MISSILE DEFENSE: CZECH NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL

C O N F I D E N T I A L PRAGUE 000066 SIPDIS SIPDIS EUR/NCE FOR GARBER AND FICHTE, EUR/PRA FOR FRIEDT AND AZEVEDO, NSC FOR HAYWARD AND STERLING, OSD FOR IARROBINO AND SADOWSKA E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/25/2016 TAGS: PREL PGOV MASS MARR EZ SUBJECT: MISSILE DEFENSE: CZECH NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL ACCEPTS U.S. OFFER FOR NEGOTIATIONS; GOVERNMENT ANNOUNCES SITE REF: STATE 9270 Classified By: Political Counselor Michael Dodman for reasons 1.4 (b) a nd (d) ¶1. (SBU) Summary: The Czech National Security Council agreed January 24 to start talks with the United States on the placement of a missile defense radar in the Czech Republic. DCM delivered reftel dipnote to Deputy FM Pojar morning of January 25. PM Topolanek several hours later announced to the press receipt of the note and provided details (i.e., location of the proposed radar facility). End summary. ¶2. (C) The Czech National Security Council met January 24 to consider the U.S. offer to base a missile defense radar in the Czech Republic (Note: the Council includes the President, Prime Minister, Foreign and Defense Ministers, and senior members of parliament. End note). Speaking after the meeting, PM Mirek Topolanek said the Council had ordered the Foreign and Defense Ministers to set up an expert team to conduct negotiations with the United States. President Vaclav Klaus, who had previously been silent on missile defense, also spoke in encouraging terms about MD after the meeting. Given Klaus's popularly, MFA officials told us that they through his endorsement would help build popular support for the MD facility. ¶3. (C) DCM delivered reftel diplomatic note to Deputy FM Pojar at 10:15 on January 25. Pojar expressed appreciation and noted that with the Czech NSC decision, he hoped the Czech side would be able to respond within a few weeks. He noted that he would be in Washington in early February (dates still not final) and planned to discuss the issue at that time. ¶4. (U) At around 14:00 on January 25, PM Topolanek announced to the press that his government had received our note, that the request was for a radar, and that the site was the Jince military area. He promised that the government would thoroughly analyze the note and respond within several weeks. He also suggested that actual negotiations and ratification of a bilateral agreement could last one year. ¶5. (SBU) Post has received numerous requests for information from Czech officials. Continuing with our effort to involve the main opposition party, Ambassador accepted a request from CSSD Chairman Paroubek to meet to discuss the planned MD facility on January 25. Paroubek reiterated his previous assessments that many in his party remain concerned about MD, and he needed to provide information to meet their concerns. He requested an embassy representative take part in an on-line web chat next week with party members. He welcomed information about MD that has been available on the embassy web site for months. In general, Paroubek continued to demonstrate that he wants to work with us on a radar facility, but that he needs to continue to provide information to answer questions and concerns. ¶6. (SBU) Ambassador has also been asked to join the Governor of the Central Bohemia Region (in which the Jince/Brdy site is located) for a meeting on January 26 with local officials. Also participating in the meeting will be Deputy PM Vondra and Deputy FM Pojar. It is not yet clear what will be the fate of a similar meeting that was planned for next week in the Olomouc region (which includes the Libava site). GRABER