Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06PRAGUE745
2006-07-01 09:48:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Prague
Cable title:
RADIO FARDA DISPUTE AT CENTER STAGE IN
how-toVZCZCXRO7962 PP RUEHBC RUEHDBU RUEHDE RUEHFL RUEHIHL RUEHKUK RUEHKW RUEHLA RUEHROV RUEHSR DE RUEHPG #0745/01 1820948 ZNY CCCCC ZZH P 010948Z JUL 06 ZFR FM AMEMBASSY PRAGUE TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 7580 INFO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUCNIRA/IRAN COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUCNRAQ/IRAQ COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 PRAGUE 000745
SIPDIS
//ZFR ZFR ZFR//
SIPDIS EUR/NCE FOR FICHTE, PM/RSAT FOR DOWLEY
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/29/2016
TAGS: PREL ETRD ETTC ENRG PGOV PINR CVIS EZ IR
SUBJECT: RADIO FARDA DISPUTE AT CENTER STAGE IN
CZECH-IRANIAN RELATIONS
PRAGUE 00000745 001.2 OF 003
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THIS CABLE IS BEING RETRANSMITTED UNDER A NEW MRN
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PRAGUE 00000745 002 OF 003
sputtered and concern over Iran,s nuclear program grew, some
Czech political figures, particularly former Social Democrat
Foreign Minster Jan Kavan, remained attracted to the &holy
grail8 of engineering partnerships and participation in the
Iranian energy sector. In 2000, the GOCR implemented (under
USG pressure) a restrictive law that proscribed any form of
Czech participation in Iran,s Bushehr nuclear plant, a
measure that, according to the Deputy Director of the MFA's
UN Department Pavel Klucky (whose office oversees UN
sanctions and IAEA-related issues),earned the Czechs
considerable ire among fellow NSG members. According to
Klucky, this law applies exclusively to the Bushehr plant;
assistance to all other Iranian nuclear facilities is subject
to compliance with EU Regulation 1334 covering dual-use
technologies. Any potential contracts are further examined
against relevant export control regimes (including ours;
septel).
7. (SBU) The desire to move past the problematic recent trade
history between the Czechs and the Iranians has, on at least
one occasion, prompted ill-advised remarks from Czech
leaders. In December 2005, Iranian state press outlets stated
that Minister of Trade and Industry Milan Urban suggested
during trade talks that the Czech Republic could be prepared
to assist the Iranian nuclear program, but other GOCR
elements moved quickly to dismiss the idea. Trade Ministry
spokesmen later explained that this would occur only within
the context of a more general improvement in trade relations,
and asserted that Urban had meant that such cooperation would
only be possible if Iran were back in full compliance with
appropriate IAEA requirements and supervision.
-------------- --------------
Radio Farda's Impact on the Nuclear Issue
-------------- --------------
8. (C) The Radio Farda controversy has been important even
in the nuclear issue, with Czech support for RFE/RL having
virtually eliminated much of the Czech participation in an
Iranian energy sector where Czech engineers had once figured
prominently. Iranian officials have frequently told both
private Czech citizens and public officials that there would
considerable financial trade rewards for the Czechs if they
would end Radio Farda broadcasts. These benefits, moreover,
would not apply only to the nuclear industry. Septel will
consider Czech-Iran proliferation concerns and issues.
-------------- -------------- --------------
Radio Farda Keeps Diplomatic Ties "Low and Very Cool"
-------------- -------------- --------------
9. (C) If Radio Farda has provoked a strongly negative
economic reaction from Iran, its diplomatic fallout has been,
to most observers, also disproportionate. Both sides withdrew
their ambassadors soon after the initiation of broadcasts in
1998. Since then, the post of Iranian Charge' in Prague has
been occupied by diplomats of incrementally lesser rank and
reputation. According to Mr. Mrazek of the MFA, the last
Iranian Charge,, Hussain Rezvani, departed Prague nearly six
months ago and will not be replaced until later this summer.
The acting Charge, is a Third Secretary; the new Charge, is
also supposedly a relatively low-ranking diplomat. The MFA
has had virtually no contact with the Embassy since last
winter.
10. (C) According to numerous MFA officials, before Mr.
Rezvani,s departure from Prague, the Farda controversy
dominated nearly all discussions and discourse with the
Iranians. Rezvani made numerous entreaties to GOCR to cut
off Farda broadcasts and, explicitly acknowledging an embargo
that his government has denied imposing, also dangled before
the Czechs the prospect of contracts, improved trade terms,
and more cordial relationship if only the Radio Farda
broadcasts would stop and the Czech President "apologize to
the Iranian people." The GOCR was not interested.
11. (C) The frost in Czech-Iranian diplomatic relations
extends to travel and visa regimes as well. According to MOI
statistics, only 69 Iranian citizens enjoy permanent
residency in the Czech Republic, including asylum cases. MFA
Consular Department Director Ivo Svoboda told Poloff that
travel ties between the two countries are nearly non-existent
and that there are no direct flights between Tehran and
Prague. Iranian travelers are subject the strictest and most
onerous visa conditions permitted by Czech law. They must,
among other requirements, obtain a visa even to transit the
passenger terminal en route to other countries (a requirement
imposed on only a dozen other countries in the world),and
PRAGUE 00000745 003 OF 003
they must present the adjudicating Czech Consular officials
an official letter of invitation, show financial resources
within Iran, and pay a substantial deposit (similar to a
bond) that they forfeit to the Czech Government if they fail
to return to Iran. Applicants are screened against an
Interior Ministry database for security risks or other
issues. According to Svoboda, Iranian travelers are
considered a very high risk for both illegal migration and
security purposes.
CABANISS
SIPDIS
//ZFR ZFR ZFR//
SIPDIS EUR/NCE FOR FICHTE, PM/RSAT FOR DOWLEY
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/29/2016
TAGS: PREL ETRD ETTC ENRG PGOV PINR CVIS EZ IR
SUBJECT: RADIO FARDA DISPUTE AT CENTER STAGE IN
CZECH-IRANIAN RELATIONS
PRAGUE 00000745 001.2 OF 003
-------------- --------------
THIS CABLE IS BEING RETRANSMITTED UNDER A NEW MRN
-------------- --------------
PRAGUE 00000745 002 OF 003
sputtered and concern over Iran,s nuclear program grew, some
Czech political figures, particularly former Social Democrat
Foreign Minster Jan Kavan, remained attracted to the &holy
grail8 of engineering partnerships and participation in the
Iranian energy sector. In 2000, the GOCR implemented (under
USG pressure) a restrictive law that proscribed any form of
Czech participation in Iran,s Bushehr nuclear plant, a
measure that, according to the Deputy Director of the MFA's
UN Department Pavel Klucky (whose office oversees UN
sanctions and IAEA-related issues),earned the Czechs
considerable ire among fellow NSG members. According to
Klucky, this law applies exclusively to the Bushehr plant;
assistance to all other Iranian nuclear facilities is subject
to compliance with EU Regulation 1334 covering dual-use
technologies. Any potential contracts are further examined
against relevant export control regimes (including ours;
septel).
7. (SBU) The desire to move past the problematic recent trade
history between the Czechs and the Iranians has, on at least
one occasion, prompted ill-advised remarks from Czech
leaders. In December 2005, Iranian state press outlets stated
that Minister of Trade and Industry Milan Urban suggested
during trade talks that the Czech Republic could be prepared
to assist the Iranian nuclear program, but other GOCR
elements moved quickly to dismiss the idea. Trade Ministry
spokesmen later explained that this would occur only within
the context of a more general improvement in trade relations,
and asserted that Urban had meant that such cooperation would
only be possible if Iran were back in full compliance with
appropriate IAEA requirements and supervision.
-------------- --------------
Radio Farda's Impact on the Nuclear Issue
-------------- --------------
8. (C) The Radio Farda controversy has been important even
in the nuclear issue, with Czech support for RFE/RL having
virtually eliminated much of the Czech participation in an
Iranian energy sector where Czech engineers had once figured
prominently. Iranian officials have frequently told both
private Czech citizens and public officials that there would
considerable financial trade rewards for the Czechs if they
would end Radio Farda broadcasts. These benefits, moreover,
would not apply only to the nuclear industry. Septel will
consider Czech-Iran proliferation concerns and issues.
-------------- -------------- --------------
Radio Farda Keeps Diplomatic Ties "Low and Very Cool"
-------------- -------------- --------------
9. (C) If Radio Farda has provoked a strongly negative
economic reaction from Iran, its diplomatic fallout has been,
to most observers, also disproportionate. Both sides withdrew
their ambassadors soon after the initiation of broadcasts in
1998. Since then, the post of Iranian Charge' in Prague has
been occupied by diplomats of incrementally lesser rank and
reputation. According to Mr. Mrazek of the MFA, the last
Iranian Charge,, Hussain Rezvani, departed Prague nearly six
months ago and will not be replaced until later this summer.
The acting Charge, is a Third Secretary; the new Charge, is
also supposedly a relatively low-ranking diplomat. The MFA
has had virtually no contact with the Embassy since last
winter.
10. (C) According to numerous MFA officials, before Mr.
Rezvani,s departure from Prague, the Farda controversy
dominated nearly all discussions and discourse with the
Iranians. Rezvani made numerous entreaties to GOCR to cut
off Farda broadcasts and, explicitly acknowledging an embargo
that his government has denied imposing, also dangled before
the Czechs the prospect of contracts, improved trade terms,
and more cordial relationship if only the Radio Farda
broadcasts would stop and the Czech President "apologize to
the Iranian people." The GOCR was not interested.
11. (C) The frost in Czech-Iranian diplomatic relations
extends to travel and visa regimes as well. According to MOI
statistics, only 69 Iranian citizens enjoy permanent
residency in the Czech Republic, including asylum cases. MFA
Consular Department Director Ivo Svoboda told Poloff that
travel ties between the two countries are nearly non-existent
and that there are no direct flights between Tehran and
Prague. Iranian travelers are subject the strictest and most
onerous visa conditions permitted by Czech law. They must,
among other requirements, obtain a visa even to transit the
passenger terminal en route to other countries (a requirement
imposed on only a dozen other countries in the world),and
PRAGUE 00000745 003 OF 003
they must present the adjudicating Czech Consular officials
an official letter of invitation, show financial resources
within Iran, and pay a substantial deposit (similar to a
bond) that they forfeit to the Czech Government if they fail
to return to Iran. Applicants are screened against an
Interior Ministry database for security risks or other
issues. According to Svoboda, Iranian travelers are
considered a very high risk for both illegal migration and
security purposes.
CABANISS