CZECH REPUBLIC ON OECD ENLARGEMENT: QUALITY OVER

UNCLAS PRAGUE 000527 SIPDIS SIPDIS PARIS ALSO FOR USOECD E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: ECON OECD EUN EZ SUBJECT: CZECH REPUBLIC ON OECD ENLARGEMENT: QUALITY OVER GEOGRAPHY REF: STATE 62464 ¶1. SUMMARY: Emboffs met May 11 with MFA Department of Multilateral Economic Relations Section Head Petr Bambas to deliver reftel demarche. Bambas will be on the Czech delegation at the May 15 - 16 OECD MCM. The GOCR supports the "package deal" for Slovenia, Estonia, Chile, Israel and Russia to start the first wave of accession discussions with the OECD, noting that starting such talks does not mean accession itself. Bambas emphasized the need for quality over geography in terms of Russia as well as the EU-8 countries. On enlargement financing, Bambas said that while the USG certainly had the "right" to ask small countries to increase their contributions, that "right" did not translate to "good" given both political and financial realities of smaller countries. END SUMMARY. ¶2. RUSSIA: While noting that the Russia issue was a problem derived from a previous "promise of sorts" made by the OECD, Bambas made clear that the GOCR would not/not support any exceptions or special treatment for Russia. Czechs are willing to help countries that want to fulfill accession requirements but believe countries must first help themselves. ¶3. EU-8: Bambas said that Noboru criteria does not/not have geographical limitations or quotas. While the Czechs want and appreciate membership from various geographical areas in the OECD, Bambas emphasized that the focus must be on quality (meeting accession criteria),not geography. 4: SCALE OF CONTRIBUTION: The GOCR supports the "G11" small countries' proposal that all countries should contribute to finance enlargement and the burden should not be born by small countries. Bambas challenged the 2.4 - 5.6 ME recurring average cost per member figure and said there were other says to handle contributions by new members, including asking new members to contribute amounts similar to an existing member of similar population size. Bambas also said that the GOCR was increasing its contribution to the OECD. GRABER