A/S GORDON'S MEETING WITH CZECH SENATOR ALEXANDR

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 PRAGUE 000034

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/21/2020
TAGS: PREL PGOV MARR RS TU EZ
SUBJECT: A/S GORDON'S MEETING WITH CZECH SENATOR ALEXANDR
VONDRA

Classified By: EUR A/S Phil Gordon, reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).


1. (C) Summary: During a January 14 meeting in Prague with
A/S Gordon, Czech Senator (and former DPM) Alexandr Vondra
urged U.S. "reassurance" on Article 5 in the new NATO
Strategic Concept formulation and expressed positive interest
in Czech participation in the new missile defense Phased
Adaptive Approach (PAA). Vondra was cautious about the new
U.S. approach to relations with Russia, but did not contest
A/S Gordon's assertion that the U.S. had not sacrificed
allies or principles in its approach. End Summary.


2. (C) Vondra opened the meeting by asking about the timing
of a new U.S. ambassador for the Czech Republic, adding that
"in 20 years we have not waited this long." A/S Gordon
explained that the appointment system was not always quick
and the delay in naming an ambassador was no reflection on
bilateral relations.

NATO and Article 5
--------------


3. (C) Vondra expressed satisfaction with the January 12
NATO Strategic Concept conference in Prague. Central and
Eastern European leaders, and leaders from the Baltics, had
said that the U.S.-Russia "reset" needed to be accompanied by
"reassurance" on Article 5 guarantees. Asked by A/S Gordon
what was needed to provide reassurance, Vondra suggested more
detailed defense planning for the region and regular military
exercises.


4. (C) Vondra noted the Czech Defense Ministry was
reinforcing its capabilities for Afghanistan operations, but
not for homeland defense. Gordon asked whether Vondra would
prefer more funding for homeland defense instead of
out-of-area operations. Vondra responded that his
center-right Civic Democrat Party (ODS) had defended funding
out-of-area operations, the trouble was the center-left
Social Democrats (CSSD).


5. (C) Moreover, across Europe, countries with large defense
industries had been able to increase defense spending as part
of economic stimulus in response to the economic downturn.
The Czech Republic did not have a large defense industrial
sector and could not so this; it had to "steal" funding from
social welfare programs to pay for overseas missions.


6. (C) A/S Gordon agreed on the need for balance between
Article 5 and out-of-area operations and said NATO should do
both. NATO defense planning to date and the Phased Adaptive
Approach (PAA) to missile defense showed the U.S. was focused
on Article 5 concerns.

Missile Defense
--------------


7. (C) Vondra asked whether PAA would "really materialize,"
and what the obstacles were. Gordon replied that NATO had
agreed on the way forward. Some Allies had questions on
costs; the U.S. would pay for SM-3s and would like to see
other Allies pay for local defense and contribute to command
and control.


8. (C) Vondra asked how much time the Czech Republic had to
decide how to participate in the PAA, and wondered whether
the Czech government should be more "ambitious" in its PAA
efforts. Vondra said the Czech Republic wanted to be engaged
and be part of the PAA discussion. A/S Gordon pointed out
the system infrastructure was still being formed and there
would be opportunities to make decisions in the future,
including about industrial cooperation.

Russia
--------------


10. (C) Vondra advised that the U.S. approach Putin "with
caution." He agreed it was important to work with Russia on
counter-terrorism and non-proliferation. However, he warned
not to underestimate Russia's "assertive policy toward the
neighborhood." Vondra said that President Obama had no
experience in Europe. He wondered whether the President was
a "hard" or "soft" realist on Russia, and what the President
was "getting" for the new approach to Russia.


11. (C) A/S Gordon pointed out that the President was being
criticized both for making a cynical "bargain" to get
something from Russia -- and for getting nothing. He urged
Vondra to carefully consider the administration's record.
Senior officials such as Secretary Clinton, VP Biden, NSA
Jones, Secretary Gates all have deep experience in Europe and
NATO. There was no example to date of the administration
sacrificing either allies or principles to its Russia policy.

PRAGUE 00000034 002 OF 002



START, Turkey
--------------


12. (C) In response to a question from Vondra, A/S Gordon
said the U.S. and Russia were close to agreement on START,
but would not agree to make defensive systems part of it.


13. (C) Gordon said relations with Turkey were a challenge,
and included a huge agenda: Nagorno-Karabakh, Cyprus, Iran,
Israel. The Turkish government was active and ambitious.
The U.S. does not always agree with Turkish leaders' public
statements, but we still support Turkish EU membership.
Vondra pointed out opposition in France and Germany made this
difficult. Vondra urged the U.S. to stay engaged in
promoting Turkish EU membership; he worried that otherwise,
Turkey's leaders would "re-orient" themselves away from
Europe and toward Russia.


14. (U) A/S Gordon has cleared this message.
Thompson-Jones