CZECHS TO PAY INCREASED ATTENTION TO ASIA BUT

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 PRAGUE 000159 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/16/2017 TAGS: PREL PGOV EZ SUBJECT: CZECHS TO PAY INCREASED ATTENTION TO ASIA BUT DOWNPLAY CHINA Classified By: Classified By: Political Economic Counselor Mike Dodman for reasons 1.4 b+d Summary -------------- ¶1. (C) With a long history of criticizing China's human rights abuses, new FM Karel Schwarzenberg and Prime Minister Topolanek are likely to put Czech - China relations on the back burner while pushing for expanded ties with Vietnam and India as counterweights to China in the region. Schwarzenberg and President Klaus are currently visiting Japan and (aircraft problems notwithstanding) have had a good visit meeting with Emperor Akihito and Prime Minister Abe. The Czechs also plan to expand relations with Afghanistan and FM Schwarzenberg will be traveling to Kabul to open the Czech Embassy there in March or April. End Summary. ¶2. (U) On January 31, Political Economic Counselor met with Jan Fury, Director of the Asian and Pacific Affairs Department at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to discuss Asia policy under the new Czech government. Vietnam and India Replacing China as Priorities -------------- -- ¶3. (C) The new Czech Foreign Minister, Senator Karel Schwarzenberg, has a long history of criticizing China's human rights practices and is one of three founding members of Olympic Watch, a Czech NGO created to push for greater respect of human rights in China in the lead-up to the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games. Olympic Watch supports Taiwan independence as well as a free Tibet. Deputy Foreign Minister Pojar is also a member of Olympic Watch's board of directors. PolEcon Counselor asked whether, given the previous government's enthusiastic efforts to improve commercial ties with China, Fury anticipated a change in Czech government attitudes towards China given Schwarzenberg's history as a human rights activist. Fury quickly responded, "I hope so." He stated that the new Czech government wants to convey that China is not their only partner in Asia. Fury highlighted the fact that former FM Svoboda made a point of never visiting China during his tenure and that the Chinese were pushing for a visit by FM Schwarzenberg. Fury asserted that Prime Minister Mirek Topolanek has a very different outlook on China than his predecessor and that he was likely to take a colder approach to relations between the two countries. He also stated that a visit to Beijing by the Foreign Minister was not on the horizon. While noting that this is the fifth assignment to Prague by current Chinese Ambassador Ms. Huo Yuzhen, Fury said that she was ineffectual and not helping the Chinese cause. He noted that the Chinese have made no objections to FM Schwarzenberg's earlier very public comments on China's human rights abuses or on the U.S. missile defense installation to be built in the Czech Republic. ¶4. (C) Fury noted that the Czechs hope to push diplomatic relations with Vietnam and India to the forefront of their dealings with Asia. Fury noted that President Klaus recently visited Vietnam last fall. During Klaus' visit, Czech companies signed contracts worth $180 million for the construction of a cement works and a brewery in Vietnam. Fury said that relations with Vietnam are a high priority for PM Topolanek stating that one of the Prime Minister's first trips outside of the EU will be to Asia, and Vietnam in particular. Fury also noted that the Vietnamese are planning to reciprocate with a high-level visit to the Czech Republic during the second half of 2007. He stated that relations between the two countries were destined to get better due to their historical relationship during communism and the large Vietnamese minority residing in the Czech Republic. He said that PM Schwarzenberg is also considering a trip to India this year to honor the 60th anniversary of Czech-India diplomatic relations. President Klaus and FM Schwarzenberg visit Japan -------------- --- ¶5. (U) Although he earlier opposed his selection as Foreign Minister, Czech President Vaclav Klaus allowed Foreign Minister Karel Schwarzenberg to accompany him and his wife Livia on his trip to Japan from February 12-17. Klaus met with Emperor Akihito and also with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo ABE on February 14. During a press conference with PM Abe, President Klaus noted his support for the U.S. missile PRAGUE 00000159 002 OF 002 defense installation to be built in the Czech Republic, and Klaus and ABE both publicly backed each others bid to join the UN Security Council. (Note: The Czechs are seeking an elected member slot from 2008-2009. End Note.) After being delayed a day by problems with his Presidential airplane, Klaus traveled to Hiroshima on February 15. Afghanistan and Pakistan -------------- ¶6. (C) Fury informed PolEcon Counselor that FM Schwarzenberg planned to travel to Afghanistan in March or April to open the Czechs new Embassy in Kabul and to met with Czech troops serving at Kabul's airport. The new Czech Ambassador to Afghanistan will be Jiri Nekvasil, formerly the Chief of General Staff of the Czech Armed Forces and currently serving as the Czech Ambassador to Mongolia. He also noted that Pakistani President Musharef will be visiting Europe in April and that Musharef already has confirmed stops in Madrid and Warsaw and that it would be very easy for him to make a stop in Prague. In related news, Pakistan opened its embassy in Prague on February 1. ¶7. (SBU) In the way of other travel to the region, Fury said that in the second half of 2007, FM Schwarzenberg intended to visit Australia, New Zealand and Indonesia. GRABER