CZECH COMMENTS ON GAZA AND ARMS INTERDICTION EFFORT

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 PRAGUE 000057 SIPDIS EUR/CE FOR ATRATENSEK, NEA/IPA FOR PKNOPF AND ALENTZ, EUR/ERA FOR JGIAUQUE E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/28/2014 TAGS: EG IR IS KPAL MARR MOPS PHSAQ PREL EZ XG SUBJECT: CZECH COMMENTS ON GAZA AND ARMS INTERDICTION EFFORT REF: A. STATE 6469 ¶B. PRAGUE 38 Classified By: POLEC Counselor Charles O. Blaha for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). ¶1. (SBU) Summary: Emboffs met with Czech MFA Middle East and North Africa Department Director Josef Rychtar on January 28. Noting that Palestinian President Abbas would be in Prague on February 2, he stated that getting things right on humanitarian assistance to the Palestinians would be a key element of Czech discussions with Abbas. He also noted that the Czechs are feeling some pressure from a small, but influential group of EU member states on possibly engaging Hamas. On the need to end smuggling of explosives and weapons into Gaza and the USG proposal related to this, Rychtar responded positively. With respect to upcoming conferences, he noted that things have not been moving as quickly or as smoothly on coordinating with the Egyptians or the French as the Czechs would like. End Summary. -------------- Abbas Visiting -------------- ¶2. (SBU) Rychtar commented that he has been preparing for the recently scheduled visit of Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas on Monday, February 2. According to Rychtar, Abbas will meet with Czech President Klaus and it looks likely that he will be accompanied by permanent observer representative to the UN Riyad Mansour. While there is not a formal request for Abbas to meet with head of government, PM Topolanek, nor FM Karel Schwarzenberg, the MFA expects such a request from the Palestinians and the GOCR is planning for it. Abbas will travel to the European Parliament on this trip as well. -------------- Humanitarian Assistance - Getting it Right -------------- ¶3. (C) In response to our comments about European Commissioner Michel's announcement January 26 that the EU would provide 58M euros in humanitarian aid for Palestinians (32M euros for Gaza, 20M euros for the West Bank and 6M euros for Palestinian refugees in Lebanon),Rychtar noted that the Czechs participated in an assessment mission to Gaza before this announcement. The officer, who previously served in Lebanon and saw the devastation in Southern Lebanon in 2006, indicated that the situation in Gaza was not of the same level. Rychtar noted that the EU, and the rest of the international community, will need to be careful as to how the assistance is provided to ensure that Hamas does not benefit. He noted that Iran and Qatar are providing funds directly to Hamas and he expressed concern that this would enhance Hamas' image in Gaza. Rychtar commented that the EU provision of assistance will be a central element of the discussion with President Abbas. He also noted that at the January 29-30 informal meeting of EU Development Ministers in Prague, humanitarian assistance to Gaza was just added as an agenda item for discussion; Czech FM Schwarzenberg will join for this segment. -------------- Certain EU Member States - Pressing to Engage Hamas -------------- ¶4. (C) On a note related to assistance for Gaza, Rychtar stated that the Czechs are sensing increased pressure within the EU to support discussions with Hamas. He said the pressure was coming principally from France, but also from Cyprus, Ireland, Greece and Sweden. As an example, he cited the suggestions made by these countries during the prepatory negotiations on the wording of the GAERC Conclusion on the Middle East. The Czech Republic continues to resist such pressure, and he noted that this remains a minority view within the EU. -------------- Czechs Support Combating Smuggling and the Proposed Interdiction Effort -------------- ¶5. (C) On January 26 Ref A was raised with MFA Deputy Director Josef Koutsky. While Koutsky had no substantive comments at that time, on January 28 his boss, Josef Rychtar, posed a few questions related to smuggling via the Sinai, but considers this an excellent idea overall, if coordinated with the international community and done in accord with existing international maritime treaties. Given the strategic location of Cyprus, he suggested that this idea should be PRAGUE 00000057 002 OF 002 broached with them as well. He acknowledged, however, the lack of a navy limits the Czech ability to play a role in this effort. With respect to the EU offer regarding the EU Border Assistance Mission (EUBAM) in Rafah, he noted that the Egyptians have been opposed to this because all of the attention is being focused on their border with Gaza, rather than what the Egyptians claim are the more problematic routes, such as the sea. -------------- Conferences - Moving Slowly -------------- ¶6. (C) In response to our inquiry about the proposed conference in Cairo, Rychtar noted that the date continues to slip. While the Egyptians initially suggested February 15, this soon shifted to February 28. Rychtar noted that just this morning the Egyptians called to inform him that they wish to move this conference to March 2. The reasoning is the Egyptians apparently feel this would dovetail nicely with the scheduled meeting of the Arab League on March 3. The Czechs noted the Egyptians are pressing to keep this event at the Foreign Ministerial level. Rychtar also commented that contrary to the Czech preference, the Egyptians appear to be shifting the conference focus away from humanitarian assistance and toward a greater emphasis on political issues. With respect to subsequent conferences, Rychtar stated it was his understanding that the Norwegians were looking to have the next Ad Hoc Liason Committee Meeting in the United States. He also noted that the French have been pulling out the stops to host an event as well, and that they have not been very communicative with the Czechs as to what they are working on or with whom. Rychtar expressed the consistent Czech interest in hosting a conference for Gaza in Prague. Thompson-Jones