS EUR/NCE FOR FICHTE, NEA/IR FOR WOOSTER, NEA/ARP FOR WALKER E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/31/2016 TAGS: PREL PGOV EZ IR SUBJECT: CZECH PM SUPPORTS NEW U.S. IRAN POLICY REF: STATE 87682 Classified By: Ambassador William Cabaniss for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) ¶1. (U) Summary: Czech Prime Minister Jiri Paroubek pledged his support for the Secretary's announcement on Iran during his June 1 meeting with the Ambassador. At a press conference with the Ambassador immediately following the meeting, the Prime Minister announced that the Czech Republic supports the new U.S. initiative on Iran. This includes its call for an end to Iran's uranium enrichment activities. End summary. ¶2. (C) Ambassador delivered reftel demarche June 01 to Prime Minister Jiri Paroubek, who is in his last day of campaigning before the June 2-3 parliamentary elections. Paroubek welcomed the USG initiative, noting that it was consistent with ideas he had personally developed in a conversation with Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak and subsequently recommended to EU leaders. Paroubek conferred with the Ambassador on the wording of his statement before presenting it at a press conference. ¶3. (U) Begin text of the PM's statement: "Today I was informed by Ambassador William Cabaniss of the details of yesterday's announcement by American Secretary of State Rice in relation to Iran's nuclear program. The purpose of this declaration was to announce the American decision to participate with France, Great Britain and Germany in the negotiation process with Iran on the issue of its nuclear program, as soon as Iran, and I quote 'completely and in a verifiable manner suspends the enrichment and manufacture of uranium.' So far the United States has been supporting the negotiation process, a political method of solving the dispute, but has refused to participate in those negotiations. Now the U.S. administration is changing its approach in this respect. I would like to say that I am very happy for this emphasis on political means to solve the matter. I would like to alert you to the fact that early in May I sent a memorandum to representatives of the EU countries following my recent visit to Egypt and my talks with President Mubarak, and also through the Ambassador to the U.S. Government, in which I expressed support for such a process. I also stated in this respect that Egyptian President Mubarak recommends this political solution. I am very glad about this shift, and I personally welcome this move on behalf of the Czech Government." End text of statement. ¶4. (U) Miloslav Stasek, MFA Director for the Middle East and Africa told Poloff June 1 that the MFA will also issue a written statement in support of the new U.S. policy. ¶5. (C) Comment: Despite ongoing uncertainty about the June 2-3 parliamentary election outcome, post does not foresee any result that would reverse Czech support for the new USG position on Iran. CABANISS