Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06PRAGUE635
2006-06-09 14:56:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Prague
Cable title:  

CZECHS ON JUNE 12 GAERC

Tags:  PREL PGOV UN EUN YI MW SR BO IR IZ KPAL EZ 
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VZCZCXRO3877
OO RUEHDBU RUEHFL RUEHKW RUEHLA RUEHROV RUEHSR
DE RUEHPG #0635/01 1601456
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
O 091456Z JUN 06
FM AMEMBASSY PRAGUE
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 7468
INFO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE
RUEHBS/USEU BRUSSELS
RUEHUB/USINT HAVANA 0063
RUEHNO/USMISSION USNATO 1752
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 PRAGUE 000635 

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

EUR/NCE FOR ERIC FICHTE

E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/09/2016
TAGS: PREL PGOV UN EUN YI MW SR BO IR IZ KPAL EZ
SUBJECT: CZECHS ON JUNE 12 GAERC

REF: A. STATE 91167


B. PRAGUE 607

C. PRAGUE 610

Classified By: Acting Political-Economic Counselor
Karen C. Reider for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 PRAGUE 000635

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

EUR/NCE FOR ERIC FICHTE

E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/09/2016
TAGS: PREL PGOV UN EUN YI MW SR BO IR IZ KPAL EZ
SUBJECT: CZECHS ON JUNE 12 GAERC

REF: A. STATE 91167


B. PRAGUE 607

C. PRAGUE 610

Classified By: Acting Political-Economic Counselor
Karen C. Reider for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).


1. (C) Summary. At the June 12 GAERC, the Czechs expect the
focus to be on Cuba, the Middle East, and the Balkans. On
Cuba, the GAERC conclusions are expected to contain strong
language on Cuba (already negotiated by the Czechs and the
Spanish) denouncing the human rights conditions in Cuba and
obligating the EU to elaborate a new strategy to help the
Cubans achieve a democratic transition. The Director of the
Czech MFA's CFSP Department called this "midterm strategy" a
"success." On Palestinian aid, the Czechs support the U.S.
position and continue to remind EU partners that the message
to Hamas must focus on the three principles (the need to
recognize Israel, renounce violence, and honor previous
commitments). Kaiser also predicted that the foreign
ministers will discuss EU support for Iraq following the
formation of the new Iraqi government. On the Balkans, the
Czechs predict that a settlement on Kosovo will need to be
politically imposed. Nevertheless, Czechs continue to support
EU enlargement and urge the EU to honor its commitment to
provide the EU perspective to Serbia and others in the
region. Finally, Kaiser predicted that while Czech foreign
policy generally will not change following the recent
parliamentary election, there could be one exception: policy
in relation to internal EU politics. End Summary.


2. (SBU) Poloff met June 9 with Petr Kaiser, Director of
the Czech MFA's CFSP Department, to deliver reftel talking
points, and to discuss June 12 GAERC. The discussion focused
on Cuba, the Middle East, and the Balkans.

--------------
Cuba
--------------


3. (C) The Czechs feel they have achieved success on their
efforts to nudge the EU common policy on Cuba closer to the

Czech position. Although it is not yet official, Kaiser said
the Czechs and the Spanish have agreed on strong language for
the GAERC Conclusions. This language will denounce the human
rights conditions in Cuba and obligate the EU to elaborate a
new strategy to help the Cubans achieve a democratic
transition. Kaiser said the Spanish were persuaded to adopt
this common language based on the argument that the EU
condemned Belarus Dictator Lukashenko, yet the situation in
Cuba is far worse. Strong supporters of this "midterm
strategy," which Kaiser said will require the EU to engage on
Cuba at a "more serious level," included the UK, Poland,
Slovakia and the Netherlands.


4. (C) Kaiser said FM Cyril Svoboda plans to deliver a strong
speech on Cuba at the June 12 GAERC. FM Svoboda, in what may
be one of his last acts as Foreign Minister, will call on all
EU foreign ministers to engage regularly on Cuba, and will
urge the EU to include Cuba on the agenda for the U.S.-EU
Summit.

--------------
Middle East
--------------


5. (C) On Palestinian assistance, the Czechs support the U.S.
position that aid should be administered quickly, and be
limited in scope and duration. Further, the international
community should endorse the aid mechanism. However, the
Czechs think the details of the mechanism are less important
than the political message urging the Hamas government to
accept the three principles (recognizing Israel, renouncing
violence, and honoring previous agreements).


6. (C) On Iraq, the Czechs will urge the EU to make a strong
commitment to Iraq now that the Iraqi government has been
formed. Kaiser said the foreign ministers will discuss this
issue at the June 12 GAERC.

--------------
Balkans
--------------


7. (C) When asked about the prospects of EU accession for
Balkan states, Kaiser noted growing uneasiness within the EU
on the issue of enlargement. The code word for this
uneasiness is "absorption capacity." He predicted that

PRAGUE 00000635 002 OF 002


certain countries already in the queue, such as Bulgaria and
Croatia, would be admitted. But many EU member states are
currently "allergic" to the prospect of accepting countries
like Macedonia, Ukraine, or Turkey. In Kaiser's view,
meaningful discussion on further enlargement for the Balkan
states is therefore "blocked." The Czechs support further
enlargement and will urge the EU to consider each country
individually, not as a package. (However, Kaiser noted that
it would be difficult to admit all but one Balkans country.)
Further, the EU should continue to discuss future membership
in the EU with Serbia and other countries in the region, and
undertake initiatives to keep the positive momentum (such as
implementing visa policies that encourage Balkans citizens to
visit EU countries.) At the same time, the EU should avoid
making false promises.


8. (C) On Kosovo, Kaiser said there is a growing conviction
within the EU that a negotiated settlement on Kosovo is
unachievable. He believes, and others agree, that the Serbs
would prefer an imposed solution (so long as they agree to
the basic terms) because the current Serbian leadership seeks
to avoid the stigma of agreeing to the independence of
Kosovo. They would rather blame the "arrogant west" for
imposing a resolution on Serbia. The EU is beginning to
recognize the importance of achieving a result that allows
the current Serbian leadership to save face, and prevents
further humiliation of the Serbian people.

--------------
Czech Foreign Relations
--------------


9. (C) Kaiser predicted that Czech foreign policy will not
change following the June 2-3 Czech parliamentary elections
(reftels B and C). The Czechs will continue to support strong
transatlantic relations and focus on human rights (he noted
broad agreement among ODS, CSSD, and other parties on the
Czech approach to Cuba and Belarus). However, Kaiser said one
possible exception could be the Czech approach to EU internal
matters (e.g., support for further EU expansion or the
transfer of powers to Brussels),which could change depending
on the composition and influence of the new coalition
government. (Note: The June 2-3 election resulted in a
stalemate, where none of the parties received enough votes to
form a government on its own and where the left and the right
wing prospective coalitions each have exactly 100 seats in a
200-seat Chamber of Deputies. One faction within the Civic
Democrat Party (ODS),which received the largest number of
votes in the June 2-3 elections, is the euroskeptic group led
by President Vaclav Klaus. Kaiser is alluding to the possible
influence of this ODS faction on Czech EU policy. However, it
is unclear whether ODS will be able to form a coalition
government that can pass a Parliamentary vote of confidence,
and doubly unclear that if they do, how much influence the
Klaus-faction of ODS will ultimately have. End note.)
CABANISS