Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09PRAGUE201
2009-04-10 13:40:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Prague
Cable title:
CZECH EU PRESIDENCY - EXPRESSES CONCERN ABOUT CASE
how-toVZCZCXRO5430 RR RUEHAG RUEHAST RUEHDA RUEHDBU RUEHDF RUEHFL RUEHIK RUEHKW RUEHLA RUEHLN RUEHLZ RUEHNP RUEHPOD RUEHROV RUEHSK RUEHSR RUEHVK RUEHYG DE RUEHPG #0201 1001340 ZNR UUUUU ZZH R 101340Z APR 09 FM AMEMBASSY PRAGUE TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 1287 INFO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE
UNCLAS PRAGUE 000201
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PHUM EUN PREL IR EZ
SUBJECT: CZECH EU PRESIDENCY - EXPRESSES CONCERN ABOUT CASE
OF SABERI
REF: STATE 30046
(SBU) On April 9, British Embassy Political Counselor in
Prague contacted Embassy Prague to inform us of their efforts
to encourage an EU presidency statement on the Saberi case.
Prior to this, Emboff delivered the reftel demarche to the
Czech MFA Middle East Department on April 2. Charge
Thompson-Jones also followed up and contacted MFA Political
Director Martin Povejsil April 9 to reiterate USG concerns
about journalist Roxanna Saberi. Povejsil acknowledged to
Charge Thompson-Jones that the MFA was working on a
statement, which he hoped would be ready for release April 9
or 10. On the evening of April 9, the Czech EU Presidency
released a statement.
Begin text:
EU Presidency Statement on developments in the case of
Roxanna Saberi
The Presidency of the EU expresses its serious concern at the
developments in the case of Roxanna Saberi following the
announcement on 8.4. that she has been charged with espionage.
The Presidency urges the Islamic Republic of Iran to comply
with all international and regional human rights instruments
ratified by Iran, and would like to underline the need to
comply with Article 10, on the right to a fair trial and
Article 19, on the right to freedom of expression, of the
Universal Declaration of Human Rights, as enshrined in the
constitution of the Islamic Republic of Iran.
End Text.
Thompson-Jones