CZECHS WILL SUPPORT U.S. POSITION ON RED CRYSTAL

UNCLAS PRAGUE 000664 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREF PREL PHUM ICRC IS EZ SUBJECT: CZECHS WILL SUPPORT U.S. POSITION ON RED CRYSTAL AT JUNE CONFERENCE REF: STATE 95184 ¶1. (U) Poloff discussed reftel on June 15 with Petr Valek, Legal Officer in the Czech MFA International Law Department. Valek said the Czechs fully support the U.S. as articulated in the talking points, including the need to amend the statute now to permit national societies to use the Red Crystal, and the view that the June 20-21 International Conference on the Red Cross and Red Crescent is not the proper forum for discussing political issues. Valek said the Czechs are willing to make a positive statement at the Conference that includes the following points: (1) the essentially humanitarian nature of the issue, (2) the need for the Red Cross and the Red Crescent Movement to become more universal, and (3) the need to address political issues in other fora. ¶2. (U) Jan Cizek, Director of the International Law Department, will lead the Czech delegation to the Conference. Representatives of the Czech Red Cross will also attend. DODMAN