Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06PRAGUE96
2006-01-27 17:33:00
CONFIDENTIAL//NOFORN
Embassy Prague
Cable title:
A CZECH PRT IN AFGHANINSTAN? CURRENT THINKING IN
how-toVZCZCXRO4673 OO RUEHFL RUEHKW RUEHLA RUEHROV RUEHSR DE RUEHPG #0096 0271733 ZNY CCCCC ZZH O 271733Z JAN 06 FM AMEMBASSY PRAGUE TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 6889 INFO RUEHBUL/AMEMBASSY KABUL IMMEDIATE 0061 RHMFISS/CDR USEUCOM VAIHINGEN GE PRIORITY RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC PRIORITY RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHDC PRIORITY RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC PRIORITY RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC PRIORITY RUEHBS/USEU BRUSSELS PRIORITY RUEHNO/USMISSION USNATO PRIORITY 1678 RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK PRIORITY 0086 RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE
C O N F I D E N T I A L PRAGUE 000096
SIPDIS
NOFORN
SIPDIS
STATE FOR EUR/NCE, PM/RSAT FOR FORTIN
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/23/2016
TAGS: AF EZ NATO PARM PREL PTER
SUBJECT: A CZECH PRT IN AFGHANINSTAN? CURRENT THINKING IN
PRAGUE
Classified By: Acting DCM Michael Dodman for reasons 1.5 (b) & (d)
C O N F I D E N T I A L PRAGUE 000096
SIPDIS
NOFORN
SIPDIS
STATE FOR EUR/NCE, PM/RSAT FOR FORTIN
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/23/2016
TAGS: AF EZ NATO PARM PREL PTER
SUBJECT: A CZECH PRT IN AFGHANINSTAN? CURRENT THINKING IN
PRAGUE
Classified By: Acting DCM Michael Dodman for reasons 1.5 (b) & (d)
1. (C/NF) PolOff met with Vaclav Balek (please strictly
protect),Deputy Director of the MFA's Security Policy
Department Jan 27. Balek shared that he had attended a recent
meeting where FM Svoboda had approved a proposal from the
working level that the Czechs should lead a Provincial
Reconstruction team in Afghanistan. This approval had turned
the issue of a Czech PRT from an idea into a likelihood.
Negotiations are ongoing between the MFA and the MOD at the
working level. The discussions are following traditional
lines: MFA is keen; MOD policy personnel like the idea, but
are realistic about the challenges involved; and the General
Staff are hesitant, citing the practical difficulties of such
a mission. In Balek's opinion Svoboda's approval of the plan
indicates that Defense Minister Kuehnl will support the
mission. After the Ministers agree, those at the MOD opposed
to such a mission will have no choice but to implement it.
Balek felt that, while the idea of a Czech PRT is now known,
the political steps are still being kept in-house. The MFA is
unlikely to make a formal, open approach on this issue to the
USG until the visit of Czech MFA Political Director Martin
Povejsil to Washington. (Note: Dates for that visit have not
yet been set. End note).
2. (C/NF) Initial details are still being worked out, but
Balek reported the Czechs would like to begin leading a PRT
in Southern Afghanistan sometime in 2007. They would like to
consider taking over from a U.S. unit. It would be pitched to
Parliament as a consolidation exercise, making the Czech
presence in Afghanistan more centralized. According to Balek,
while FM Svoboda would like to get Government (Cabinet)
approval for this plan before the June elections, he does not
feel that this is an imperative for success. Balek said the
MFA did not believe NATO missions would be affected under the
next government, even if the elections brought a minority
CSSD government with the informal support of the Communists.
The multilateral nature of this ISAF mission, and the fact
that the location would be Afghanistan, rather than Iraq,
meant that the Communists would not have enough political
traction to successfully object.
3. (C/NF) Comment: This news echoes and goes further than
information we have received in Prague, Washington and
Brussels. The mission is no longer just an idea. It appears
the Czechs now intend to proceed with a PRT. The plan to sell
the plan to Parliament as a consolidation exercise is a smart
move, because it also echoes the sentiment of many in the
current-opposition ODS, who are on record as saying Czech
forces overseas are spread too thin. Many questions remain.
The Czechs still plan to fulfill their roles in providing
special forces to CFC-A and in taking over the airport. We
can safely assume the Czechs will no longer contribute
personnel to the German PRT at Kunduz. We have not received
information in Prague about possible partner countries for a
Czech-led PRT. Post will continue to investigate and report
developments as they occur and stands ready to assist in
making this mission a reality. End comment.
DODMAN
SIPDIS
NOFORN
SIPDIS
STATE FOR EUR/NCE, PM/RSAT FOR FORTIN
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/23/2016
TAGS: AF EZ NATO PARM PREL PTER
SUBJECT: A CZECH PRT IN AFGHANINSTAN? CURRENT THINKING IN
PRAGUE
Classified By: Acting DCM Michael Dodman for reasons 1.5 (b) & (d)
1. (C/NF) PolOff met with Vaclav Balek (please strictly
protect),Deputy Director of the MFA's Security Policy
Department Jan 27. Balek shared that he had attended a recent
meeting where FM Svoboda had approved a proposal from the
working level that the Czechs should lead a Provincial
Reconstruction team in Afghanistan. This approval had turned
the issue of a Czech PRT from an idea into a likelihood.
Negotiations are ongoing between the MFA and the MOD at the
working level. The discussions are following traditional
lines: MFA is keen; MOD policy personnel like the idea, but
are realistic about the challenges involved; and the General
Staff are hesitant, citing the practical difficulties of such
a mission. In Balek's opinion Svoboda's approval of the plan
indicates that Defense Minister Kuehnl will support the
mission. After the Ministers agree, those at the MOD opposed
to such a mission will have no choice but to implement it.
Balek felt that, while the idea of a Czech PRT is now known,
the political steps are still being kept in-house. The MFA is
unlikely to make a formal, open approach on this issue to the
USG until the visit of Czech MFA Political Director Martin
Povejsil to Washington. (Note: Dates for that visit have not
yet been set. End note).
2. (C/NF) Initial details are still being worked out, but
Balek reported the Czechs would like to begin leading a PRT
in Southern Afghanistan sometime in 2007. They would like to
consider taking over from a U.S. unit. It would be pitched to
Parliament as a consolidation exercise, making the Czech
presence in Afghanistan more centralized. According to Balek,
while FM Svoboda would like to get Government (Cabinet)
approval for this plan before the June elections, he does not
feel that this is an imperative for success. Balek said the
MFA did not believe NATO missions would be affected under the
next government, even if the elections brought a minority
CSSD government with the informal support of the Communists.
The multilateral nature of this ISAF mission, and the fact
that the location would be Afghanistan, rather than Iraq,
meant that the Communists would not have enough political
traction to successfully object.
3. (C/NF) Comment: This news echoes and goes further than
information we have received in Prague, Washington and
Brussels. The mission is no longer just an idea. It appears
the Czechs now intend to proceed with a PRT. The plan to sell
the plan to Parliament as a consolidation exercise is a smart
move, because it also echoes the sentiment of many in the
current-opposition ODS, who are on record as saying Czech
forces overseas are spread too thin. Many questions remain.
The Czechs still plan to fulfill their roles in providing
special forces to CFC-A and in taking over the airport. We
can safely assume the Czechs will no longer contribute
personnel to the German PRT at Kunduz. We have not received
information in Prague about possible partner countries for a
Czech-led PRT. Post will continue to investigate and report
developments as they occur and stands ready to assist in
making this mission a reality. End comment.
DODMAN