CZECH REPUBLIC: STRATEGIC DIALOGUE NON-PAPER

C O N F I D E N T I A L PRAGUE 000022 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/11/2018 TAGS: MARR PREL PGOV EZ SUBJECT: CZECH REPUBLIC: STRATEGIC DIALOGUE NON-PAPER DELIVERED REF: STATE 4158 Classified By: Political-Economic Counselor Mike Dodman for reasons 1.4 b+d ¶1. (C) Political Counselor delivered reftel non-paper to Ministry of Foreign Affairs Director of Security Policy Veronika Kuchynova-Smigolova January 15. Smigolova emphasized the political importance of the Strategic Dialogue to highlight how the Ballistic Missile Defense Agreement (BMDA) deepens ties between the U.S. and Czech Republic. PolCouns agreed there is a link between the BMDA and the proposed Dialogue (the exact nature of which will be determined in the course of BMDA negotiations),but stressed that we see the proposed Dialogue as having a mandate larger than just missile defense (or, indeed, larger than only political-military issues). Both agreed the proposed Dialogue should play a role in Prime Minister Topolanek's upcoming trip to Washington. Smigolova did not offer any suggestion of when the Czech Republic would be ready to sit down to talk in more detail about the Dialogue. SNEAK PREVIEW OF SECURITY COUNCIL THOUGHTS ON BMDA -------------- -- -------------- -------------- -------------- -- -------------- ¶2. (C) In terms of the SOFA and BMDA negotiations scheduled for January 28-31, Smiglova thought the January 17 Security Council meeting would result in only one new request, and this is an important one: the Czech Green Party wants explicit language referring to NATO in the body of the BMDA, not in the preamble. This language does not specifically need to make BMD part of a NATO framework, but the Greens need to see a reference to NATO in the final draft. She said the Czechs are working on possible language to meet this requirement, and hope to provide to the U.S. side before the upcoming talks. ¶3. (C) The MFA has provided the National Security Council with a briefing paper on the BMDA and SOFA negotiations outlining the remaining areas of disagreement. Smigolova expects the Security Council's new negotiating mandate will confirm the Czech negotiating positions on many points, and make some small changes such as the issue of symbolic rent. NATO SEMINAR POSTPONED; FRAMEWORK AGREEMENT ON TRACK -------------- -------------- -------------- -------------- -------------- -- -------------- ¶4. (C) The MFA agreed to move the planned MD/NATO seminar from March to late April. They are working with the NATO SYG,s officer to find a date that works for him. Once they have this, they will approach us about getting senior USG participation. Smigolova confirmed that she will lead the Framework Agreement negotiations with MDA on January 18. Graber