CODEL FRANKS LEAVES POSITIVE IMPRESSION ON CZECH

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 PRAGUE 001009 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS STATE FOR EUR/NCE, TRATENSEK AND H. H PASS TO REPRESENTATIVE FRANKS' STAFF E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL MARR PGOV NATO EZ SUBJECT: CODEL FRANKS LEAVES POSITIVE IMPRESSION ON CZECH HOSTS ¶1. (SBU) Summary and Conclusion: Ambassador Graber and U.S. Congressman Trent Franks (R-AZ) met in Prague August 29-30 with key Czech government officials and politicians to discuss missile defense. Franks' main message to the President, the Prime Minister, Foreign and Defense Ministers, and the head of the opposition was two-fold: 1) there is strong bipartisan support in the U.S. Congress for missile defense and, he believes, funding for the European site would be available provided that the Czechs and Poles conclude agreements with the United States; 2) the threat from rogue states and terrorist networks is real and must be countered, including through missile defense. Franks also gave five interviews on camera and to print media. Overall, he delivered an impassioned, well-articulated message of U.S. commitment to working with the Czech Republic and European allies on missile defense. Unsurprisingly, President Klaus and opposition leader Paroubek did not deviate from earlier positions. However, they were engaged and both expressed interest in the questions surrounding MD funding. Paroubek,s focus on whether the threat is real indicates that a greater U.S. effort to explain the threats which MD would seek to counter could pay off. End Summary and Comment. ¶2. (SBU) FM Schwarzenberg stressed his strong support for the MD project, and pledged that the government negotiating effort in the months ahead would result in a positive outcome, which the GOCR hopes to achieve by year's end. He noted the difficulty with the "disinformation" campaign, and said that the funding cuts in the Congress played directly into the hands of MD opponents. Schwarzenberg noted that any U.S. effort to move forward with the radar in the Czech Republic, but without interceptors in Poland, would not be successful in parliament. Schwarzenberg told Franks that it was important, in his public remarks, to focus on the threat and the need to prepare ahead to meet future threats. ¶3. (SBU) In his meeting with PM Topolanek, Franks was able to address the government's questions and concerns about MD funding. Topolanek summarized his &mission8 on MD as follows: 1) counter pressures to delay the government's negotiations and decisions, especially those coming from 
Russia; 2) provide as much information as possible to the public, specifically on the funding issue; 3) convince MD opponents that the system will not divide NATO, but will eventually be a part of it; and 4) rebut charges that the Czech radar will be decoupled from the Polish interceptors. According to Topolanek, if he is successful on these four counts, he will go a long way toward ensuring an eventual Czech approval. Topolanek also stressed potential scientific/R&D cooperation as an important side benefit of the MD facility, and one that would resonate with the public. He encouraged the U.S. side to explore ways to spur such cooperation. ¶4. (SBU) Franks had a good exchange with Jiri Paroubek, former Prime Minister and currently head of the largest opposition party. While he agreed with Franks that too many times in history the West had failed to act until a looming threat had already materialized, Paroubek maintained that, in his view, the threat from rogue regimes remains &virtual.8 He admitted, however, that this virtual threat could become a real threat in the next 3 to 5 years, in which case his party's position would also evolve. Paroubek also reiterated an earlier commitment that a future CSSD government would honor the MD agreement, if one were reached by the current government and passed in the Czech parliament. ¶5. (SBU) Paroubek was remarkably open about the political reasons driving his position on MD. He stated that he was in a tough position politically, with 60 % of Czechs, and more than 80% of his party members opposing the radar installation, "leaving me with little room for maneuver." He remarked that the communists would capitalize on any missteps by CSSD, and MD support would be just such a misstep. (Comment: This political calculus behind Paroubek,s MD opposition will not change in the near future. Despite Franks, urging to take a longer term view, Paroubek is very much focused on the next election. However, the admission that the threat, if perceived as more serious, could change his party position may offer some opening for us to expand his maneuvering room. We should focus on explaining better the threats and providing as much information as we can share with Czech officials and the public. Paroubek's planned visit to Washington in October provides such an opportunity. End PRAGUE 00001009 002 OF 002 comment.) ¶6. (SBU) Congressman Franks briefly met with the Minister of Defense Parkanova. The Minister stated that the GOCR shared the U.S. view of the global security situation. She remarked, however, that public opposition to the planned base was somewhat surprising, saying that she never would have imagined that 18 years after the Revolution ended a totalitarian regime, "that the Czech people would have such a rigid way of thinking." She stated that the public emphasis should not be on the radars but on "the Russian efforts to exert pressure on the CR." That is why, she said, she is investing all of her political capital on MD. ¶7. (SBU) Congressman Franks, meeting with President Klaus was cordial, but did not indicate any change in Klaus, deliberately vague position on MD. While Klaus, who will be running in early next year's presidential elections, adopted his usual supportive stance on U.S.-Czech relations, he was difficult to pin down on anything having to do with MD. He said that a parliamentary vote of 101 to 99 in favor of hosting the radar facility would not be good and that a national consensus must be reached. However, Klaus was interested in hearing more about Congressional support and funding for MD, an indication that he remains engaged on the issue. ¶8. (SBU) Congressman Franks also met with a group of key parliamentarians from parties in and out of government. This meeting was a good start to the embassy's reengagement with the parliament and the Senate on the issue of MD. Franks, explanation of the budget process was especially helpful in addressing the parliamentarians' concerns. GRABER