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. -------------- Czechs Support Special Tribunal -------------- ¶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. -------------- Syrian Dissidents -------------- ¶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. -------------- Initial Optimism on Syria Now Tempered -------------- ¶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