CHARGE'S JULY 1 MEETING WITH CZECH FM KOHOUT

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 PRAGUE 000383

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/01/2019
TAGS: PREL EZ
SUBJECT: CHARGE'S JULY 1 MEETING WITH CZECH FM KOHOUT

REF: STATE 66223

PRAGUE 00000383 001.2 OF 002


Classified By: Charge d'Affaires Mary Thompson-Jones, reasons 1.4 (b) a
nd (d).


1. (C) Summary: In a July 1 meeting, Charge congratulated
Czech FM Kohout on the just-completed Czech EU presidency and
thanked him for Czech support in various areas, including for
the Holocaust Assets Conference. Kohout thought the
presidency had made the Czech Republic more "EU-involved" and
more capable in EU affairs. Kohout said he was seeking a
post U.S.-Russia Summit meeting with the Secretary in order
to get a Summit readout but appeared open to getting a
readout through other channels. End Summary.

Evaluating the Czech EU Presidency
--------------


2. (C) Charge congratulated FM Kohout on a successful EU
presidency which had resulted in progress in many areas,
including energy security, agricultural trade and
transatlantic relations. Charge presented Kohout reftel
letter of thanks from the Secretary for the Czech EU
presidency's efforts on Guantanamo. Charge thanked the FM
for Czech support for the just-completed Holocaust Assets
Conference and for Czech leadership in getting more EU
assistance for IDPs in Pakistan. She also expressed
condolences for the loss of life and property damage from
recent flooding in the Czech Republic.


3. (C) Kohout noted that the Czech presidency had also
successfully opened relations between the EU and the new U.S.
administration. He called the Holocaust conference important
in a time of rising intolerance. According to Kohout, the
presidency had made the Czech Republic more "EU-involved":
Kohout cited the Czech Senate's passage of the Lisbon Treaty
as the most important sign of Czech willingness to be more
involved in the EU. Many misunderstandings about the EU that
existed before the presidency had disappeared, he said.


4. (C) In addition, Kohout said that as a result of the
presidency, the Czech government now better understands the
role small members states can play. The presidency, he said,
brought the Czech government expertise and a pool of people
experienced in EU affairs.

Post-Presidency
--------------


5. (C) Kohout said that, unlike France at the beginning of
the Czech presidency, the Czechs were being careful not to
"interfere" in the Swedish presidency. However, he said the
Czech Republic would continue to press forward on
transatlantic relations, the Balkans, and EU enlargement.
The Czechs will also continue to be involved in Eastern
Partnership-related issues and projects, and with Nabucco and
energy diversification.


6. (C) On Iran, Kohout said the "mini-GAERC" at Corfu had
developed a menu of diplomatic options that was now in the
hands of the Swedes. Recalling ambassadors was not currently
on the table, he added.

Bilateral Relations
--------------


7. (C) Charge noted that this was a time of transition for
both countries, and that we should work together to broaden
bilateral relations beyond just missile defense. She asked
about a possible Kohout trip to Washington later in July; MFA
Americas Department Director Katerina Fialkova said the
Czechs had been told the Secretary was not available. Kohout
said he would be seeking a readout of the July 6 U.S.-Russia
Summit. Charge suggested that perhaps such a readout would
be available through other channels.


8. (C) Kohout appeared open to this, but asked that it be
directly with him, and that it include an assessment of how
Summit outcomes would affect U.S.-Czech relations. He
expressed support for the idea of broadening relations.


9. (C) Charge raised intellectual property rights and the
Czech Republic's position on the Special 301 watch list due
to the sale of pirated goods in Czech border markets. The
USG hoped that the Czech Republic would make sufficient
progress to be removed from the watch list, but industry was
concerned there had not been enough progress to warrant this.
Kohout was not familiar with the issue but said he would
raise it with other ministries. Charge also raised the
interest by Westinghouse in the upcoming tender by the
semi-state electricity company CEZ to build two new nuclear
power stations at the Temelin nuclear power plant, with
options to build additional units at Dukovany and in

PRAGUE 00000383 002.2 OF 002


Slovakia. Kohout also appeared unfamiliar with this issue.
Thompson-Jones