CZECHS CONCLUDE AGREEMENT ON MANDPADS DESTRUCTION

UNCLAS PRAGUE 000894 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: n/a TAGS: MARR PREL EZ SUBJECT: CZECHS CONCLUDE AGREEMENT ON MANDPADS DESTRUCTION Ref: (A) State 90547 (B) Prague 804 (C) Adams e-mail 1/25/07 (D) Adams e-mail 7/24/07 ¶1. The Czech government and embassy have concluded necessary arrangements related to the USG payment of $600,000 to fund destruction of 1359 Czech-held MANPADS missiles (refs). On July 31 the Czech MFA provided embassy with the dip note accepting the terms of the program, as previously agreed during discussions between the two countries (ref C). Also on July 31, Charge d'Affaires Dodman and Czech MOD Policy Director Ivan Dvorak signed the accompanying Implementing Arrangement. Documentation was e-mailed and faxed to PM (Attn: Mark Adams); originals will be pouched. Completion of the legal instruments was done in accordance with instructions in ref ¶D. ¶2. The Czech press has already announced the USG funding of this program, in relation to the agreement's formal approval by the Czech government during the week of July 30. ¶3. We look forward to transfer of the FY-07 funds as soon as possible. The Czech effort to destroy the equipment is already well underway. Thompson-Jones