Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
10PRAGUE61
2010-02-04 15:20:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Prague
Cable title:
CZECH COMMENTS ON SERBIA AND KOSOVO
how-toVZCZCXRO6282 RR RUEHDBU RUEHFL RUEHKW RUEHLA RUEHNP RUEHROV RUEHSL RUEHSR DE RUEHPG #0061 0351520 ZNY CCCCC ZZH R 041520Z FEB 10 FM AMEMBASSY PRAGUE TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 2113 INFO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 0283
C O N F I D E N T I A L PRAGUE 000061
SIPDIS
STATE FOR EUR/CE, STATE FOR INL AHARMATA
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/04/2015
TAGS: PGOV PREL EZ SR XG
SUBJECT: CZECH COMMENTS ON SERBIA AND KOSOVO
REF: A. STATE 9661
B. 09 PRAGUE 672
C. 08 PRAGUE 584
D. 08 PRAGUE 312
Classified By: POLEC Counselor Charles O. Blaha for reasons 1.4 (b) and
(d).
C O N F I D E N T I A L PRAGUE 000061
SIPDIS
STATE FOR EUR/CE, STATE FOR INL AHARMATA
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/04/2015
TAGS: PGOV PREL EZ SR XG
SUBJECT: CZECH COMMENTS ON SERBIA AND KOSOVO
REF: A. STATE 9661
B. 09 PRAGUE 672
C. 08 PRAGUE 584
D. 08 PRAGUE 312
Classified By: POLEC Counselor Charles O. Blaha for reasons 1.4 (b) and
(d).
1. (C) During a meeting covering a range of topics, Emboffs
and Czech MFA Political Director Ivo Sramek touched upon the
Balkans and the International Court of Justice's (ICJ)
upcoming advisory opinion on Kosovo. (Note: The GoCR
recognized Kosovo in May 2008 and subsequently submitted a
brief to the ICJ in support of the legitimacy of Kosovo's
declaration of independence. End Note.) Sramek commented
that it is quite well known that the Serbian government plans
to propose another resolution reopening the status of Kosovo
within the United Nations General Assembly, something the
GoCR opposed in 2008 (Ref C). Sramek stated that he
anticipates the ICJ advisory opinion is "likely to be an
unclear answer." While such an answer would not change
Kosovo's current status, Sramek hypothesized that Serbia's
action in this area could resurrect fractious discussions in
the Czech Republic, but he indicated that did not believe
this would amount to much.
--------------
Klaus's Opposition Prevents Exchange of Ambassadors
--------------
2. (C) PolDir Sramek noted that while the GoCR has officially
recognized Kosovo (Ref D),neither country is represented in
the other country at the ambassadorial level. Within the
Czech Republic, several prominent center-left Christian
Democratic (CSSD) parliamentarians and a few ministers
expressed reservations about recognizing Kosovo in 2008, thus
delaying recognition from February until mid-May of 2008 (Ref
D). According to Sramek, the Kosovars expressed interest
soon after Czech recognition, but Head of State and President
Vaclav Klaus who approves all ambassadorial appointments, has
made clear his opposition (Ref B). For this same reason,
Sramek stated the MFA has never taken the step of identifying
an ambassadorial nominee for Kosovo.
Thompson-Jones
SIPDIS
STATE FOR EUR/CE, STATE FOR INL AHARMATA
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/04/2015
TAGS: PGOV PREL EZ SR XG
SUBJECT: CZECH COMMENTS ON SERBIA AND KOSOVO
REF: A. STATE 9661
B. 09 PRAGUE 672
C. 08 PRAGUE 584
D. 08 PRAGUE 312
Classified By: POLEC Counselor Charles O. Blaha for reasons 1.4 (b) and
(d).
1. (C) During a meeting covering a range of topics, Emboffs
and Czech MFA Political Director Ivo Sramek touched upon the
Balkans and the International Court of Justice's (ICJ)
upcoming advisory opinion on Kosovo. (Note: The GoCR
recognized Kosovo in May 2008 and subsequently submitted a
brief to the ICJ in support of the legitimacy of Kosovo's
declaration of independence. End Note.) Sramek commented
that it is quite well known that the Serbian government plans
to propose another resolution reopening the status of Kosovo
within the United Nations General Assembly, something the
GoCR opposed in 2008 (Ref C). Sramek stated that he
anticipates the ICJ advisory opinion is "likely to be an
unclear answer." While such an answer would not change
Kosovo's current status, Sramek hypothesized that Serbia's
action in this area could resurrect fractious discussions in
the Czech Republic, but he indicated that did not believe
this would amount to much.
--------------
Klaus's Opposition Prevents Exchange of Ambassadors
--------------
2. (C) PolDir Sramek noted that while the GoCR has officially
recognized Kosovo (Ref D),neither country is represented in
the other country at the ambassadorial level. Within the
Czech Republic, several prominent center-left Christian
Democratic (CSSD) parliamentarians and a few ministers
expressed reservations about recognizing Kosovo in 2008, thus
delaying recognition from February until mid-May of 2008 (Ref
D). According to Sramek, the Kosovars expressed interest
soon after Czech recognition, but Head of State and President
Vaclav Klaus who approves all ambassadorial appointments, has
made clear his opposition (Ref B). For this same reason,
Sramek stated the MFA has never taken the step of identifying
an ambassadorial nominee for Kosovo.
Thompson-Jones