Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07PRAGUE497
2007-05-07 15:01:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Prague
Cable title:
CZECH PRESIDENT: PUTIN SERIOUS ABOUT MISSILE
how-toVZCZCXRO7705 OO RUEHDBU RUEHFL RUEHKW RUEHLA RUEHROV RUEHSR DE RUEHPG #0497 1271501 ZNY CCCCC ZZH O 071501Z MAY 07 FM AMEMBASSY PRAGUE TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 9007 INFO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC PRIORITY RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L PRAGUE 000497
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/07/2017
TAGS: PREL MARR RU EZ
SUBJECT: CZECH PRESIDENT: PUTIN SERIOUS ABOUT MISSILE
DEFENSE CONCERNS
REF: PRAGUE 486
Classified By: Ambassador Richard W Graber for reasons 1.4 b+d
C O N F I D E N T I A L PRAGUE 000497
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/07/2017
TAGS: PREL MARR RU EZ
SUBJECT: CZECH PRESIDENT: PUTIN SERIOUS ABOUT MISSILE
DEFENSE CONCERNS
REF: PRAGUE 486
Classified By: Ambassador Richard W Graber for reasons 1.4 b+d
1. (C) Czech President Vaclav Klaus asked to see Ambassador
on May 7 to brief on his April 26-29 state visit to Moscow,
and specifically his discussions with President Putin on
missile defense (MD). Klaus said he found Putin to be more
strident than he had expected on the issue, adding that he
"thinks Putin really believes" what the Russians are saying,
i.e., that the proposed U.S. MD assets in Central Europe are
actually targeted at Russia (reftel and previous). In other
words, Klaus does not believe that the Russian saber-rattling
on MD is mainly for domestic consumption. Klaus's assessment
is based in part on the difference in tone he noted in the
Russian leader's private comments on MD and what he heard in
Moscow during the debate over NATO enlargement, when the
GOR's public rhetoric was shrill, but the enlargement
question was rarely raised in private meetings.
2. (C) Klaus reported that he used his meeting with Putin to
try to convince him that the proposed system was designed to
meet at threat from the Middle East, but that he quickly saw
it was futile to try to change Putin's mind. Asked what he
thought the GOR wants to see result from its
counter-offensive on MD, Klaus said he had no idea whether
the goal was simply to see the MD proposal move off the table
or some broader strategic Russian objective. In terms of
next steps, Klaus recommended that the U.S. and Russia "keep
talking."
3. (C) Klaus otherwise described the visit to Moscow and his
talks with the Russian leadership as cordial and productive.
He described Putin as more relaxed and confident than he had
observed in the past. Klaus speculated that Putin may
recognize that "the end is in sight" and feel emboldened as a
result. He noted that Putin was leaving for a spring ski
trip shortly after their meeting.
GRABER
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/07/2017
TAGS: PREL MARR RU EZ
SUBJECT: CZECH PRESIDENT: PUTIN SERIOUS ABOUT MISSILE
DEFENSE CONCERNS
REF: PRAGUE 486
Classified By: Ambassador Richard W Graber for reasons 1.4 b+d
1. (C) Czech President Vaclav Klaus asked to see Ambassador
on May 7 to brief on his April 26-29 state visit to Moscow,
and specifically his discussions with President Putin on
missile defense (MD). Klaus said he found Putin to be more
strident than he had expected on the issue, adding that he
"thinks Putin really believes" what the Russians are saying,
i.e., that the proposed U.S. MD assets in Central Europe are
actually targeted at Russia (reftel and previous). In other
words, Klaus does not believe that the Russian saber-rattling
on MD is mainly for domestic consumption. Klaus's assessment
is based in part on the difference in tone he noted in the
Russian leader's private comments on MD and what he heard in
Moscow during the debate over NATO enlargement, when the
GOR's public rhetoric was shrill, but the enlargement
question was rarely raised in private meetings.
2. (C) Klaus reported that he used his meeting with Putin to
try to convince him that the proposed system was designed to
meet at threat from the Middle East, but that he quickly saw
it was futile to try to change Putin's mind. Asked what he
thought the GOR wants to see result from its
counter-offensive on MD, Klaus said he had no idea whether
the goal was simply to see the MD proposal move off the table
or some broader strategic Russian objective. In terms of
next steps, Klaus recommended that the U.S. and Russia "keep
talking."
3. (C) Klaus otherwise described the visit to Moscow and his
talks with the Russian leadership as cordial and productive.
He described Putin as more relaxed and confident than he had
observed in the past. Klaus speculated that Putin may
recognize that "the end is in sight" and feel emboldened as a
result. He noted that Putin was leaving for a spring ski
trip shortly after their meeting.
GRABER