US embassy cable - 05PRAGUE40

UNCLAS PRAGUE 000040 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: KDEM, PREL, PHUM, EZ 
SUBJECT: CZECH VIEWS ON COMMUNITY OF DEMOCRACIES INVITATIONS 
 
REF: SECSTATE 01670 
 
1.  This message is Sensitive But Unclassified; not for 
internet distribution. 
 
2.  (SBU)  PolCouns met with Jan Kara, Director of the Czech 
MFA's Department of United Nations Affairs, on January 6 to 
deliver reftel demarche regarding gaining European support 
for Community of Democracies invitations.  Overall Kara said 
the Czech Republic is flexible on the question of membership 
for the countries in question.  Specifically: 
 
-- Singapore:  Kara said that the Czech Republic 
preliminarily sees no problem with maintaining Singapore at 
their observer status. 
 
-- The Gambia:  CR agrees to maintain as an observer in light 
of their advances towards stable democracy 
 
-- Ukraine:  Kara agreed that Ukraine is "going in a good 
direction" and saw no reason why it should not be invited as 
a participant. 
 
-- Algeria:  This was the only country with which Kara 
expressed reservations about the U.S. position.  He stated 
that as there seems to be a general, similar level of 
democratization among North African nations, he didn't see 
why Algeria should be treated differently than, for example, 
Morocco and Tunisia (who are signatories to the Warsaw 
Declaration). 
 
-- Taiwan:  Kara recalled the CR's friendly relations with 
Taiwan and the CR's stated plan to support Taiwan as a 
participant.  He said that the CR's only worry would be the 
impact of Taiwanese participation upon potential Community of 
Democracies linkage to the United Nations, since Taiwan is 
not a UN member. 
 
3.  (SBU)  Kara made passing mention of several other 
countries, saying loosely that the CR is likely to be 
"flexible" about Haiti, Djibouti, Fiji, and the Solomon 
Islands.  He feels that the MFA's regional office may side 
with inviting Angola as an observer, but doubted this would 
be a major Czech priority.  He also stated that extending an 
invitation to Iraq would be great encouragement for them, 
provided their upcoming election goes well. 
 
4. (SBU)  Kara expressed readiness for further discussions 
regarding USG positions on positions in advance of the May 
Ministerial. 
HILLAS