CZECHS SHARE USG PERSPECTIVE ON LEBANON

C O N F I D E N T I A L PRAGUE 000073

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

NEA/ELA FOR ASOMERSET, MIRWIN, AND AMONZ

E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/04/2010
TAGS: PREL PGOV PHUM KDEM EFIN EINV EZ LE SY EUN
SUBJECT: CZECHS SHARE USG PERSPECTIVE ON LEBANON

REF: A. STATE 10786


B. FELTMAN-DODMAN E-MAIL OF 1/24/08

C. PRAGUE 0005

Classified By: POLEC Counselor Michael Dodman for reasons 1.4 (b) and (
d).


1. (SBU) Summary: Czech Department Director of Middle East
and North Africa, Josef Rychtar, confirmed that the GOCR
shares our perspective on the need for a special tribunal for
Lebanon into the assassination of Rafik Hariri, as well as
GOCR support for the cause of Syrian dissidents. He also
spoke to GOCR optimism after Annapolis and subsequent
disappointment with the unhelpful role that Syria continues
to play in Lebanon. End Summary.

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Czechs Support Special Tribunal
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2. (U) According to Rychtar, the Czechs have the same
perspective on this topic as the USG. The Czechs support the
establishment of a special tribunal to investigate the
assassination of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri
and that this should be done with all due haste. According
to Rychtar, within the last two months the GOCR contributed
50,000 USD for the establishment of this tribunal.

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Syrian Dissidents
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3. (C) The GOCR indicated that they have been following the
arrest of Raid Sayif. They supported the February 4 EU
statement condemning Sayif's arrest and the Syrian
dissidents' detention, just as they supported the EU
statement on the Damascus declaration in January (ref C).
While the Czech MFA, as well as the Czech Ambassador in
Damascus, raises the issue of Syrian dissidents whenever
possible in meetings with Syrian government officials, the
Czechs do not currently plan to release an individual
statement on this topic.

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Initial Optimism on Syria Now Tempered
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4. (C) Rychtar indicated that following the Annapolis
conference in November, the Czech's were relatively
optimistic that the Syrians might move in a helpful
direction. He confirmed that the Czechs had even gone so far
as to explore a possible visit by Syrian Foreign Minister
Moaullem this spring to Prague; something we had also heard
from Embassy Beirut (ref B). Rychtar stated that the Czechs,
however, have been disappointed by the Syrians since they
have not taken any additional positive steps since the
conference on Syrian dissidents, human rights, or to put an
end to political violence in Lebanon. Referencing the
political assassinations in Lebanon, Rychtar opined that the
Syrians are likely behind everything. Given this GOCR
disillusionment, the possible visit by the Syrian FM is
currently on hold. The Czechs are waiting to see how things
develop with the Lebanese presidential elections as well as
the Arab League Summit at the end of March in Damascus in
order to decide whether to unfreeze the invitation.
Graber