IRANIAN DELEGATION VISIT: CZECH REPUBLIC SEEKS

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 PRAGUE 001156

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

EUR/NCE FOR ALEX TRATENSEK, NEA/IR TIM STANDAERT, EUR/ERA
FOR JEFF GIAUQUE

E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/18/2017
TAGS: PREL PGOV KDEM IR PHUM EUN EZ
SUBJECT: IRANIAN DELEGATION VISIT: CZECH REPUBLIC SEEKS
ENHANCED RELATIONS

REF: A. PRAGUE 1146

B. PRAGUE 788

C. PRAGUE 701

PRAGUE 00001156 001.2 OF 002


Classified By: Political Economic Counselor Michael Dodman for reasons
1.4 (b) and (d).


1. (SBU) Summary: Iranian Parliamentarian Majlis Alaeddin
Boroujedi of the National Security and Foreign Policy
Committee met with Czech Foreign Minister Schwarzenberg and
several parliamentary groups during his visit to Prague
October 15-17. Based on conversations with the Foreign
Minister, MFA officials and Parliamentarians, the Czechs
focused primarily on upgrading diplomatic relations between
the two countries and consistently delivered tough messages
on Iran's nuclear program. End Summary.

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FM Speaks Candidly with Iranians
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2. (C) FM Schwarzenberg spoke with Ambassador Graber at a
reception on the evening of October 16, shortly after his
meeting with the Iranian Parliamentarian delegation.
Schwarzenberg said he had been blunt with the Iranians and
left no doubt that the Czech Republic disagreed with the
Iranian regime's actions. Ambassador Josef Koutsky, who
serves in the MFA Middle East and Africa Department, and Hana
Jelinkova, MFA Iran desk officer, who attended the FM's
meeting, provided additional details of this meeting, which
involved a discussion of upgrading diplomatic relations,
Iran's nuclear program, human rights (executions and the
death penalty),Iraq, Afghanistan, and Iran's unhelpful
statements regarding Israel.

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Czechs - Upgrade Diplomatic Status and Keep Communication Open
--------------


3. (C) The Foreign Minister told the Ambassador he believes
it is important to continue to talk with the Iranians. This
is a sentiment echoed by Jan Hamacek, Chairman of the Czech
Parliament's Foreign Affairs Committee, who issued the
invitation to these Iranian Parliamentarians, and Martin
Povejsil, MFA Political Director. Hamacek has emphasized to
the press that given the fact that the Czech Republic will
hold the EU Presidency in 2009, "it is necessary to hold a
dialogue with Iran." Povejsil, in his conversation with
PolCouns on October 17, stated that the FM meeting should be
seen as part of the long-standing Czech effort to
re-establish full diplomatic relations with Tehran (reftel
B).


4. (C) Ambassador Koutsky noted that diplomatic relations
between the two nations have been strained since 1998, when
Prague-based Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty launched its
FARSI service. Iran reacted by recalling its Ambassador and
imposing trade sanctions on the Czech Republic. According to
Koutsky, this is the third time in 10 years that the Czechs
have formally sought to upgrade relations. The Iranians have
not provided a response as to whether or not they will
upgrade relations, nor have the Iranians provided a timeline
regarding when a decision will be made; no additional visits
by either country have been scheduled at this point.

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Blunt on Iran's Nuclear Program, Human Rights, Iraq,
Afghanistan and Statements on Israel
--------------

5. (C) The Foreign Minister and the MFA took pains to
highlight that the Czechs pressed the Iranians on their
nuclear program and that Schwarzenberg reiterated the EU
message outlined in the GAERC conclusions of October 15-16
(Note: Schwarzenberg participated in the EU GAERC on October
15-16 before meeting this delegation on the afternoon of
October 16. End Note.). On human rights, the Foreign
Minister apparently challenged the Iranians on the number of
executions in Iran and their use of the death penalty.
Apparently the Iranians acknowledged that executions are not
in anyone's interest, but also cited the fact that under
Sharia law, which they follow, this is allowed. On Iraq and
Afghanistan, the Czechs asked the Iranians not to interfere,
which would help stabilize the neighborhood. They also
called on the Iranians to avoid "unhelpful" statements about
Israel. The Iranian Parliamentary delegation responded by
simply promising to carry back the Czech message to their
colleagues.

--------------

PRAGUE 00001156 002.2 OF 002


Iranians - Question Whether MD Will Lead to Arms Race
--------------

6. (U) There continues to be a fair bit of press surrounding
this delegation's visit. In addition to a press conference
on October 15, several Czech politicians have made public
comments and Boroujedi gave several lengthy interviews.
Basically, the Iranians used every opportunity to
consistently criticize the US missile defense plan.
Boroujedi has particularly linked Missile Defense with a
future arms race and in one of the Czech daily papers on
October 18, he is quoted as stating, "If the system (missile
defense) was aimed only at Iran, why would Russian President
Putin be so upset? The system is of course aimed against
Russia. This is the reason behind another arms race, which
has already started."

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Government is "Naive"
--------------

7. (SBU) Several members of parliament, including many
within PM Topolanek's party have expressed displeasure with
this visit. Former Foreign Minister Svoboda during an
interview on the nightly news on October 15, stated that such
a meeting (with the FM) would never have occurred while he
was in office. Others have criticized the government as
"naive" to think that meeting with the Iranians will
accomplish anything useful.

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Visit Schedule
--------------

8. (U) This visit was arranged at the invitation of Jan
Hamacek, Chairman of the Czech Parliament,s Foreign Affairs
Committee. Boroujedi was accompanied by three other members
of the National Security and Foreign Policy Committee, a MFA
official and a secretary. The Iranian delegation held
multiple meetings with both the upper and lower Parliamentary
Houses, but only one government meeting (with the Foreign
Minister). Boroujedi also gave a public address at the
Association for International Affairs.

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Comment
--------------

9. (C) The Czech government clearly wants to establish full
diplomatic relations with the Iranians, and we can expect the
Czech outreach efforts will continue, although the Czechs
have demonstrated no intention to soften any message to the
Iranians in order to achieve this result. According to
Ambassador Koutsky, the Foreign Minister did not carry a
specific message from the EU FMs (other than the GAERC
conclusions),and was not asked to carry a message to them by
the Iranians. Nonetheless, the Czech MFA anticipates that
Schwarzenberg will discuss this meeting with his colleagues
October 18 in Lisbon on the margins of the EU Heads of
Government meeting, which he is attending with the Prime
Minister.
Graber