Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07PRAGUE52
2007-01-20 11:14:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Prague
Cable title:
CZECH PM PUBLICLY WELCOMES U.S. MISSILE DEFENSE
how-toVZCZCXRO3658 OO RUEHDBU RUEHFL RUEHKW RUEHLA RUEHROV RUEHSR DE RUEHPG #0052 0201114 ZNY CCCCC ZZH O 201114Z JAN 07 FM AMEMBASSY PRAGUE TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 8466 INFO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE IMMEDIATE RUEHWR/AMEMBASSY WARSAW IMMEDIATE 3234 RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC IMMEDIATE RUEHNO/USMISSION USNATO IMMEDIATE 1806 RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC IMMEDIATE RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHDC IMMEDIATE RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC IMMEDIATE
C O N F I D E N T I A L PRAGUE 000052
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
EUR/NCE FOR PEKALA, NSC FOR STERLING, OSD FOR GREEN
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/19/2017
TAGS: MARR PREL EZ PL
SUBJECT: CZECH PM PUBLICLY WELCOMES U.S. MISSILE DEFENSE
RADAR OFFER, SAYS REFERENDUM UNNECESSARY
REF: STATE 7445
Classified By: DCM Cameron Munter
for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)
C O N F I D E N T I A L PRAGUE 000052
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
EUR/NCE FOR PEKALA, NSC FOR STERLING, OSD FOR GREEN
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/19/2017
TAGS: MARR PREL EZ PL
SUBJECT: CZECH PM PUBLICLY WELCOMES U.S. MISSILE DEFENSE
RADAR OFFER, SAYS REFERENDUM UNNECESSARY
REF: STATE 7445
Classified By: DCM Cameron Munter
for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)
1. (C) DCM delivered reftel non paper on the fielding of U.S.
missile defense assets to Czech Deputy Foreign Minister Tomas
Pojar at 10:45 a.m., Saturday, January 20. Pojar, who was
visibly excited, welcomed the document, indicating that it
largely tracked with what he had heard about Undersecretary
Joseph's January 19 meeting with Czech Ambassador Kolar in
Washington.
2. (U) At 11:00 a.m., Czech PM Mirek Topolanek led a press
conference on missile defense at government headquarters. He
was joined on the podium by Foreign Minister Karel
Schwarzenberg, Defense Minister Vlasta Parkanova, Chief of
the General Staff General Pavel Stefka, and DFM Pojar.
Topolanek said that hosting an element of missile defense was
in the interests of Czech citizens and would make them safer.
He emphasized that the radar would not have any negative
impact on the quality of life of local residents or on the
environment. Topolanek, in response to a journalist's query
about calls for a referendum, said that a strategic and
technical matter such as missile defense would be best
handled in the parliament. When questioned about economics
Topolanek highlighted the prestige associated with the
invitation to begin negotiations, and the contribution this
would make to the security of allies, before saying he
expected that a U.S. facility could have an impact on
unemployment in the chosen location (which he did not
specify) and possibly benefit local suppliers.
3. (U) FM Schwarzenberg said that the first step would be to
receive an official written invitation to begin negotiations
from the United States. He emphasized that this will be a
long and deliberative negotiation process. DM Parkanova
expressed her hope that politicians would deal with the issue
in a responsible manner, avoiding any attempt to distort the
issue for political gain. General Stefka observed that for
financial and technical reasons the Czech armed forces were
not equipped to defend the Czech Republic from missile
threats and participation in the U.S. missile defense system
would enable the defense of the Czech public and that of
allies.
GRABER
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
EUR/NCE FOR PEKALA, NSC FOR STERLING, OSD FOR GREEN
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/19/2017
TAGS: MARR PREL EZ PL
SUBJECT: CZECH PM PUBLICLY WELCOMES U.S. MISSILE DEFENSE
RADAR OFFER, SAYS REFERENDUM UNNECESSARY
REF: STATE 7445
Classified By: DCM Cameron Munter
for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)
1. (C) DCM delivered reftel non paper on the fielding of U.S.
missile defense assets to Czech Deputy Foreign Minister Tomas
Pojar at 10:45 a.m., Saturday, January 20. Pojar, who was
visibly excited, welcomed the document, indicating that it
largely tracked with what he had heard about Undersecretary
Joseph's January 19 meeting with Czech Ambassador Kolar in
Washington.
2. (U) At 11:00 a.m., Czech PM Mirek Topolanek led a press
conference on missile defense at government headquarters. He
was joined on the podium by Foreign Minister Karel
Schwarzenberg, Defense Minister Vlasta Parkanova, Chief of
the General Staff General Pavel Stefka, and DFM Pojar.
Topolanek said that hosting an element of missile defense was
in the interests of Czech citizens and would make them safer.
He emphasized that the radar would not have any negative
impact on the quality of life of local residents or on the
environment. Topolanek, in response to a journalist's query
about calls for a referendum, said that a strategic and
technical matter such as missile defense would be best
handled in the parliament. When questioned about economics
Topolanek highlighted the prestige associated with the
invitation to begin negotiations, and the contribution this
would make to the security of allies, before saying he
expected that a U.S. facility could have an impact on
unemployment in the chosen location (which he did not
specify) and possibly benefit local suppliers.
3. (U) FM Schwarzenberg said that the first step would be to
receive an official written invitation to begin negotiations
from the United States. He emphasized that this will be a
long and deliberative negotiation process. DM Parkanova
expressed her hope that politicians would deal with the issue
in a responsible manner, avoiding any attempt to distort the
issue for political gain. General Stefka observed that for
financial and technical reasons the Czech armed forces were
not equipped to defend the Czech Republic from missile
threats and participation in the U.S. missile defense system
would enable the defense of the Czech public and that of
allies.
GRABER