CZECH DEP FM TO VISIT TEHRAN JUNE 18-19; AGENDA TO

C O N F I D E N T I A L PRAGUE 000701 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/13/2017 TAGS: PREL PGOV KDEM IR PHUM EUN EZ SUBJECT: CZECH DEP FM TO VISIT TEHRAN JUNE 18-19; AGENDA TO INCLUDE HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSES REF: A. STATE 80300 ¶B. 06 PRAGUE 754 Classified By: Acting Deputy Chief of Mission Michael Dodman for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). ¶1. (C) Poloff met with Czech MFA Iran Desk Officer Eva Jelinkova on June 14 to deliver ref A points on American detainees in Iran and to discuss the planned trip of Deputy Foreign Minister Helena Bambasova to Tehran. Jelinkova said Bambasova will travel to Iran at the invitation of the Iranian government for meetings on June 18-19 with Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Saeed Jalili and the head of the foreign relations committee of the Iranian parliament. According to Jelinkova, the Iranians have told the Czechs they see Bambasova's visit as a step towards possibly improving bilateral relations, i.e., to resume economic cooperation and elevate diplomatic representation to the Ambassador level. Jelinkova said the Czechs are likewise interested in exploring ways to expand and improve their relations with Iran, but stressed that no decisions had yet been taken in this regard, and that there would be a full internal assessment after Bambasova returns. (Note: as discussed ref B, Czech-Iranians relations have been strained for many reasons, most prominently the broadcasts from Prague-based, U.S.-funded Radio Farda. The Iranian regime has maintained a selective trade boycott on Czech goods for years.) ¶2. (C) Bambasova's agenda items will include bilateral issues, Iran's role in Afghanistan and Iraq, Iran's nuclear program, and Iranian human rights abuses. With respect to the latter, Dep FM Bambasova will present an EU-wide demarche that addresses the detention of the American citizens referenced in reftel, and other Iranian human rights abuses. This demarche will also be delivered by all the EU missions in Tehran on June 19th. The content of the demarche will be made public on June 19. GRABER