A/S GORDON'S MEETING WITH CZECH SOCIAL DEMOCRAT

C O N F I D E N T I A L PRAGUE 000031

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/21/2020
TAGS: PREL PGOV MARR RS AF EZ
SUBJECT: A/S GORDON'S MEETING WITH CZECH SOCIAL DEMOCRAT
SHADOW FM ZAORALEK

Classified By: A/S Gordon for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).


1. (C) Summary: During a January 13 meeting with A/S
Gordon, Czech Social Democrat Party (CSSD) shadow FM Lubomir
Zaoralek expressed interest in exploring ways to improve
transatlantic relations. However, Zaoralek made clear that
CSSD will for now oppose any increased Czech troop presence
in Afghanistan. End Summary.

Transatlantic Relations and Missile Defense
--------------


2. (C) Zaoralek told A/S Gordon that recent meetings in
Washington with Zbigniew Brzezinski, Assistant Secretary of
Defense Alexander Vershbow, Dan Hamilton, and DAS Pam Quanrud
had convinced him of the need to discuss strengthening
transatlantic relations. For example, he said, CSSD opposed
a planned missile defense radar site in the Czech Republic
because it was bilateral, when CSSD thought it should have
been done under NATO's aegis. Bilateral relations had
focused too much on missile defense and needed a "new optic."


3. (C) Zaoralek called the Phased Adaptive Approach (PAA) to
missile defense "nebulous." He said role of individual
countries was in question, making it hard to start a
discussion about PAA when the Czech public was, in his
opinion, still "suspicious" about missile defense in the wake
of the debate about radar.


4. (C) A/S Gordon explained that PAA was still in the first
phase, with decisions on future phases still to be made. It
was likely most regional systems would be nationally-owned;
command and control still had to be sorted out.

CSSD View of Russia
--------------


5. (C) Zaoralek noted Russia had figured prominently in
January 12 discussions in Prague attended by several of the
Group of Experts (including Madeline Albright) about the new
NATO Strategic Concept. Zaoralek explained that CSSD
considered it "unproductive" to view Russia as an enemy; CSSD
wanted "productive" relations. An isolated or weak Russia
was dangerous, he added. He said what he viewed as an
excessive focus on Russia was not the right way to think
about NATO.


6. (C) Zaoralek said CSSD had contacts with Russia,
including with the Just Russia Party, which he called "a
pro-EU party, just like the CSSD," and there were contacts
between Putin and CSSD chair Jiri Paroubek. Zaoralek said
Putin had promised to visit the Czech Republic if CSSD won
May 2010 parliamentary elections. Zaoralek said Czech public
attitudes about Russia were not "one-sided," but were more
"balanced" than in places like the Baltic countries.


7. (C) Zaoralek asked about the status of a new U.S.
ambassador; A/S Gordon told him the delay was a reflection of
the complex appointment process, not on the state of
bilateral relations.

Domestic Politics
--------------


8. (C) Zaoralek hoped that the May elections would produce a
strong government. For CSSD, he said, a center-left
coalition would be the best result, but CSSD could accept a
so-called "grand coalition" with the center-right Civic
Democrats (ODS) "if we must." Zaoralek firmly ruled out a
CSSD coalition with the Communists (KSCM): the KSCM was too
anti-EU, too anti-NATO, and had not "resolved its relations
with the past."

CSSD View of Afghanistan
--------------


9. (C) In response to a question by A/S Gordon, Zaoralek
called the CSSD Afghanistan policy "complicated." Zaoralek
said the CSSD could not currently consider increasing the
Czech presence in Afghanistan due to public opinion and the
economic crisis. CSSD would not oppose keeping current force
levels, and after the elections, would be open to further
discussions about force levels.


10. (C) Zaoralek called the war in Afghanistan "a Bush
inheritance for Obama." However, CSSD wanted good relations
with the Obama administration and was willing to help with
this "inheritance from the past."
Thompson-Jones