CZECH PLANS FOR THE JANUARY 26 NATO FOREIGN

C O N F I D E N T I A L PRAGUE 000060 SIPDIS SIPDIS EUR/NCE FOR LABONTE AND FICHTE, OSD FOR SADOWSKA, USNATO FOR SHEEHAN E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/22/2017 TAGS: MARR MOPS NATO PINS PREL AF PK EZ SUBJECT: CZECH PLANS FOR THE JANUARY 26 NATO FOREIGN MINISTERIAL REF: A. STATE 7434 ¶B. 06 PRAGUE 1487 Classified By: Political Officer Brian Greaney for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) ¶1. (C) Poloff met January 23 with MFA Security Policy Director Veronika Smigolova to discuss Czech plans for the January 26 NATO foreign ministerial in Brussels. The meeting followed up on delivery of Ref A demarche to Deputy Foreign Minister Tomas Pojar by CFC-A Commander Lieutenant General Karl Eikenberry on January 22 (To be reported septel). ¶2. (C) Smigolova said in Brussels the Czechs will highlight the following contributions: -- A plan to lead a PRT at Pol-E-Khomri beginning in 2008, taking over from Hungary. Although planning is ongoing, there is general acceptance that the PRT will incorporate a significant interagency civilian component with funding to undertake reconstruction and development projects. The PRT is also likely to have Czech helicopter assets. -- A plan to stage a 6-month deployment of a military hospital in Kabul, starting in Spring 2007. -- A donation of between 10 and 14 helicopters, after refurbishment funded by NATO. -- A donation of 20,000 assault rifles and 650 machine guns. -- A reduction in caveats. ¶3. (C) Smigolova said that the Czechs have already removed one of the caveats that limited the deployment of forces from Kabul International Airport to other areas. Despite prodding, Smigolova said the Czechs would be unable to remove a caveat preventing their deminers from dealing with chemical weapons, and would address this issue by providing deminers capable of disarming such weapons during their next rotation. Smigolova said the Czechs' final caveat, that their troops in Feyzabad not participate in counter-narcotics operations, was a reflection of the policy of that PRT's German leadership. She said any removal of that caveat by the Germans would be followed by the Czechs. GRABER