US embassy cable - 05PRAGUE115

UNCLAS PRAGUE 000115 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR EUR/NCE 
FSI FOR LISA FOX, GARY MAYBARDUK AND KEISHA BELL 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: APER, ECON, AFSI, AFSN, EZ 
SUBJECT:  NOMINATION OF PRAGUE EMBASSY FSN ANDELA KUNSTOVA 
          FOR FSI ECONOMICS TRAINING COURSE PE 220 
 
REF: FSINFATC 73 
 
1.  Post nominates Andela Kunstova, FSN Economic Specialist, 
for FSI course scheduled for May 2-13, 2005. 
 
A.  Andela Kunstova, Grade 10 
B.  Born June 19, 1944 
C.  Nationality: Czech 
D.  Passport No. 35476364 
E.  State - Embassy Prague Political-Economic Section 
F.  Position Title: Economic Specialist 
G.  Supervisor: Robert Kiene, e-mail kienerr2@state.gov 
 
H.  Ms. Kunstova has a master's degree from Charles 
University in Prague, and has been Embassy's economic 
assistant and expert on the local economy since 1990.  She 
has a wealth of contacts and experience locally in Prague 
that have served the Embassy well. She has demonstrated a 
strong commitment to the Embassy and the USG and to her 
professional development.  She has followed trade and 
economic developments in the Czech Republic for 14 years. 
She prepares drafts of important reports, and has a 
particular interest in intellectual property protection. 
Through her contacts with NGO's and government officials she 
has contributed greatly to the Embassy's successful effort 
to urge improvement of the Czech Republic's performance in 
this area. 
 
I.  Since the Czech Republic's accession to the European 
Union in May 2004, and even before, European Union trade and 
investment policies have had significant impact on the U.S. 
relationship with the Czech Republic.  One of post's key 
strategies for achieving its goal of increased trade and 
investment with the Czech Republic is convincing the GOCR to 
play a more active role within the EU on issues of 
importance to the USG.  Prague's economic section now counts 
only one economic officer and one FSN economic assistant, 
Ms. Kunstova.  Therefore, training enhancing Ms. Kunstova's 
skills and knowledge of how decisions are made in the EU and 
how best to influence them is particularly valuable.  She 
needs a better understanding of current and future U.S.-EU 
issues as well as ways to enhance cooperation in problematic 
areas of the transatlantic relationship. 
 
J.  All the topics for PE 220 suggested reftel would be 
useful, but given the span of two weeks only to cover them, 
the post would place emphasis on the following areas: 
 
(1)  Understanding of US decision-making, including both 
     formal branches of government and informal determinates 
     of policy. 
(3)  What kinds of reporting Washington wants from EU posts. 
(4)  Understanding EU decision-making, including EU 
     institutions, special interest groups, the media. 
(11) Structural and cohesion funds. 
(15) Sources of data and information. 
(16) All the key bilateral US/EU issues mentioned. 
 
2.   The amount of time scheduled for individual 
consultations, two half-days in Washington and one half-day 
in Brussels, is adequate. 
 
CABANISS