CZECHS PLANNING TO ANNOUNCE MODEST CONTRIBUTION

C O N F I D E N T I A L PRAGUE 000700 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/01/2010 TAGS: PREL MARR PK AF NATO EZ EUN SUBJECT: CZECHS PLANNING TO ANNOUNCE MODEST CONTRIBUTION INCREASE FOR AFGHANISTAN AND PAKISTAN REF: A. KABUL 3822 ¶B. PRAGUE 695 Classified By: Political-Economic Counselor Charles O. Blaha for reason s 1.4 (b) and (d). ¶1. (SBU) We presented reftel points to Czech MFA Security Policy Department Deputy Director Petr Chalupecky on December ¶1. As noted by Security Policy Director Ivan Pocuch on November 25 (Ref B),Chalupecky reiterated that the MFA is finalizing the details about their own increase in support for Afghanistan and Pakistan. Czech Foreign Minister Kohout will announce the specifics at the NATO Foreign Ministerial meeting on December 4 in Brussels. Currently the Czechs are not planning to release any formal statement or response to President Obama's scheduled announcement on December 1. ¶2. (C) On contributions, Pocuch stated that the Czech troop deployment authorization for 2010 permits slightly more Czech troops than in 2009 and that the Czech civilian presence in Afghanistan would increase in 2010, although only slightly (Ref B). Chalupecky noted that currently there are approximately 370 Czechs deployed in Afghanistan and Minister Kohout will announce that the Czechs will raise this to 535 in 2010. The Czechs are also planning to announce a contribution to the LOFTA, although Chalupecky did not provide additional specifics. Thompson-Jones