CZECHS ON APRIL 23-24 GAERC

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 PRAGUE 000424

SIPDIS

SIPDIS
NOFORN

////C O R R E C T E D C O P Y///////// (SUBJ TAG CHANGE)

EUR/NCE FOR ERIC FICHTE

E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/19/2017
TAGS: ETRD KPAL PREL EUN XG IS IR AF EZ
SUBJECT: CZECHS ON APRIL 23-24 GAERC

REF: STATE 51262

PRAGUE 00000424 001.2 OF 002


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


1. (C) Summary. At the April 23-24 GAERC, the Czech
government will support tougher sanctions on Iran, a
"realistic" approach to the National Unity Government in
Palestine, and reform efforts in Central Asia (but urge the
EU to focus on improving human rights in the region). The
Czechs continue to strongly support U.S. policy in the
Balkans, and rely on other EU countries to take the lead in
Africa. Finally, regarding the U.S.-EU summit, the Czechs
used the draft declaration as an opportunity to highlight two
issues of importance to the Czech Republic: visa waiver and
Cuba. End summary.


2. (U) Poloff met with Director of the CFSP Department Vaclav
Balek to discuss the April 23-24 GAERC.

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Iran
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3. (C) Balek said the closed door discussion on Iran will
address two concerns: how to apply increasing pressure on
Iran to halt its nuclear program (the Czechs urge even
tougher sanctions following the approval of UNSCR 1747),and
whether dialogue with Iran may be needed in light of its
influence in the region.

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MEPP/National Unity Government
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4. (C/NF) Balek said there are two schools of thought within
the EU on the National Unity Government (NUG). The first
view, held by the "realists" (e.g., Germany, Czech Republic),
is that the NUG should be given a chance to prove itself, but
engaging with Hamas ministers is inadvisable. (The ultimate
goal of the realists remains full acceptance by the NUG of
the Quartet Principles.) The second view (held by Finland,
Spain, Ireland, and unnamed countries Balek dismissed as
"uninformed") is that the EU should engage fully with the
NUG, including with the Hamas ministers, notwithstanding
their refusal to accept the Quartet Principles. Balek added
that the UK is a "strange case." According to Balek, the UK
supports the realist view at the working level, yet is
increasingly unpredictable and inconsistent at high political
levels. He believed this trend is the result of PM Blair's
"open-minded" approach, which has made the issue a matter of
domestic policy within the UK. He said the UK's recent
actions on this issue are "not helpful."

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Central Asia
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5. (C) The Czechs welcome reform efforts in Central Asia,
believing the region has strategic and political importance
to the EU, and also has important resources. While the Czechs
support strengthening economic ties to the region, they will
continue to urge the EU to focus on human rights violations
in countries like Uzbekistan.

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Balkans
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6. (SBU) The Czechs continue to support U.S. policy in the
Balkans. They fully support Ahtisaari's recommendations and
the EU perspective for Serbia.

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Africa
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7. (SBU) The Czechs continue to support EU efforts in
Somalia, Sudan, Zimbabwe, and rely on the EU to provide
strategy, intelligence, and expertise.

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U.S./EU Summit
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8. (C) The Czech Republic urged the EU to include the visa
waiver issue and Cuba in the draft declaration for the
Summit. On the visa issue, Balek said EU member states

PRAGUE 00000424 002.2 OF 002


reached consensus on the text, but the U.S. objected to it.
On Cuba, Balek said the EU has not reached consensus on the
text, with Spain opposing any mention of Cuba in the draft
declaration.
GRABER