Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07PRAGUE970
2007-08-24 07:42:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Prague
Cable title:  

CZECH REACTION TO U.S. NONPAPER ON CFE

Tags:  EZ KCFE NATO PARM PREL 
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VZCZCXYZ0003
PP RUEHWEB

DE RUEHPG #0970 2360742
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
P 240742Z AUG 07
FM AMEMBASSY PRAGUE
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 9521
INFO RUEHXP/ALL NATO POST COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RUEHMO/AMEMBASSY MOSCOW PRIORITY 0747
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC PRIORITY
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC PRIORITY
RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHDC PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L PRAGUE 000970 

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/20/2017
TAGS: EZ KCFE NATO PARM PREL
SUBJECT: CZECH REACTION TO U.S. NONPAPER ON CFE

REF: STATE 116194

Classified By: Pol/Econ Counselor Michael Dodman for reasons 1.4 (b) an
d (d).

C O N F I D E N T I A L PRAGUE 000970

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/20/2017
TAGS: EZ KCFE NATO PARM PREL
SUBJECT: CZECH REACTION TO U.S. NONPAPER ON CFE

REF: STATE 116194

Classified By: Pol/Econ Counselor Michael Dodman for reasons 1.4 (b) an
d (d).


1. (C) On June 20, post delivered reftel demarche and
nonpaper to Veronika Kuchynova-Smigolova, Director for
Security Policy at the Czech Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Kuchynova-Smigolova said that she would study the U.S.
proposal, but her immediate reaction was less than positive.
She expressed a two-fold concern that 1) NATO allies would
appear as if they were backing down as a result of Russian
threats; and 2) NATO would send the wrong signal to countries
like Georgia, which have depended on NATO's insistence that
Russia implement the Istanbul commitments.

Kuchynova-Smigolova noted that until now, most of the NATO
allies have supported -- "correctly" -- the present policy of
delaying ratification until after Russia has fulfilled the
Istanbul commitments. A change in NATO's current stance
would not guarantee Russian cooperation, according to
Kuchynova-Smigolova, who believes that Russia has already
decided to withdraw from CFE and the U.S. proposal would not
have any effect on that decision. Comment:
Kuchynova-Smigolova will have the lead in drafting the
official Czech position on the U.S. nonpaper. While her
initial hard-line reaction may be toned down somewhat by
others in the MFA, we expect that the Czechs will remain
unenthusiastic about the proposed approach. End Comment.
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