Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09PRAGUE38
2009-01-20 14:52:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Prague
Cable title:
CZECH REPUBLIC COMMENTS ON GAZA
how-toVZCZCXRO0754 RR RUEHAG RUEHAST RUEHDA RUEHDF RUEHFL RUEHIK RUEHKW RUEHLA RUEHLN RUEHLZ RUEHNP RUEHPOD RUEHROV RUEHSK RUEHSR RUEHVK RUEHYG DE RUEHPG #0038 0201452 ZNR UUUUU ZZH R 201452Z JAN 09 FM AMEMBASSY PRAGUE TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 1019 INFO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE RUEHLB/AMEMBASSY BEIRUT 0062 RUEHEG/AMEMBASSY CAIRO 0047
UNCLAS PRAGUE 000038
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
EUR/CE FOR ATRATENSEK, EUR/ERA FOR JGIAUQUE, NEA/IPA FOR
PKNOPF AND ALENTZ
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: MARR MASS PARM KWBG PHUM IS EZ PREL
SUBJECT: CZECH REPUBLIC COMMENTS ON GAZA
REF: A. CARNIE-LENZ E-MAIL 1.16.09
B. STATE 4387
UNCLAS PRAGUE 000038
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
EUR/CE FOR ATRATENSEK, EUR/ERA FOR JGIAUQUE, NEA/IPA FOR
PKNOPF AND ALENTZ
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: MARR MASS PARM KWBG PHUM IS EZ PREL
SUBJECT: CZECH REPUBLIC COMMENTS ON GAZA
REF: A. CARNIE-LENZ E-MAIL 1.16.09
B. STATE 4387
1. (SBU) Emboff spoke with Ambassador Josef Koutsky of the
MFA Middle East and North Africa Department on January 15 and
again on January 16. Koutsky noted that Foreign Minister
Schwarzenberg has been highly engaged in reaching out to his
counterparts to advance efforts to attain a sustainable cease
fire in Gaza. According to Koutsky, the FM has been in
regular contact over the last few days with the Egyptians
(speaking with the Egyptian FM twice on January 15 alone),as
well as European Commissioner Ferrero-Waldner, French FM
Kouchner, German FM Steinmeyer as well as the Brits and
Norweigians. With FM Schwarzenberg in Capetown January 15-16
for an EU Troika meeting with South Africa, Koutsky said that
his department has had difficulty getting details about the
exact content of these conversations. As a case in point,
while there have been numerous conversations regarding the
proposed donors' conference on humanitarian assistance for
Gaza, Koutsky indicated he is not, as yet, fully aware of
where things stand between his FM and the Egyptian FM
regarding hosting the conference. He is aware, however,
through other channels, that French FM Kouchner is on board
with the Czech offer to host the donors' conference in
Prague.
2. (SBU) On January 16, Schwarzenberg cut short his meetings
in Capetown in order to consult with the Egyptians and
Israelis and to join Czech Prime Minister Topolanek at the
Sharm el-Sheikh summit on January 18. Following this summit,
the Czech Presidency announced on January 19, that it will
organize a dinner in Brussels for the EU 27 with Israeli FM
Livn on Wednesday, January 21. On Sunday, January 25 (on
the margins of the GAERC) the Czechs will host another dinner
in Brussels for the EU 27 with Egypt, Jordan, Turkey and the
Palestinian National Authority at the FM level.
--------------
U.S.-Israeli Anti-Smuggling MOU
--------------
3. (SBU) Emboff also presented the reftel points to
Ambassador Koutsky regarding the anti-smuggling MOU. He
thanked us for these details and noted that in a similar vein
the EU is also trying to address this issue via its renewed
offer to support a Border Assistance Mission in Rafah. In
closing he noted that this too is something Schwarzenberg has
and will continue to discuss with the Israelis and Egyptians.
Thompson-Jones
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
EUR/CE FOR ATRATENSEK, EUR/ERA FOR JGIAUQUE, NEA/IPA FOR
PKNOPF AND ALENTZ
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: MARR MASS PARM KWBG PHUM IS EZ PREL
SUBJECT: CZECH REPUBLIC COMMENTS ON GAZA
REF: A. CARNIE-LENZ E-MAIL 1.16.09
B. STATE 4387
1. (SBU) Emboff spoke with Ambassador Josef Koutsky of the
MFA Middle East and North Africa Department on January 15 and
again on January 16. Koutsky noted that Foreign Minister
Schwarzenberg has been highly engaged in reaching out to his
counterparts to advance efforts to attain a sustainable cease
fire in Gaza. According to Koutsky, the FM has been in
regular contact over the last few days with the Egyptians
(speaking with the Egyptian FM twice on January 15 alone),as
well as European Commissioner Ferrero-Waldner, French FM
Kouchner, German FM Steinmeyer as well as the Brits and
Norweigians. With FM Schwarzenberg in Capetown January 15-16
for an EU Troika meeting with South Africa, Koutsky said that
his department has had difficulty getting details about the
exact content of these conversations. As a case in point,
while there have been numerous conversations regarding the
proposed donors' conference on humanitarian assistance for
Gaza, Koutsky indicated he is not, as yet, fully aware of
where things stand between his FM and the Egyptian FM
regarding hosting the conference. He is aware, however,
through other channels, that French FM Kouchner is on board
with the Czech offer to host the donors' conference in
Prague.
2. (SBU) On January 16, Schwarzenberg cut short his meetings
in Capetown in order to consult with the Egyptians and
Israelis and to join Czech Prime Minister Topolanek at the
Sharm el-Sheikh summit on January 18. Following this summit,
the Czech Presidency announced on January 19, that it will
organize a dinner in Brussels for the EU 27 with Israeli FM
Livn on Wednesday, January 21. On Sunday, January 25 (on
the margins of the GAERC) the Czechs will host another dinner
in Brussels for the EU 27 with Egypt, Jordan, Turkey and the
Palestinian National Authority at the FM level.
--------------
U.S.-Israeli Anti-Smuggling MOU
--------------
3. (SBU) Emboff also presented the reftel points to
Ambassador Koutsky regarding the anti-smuggling MOU. He
thanked us for these details and noted that in a similar vein
the EU is also trying to address this issue via its renewed
offer to support a Border Assistance Mission in Rafah. In
closing he noted that this too is something Schwarzenberg has
and will continue to discuss with the Israelis and Egyptians.
Thompson-Jones