CZECH COMMENTS IN ADVANCE OF THE OCTOBER EU GAERC

C O N F I D E N T I A L PRAGUE 000654 SENSITIVE SIPDIS VILNIUS FOR MINSK EUR/ERA JGIAUQUE, EUR/CE FOR ATRATENSEK E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/10/2013 TAGS: EUN EZ EG PGOV PREL PHUM ZI BO GG SUBJECT: CZECH COMMENTS IN ADVANCE OF THE OCTOBER EU GAERC REF: STATE 108064 Classified By: Acting Polec Counselor Martina Strong for reasons 1.4 (b ) and (d). ¶1. (SBU) Summary: Emboff met with Magdalena Janesova of the Czech MFA Department of Common Foreign and Security Policy prior to the October 13 EU General Affairs and External Relations Council (GAERC). While the Czechs positively view recent developments in Georgia, Uzbekistan, Belarus and Zimbabwe, they remain skeptical about the intentions of some of these governments and thus, the Czechs support a cautious EU approach. End Summary. -------------- EU Cautiously Positive about Developments in Georgia -------------- ¶2. (C) The Czechs noted that the EU Monitoring Mission (EUMM) has provided updates to the EU member states, which affirm that the Russians have been withdrawing from the buffer zones in Georgia. (Note: The Czechs have five officials from the Ministry of Interior participating in this mission, with another five committed to join soon. End Note.) While the draft GAERC conclusions on this subject are fairly positive (welcoming the October 16 talks in Geneva, the October 22 Donor's conference and noting EU appreciation for progress so far),much remains bracketed - contingent on how the further withdrawal of Russian troops proceeds. Janesova noted that within the EU the Czechs pressed to add to the conclusions a reference to Georgian "territorial integrity." With respect to the suspended EU negotiations on its Partnership and Cooperation Agreement (PCA) with Russia, Janesova commented that some EU member states have expressed interest in restarting negotiations if all goes well during the Geneva talks. The Czechs, however, see the PCA as important leverage with Russia and would not want the EU to act too quickly to resume these negotiations. -------------- Uzbekistan - Partial Lift of Sanctions Likely -------------- ¶3. (C) According to Janesova, the EU has not yet reached a decision on whether to make permanent the currently suspended visa ban against Uzbekistan. Like the majority of the EU member states, the Czechs support lifting the visa ban. The lone hold-out (the Dutch),however, would like to see more progress by the Uzbeks. Janesova predicts that if agreement is not reached at this GAERC, it is likely to occur next month. On the Uzbek arms ban, Janesova stated that the Czechs are firmly against lifting this EU ban, as are most of the EU members. -------------- Belarus: EU Plans to Lift Visa Ban -------------- ¶4. (C) In response to the mixed signs of progress in Belarus, Janesova commented that like the U.S., the EU is planning to take a measured approach. The Czechs have made the "painful decision" to support EU consensus to conditionally lift the visa ban because they decided that this will help the EU to engage the Belarussians. In the conclusions, the EU will emphasize the conditional nature of this suspension based on Belarus progress to implement democratic reforms and address concerns about media freedom. The EU also plans to call specifically for changes in the recently adopted media law. -------------- EU Plans to Watch Zimbabwe Closely on Implementation -------------- ¶5. (C) The EU plans to give the Zimbabwe government a bit of space to implement the September 15 power sharing agreement. Thus, these GAERC conclusions will take note of the agreement, call for the formation of the Government of National Unity, and emphasize that the EU stands ready to support Zimbabwe as it implements this agreement. The EU will also announce the release of humanitarian assistance (around 10 M euros). On a bilateral basis, the Czechs have made a decision to provide approximately 5M crowns (330,000 USD) in humanitarian assistance. This has not yet been publicly announced, as the Czechs are having some difficulty finding an NGO to partner with in Zimbabwe. Graber