US embassy cable - 05PRAGUE241

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 PRAGUE 000241 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/17/2015 
TAGS: PREL, PTER, ETTC, CH, IR, UP, MD, HR, KPAL, EZ, EUN 
SUBJECT: CZECHS AND GAERC MEETING:  PREPARING TO SPEAK OUT 
ON HIZBALLAH AND, EVENTUALLY, CHINA 
 
REF: A. STATE 25111 
 
     B. STATE 26062 
     C. PRAGUE 221 
 
Classified By: Political-Economic Counselor Michael Dodman for reasons 
1.5 B+D 
 
1. (C) Summary:  The Czech Republic plans to use the Feb 21 
GAERC meeting to lead EU members to designate Hizballah as a 
terrorist organization.  The Czechs are also working towards 
taking a leading role in the EU debate over the China arms 
embargo.  The Czechs share our optimism about improving 
transatlantic relations and are focused in particular on 
achieving progress on Iraq and the MEPP.  End summary. 
 
2. (C) Pol-Econ Chief met Feb 17 with Bohumil Jirkal, Deputy 
Director of the Czech MFA's CFSP Department, to discuss ref A 
points on the agenda for the Feb 21 EU Foreign Ministers 
meeting.  We emphasized USG desire to engage in a regular 
dialogue with the Czechs and other EU members on CFSP and 
transatlantic issues.  Jirkal stressed that the Czechs 
likewise value our dialogue.  They share the sentiment 
expressed during Secretary Rice's recent visit to Europe that 
both the US and Europe need to move forward with the 
relationship, focusing not on divisions in the past but 
opportunities for the future. 
 
3. (C) Turning to the GAERC agenda, Jirkal identified the 
MEPP as one area where the Czechs want to focus their 
attention, both bilaterally and through the EU.  As evidence 
of this, he said that FM Svoboda intends to use the upcoming 
GAERC meeting to put the question of designation of Hizballah 
as a terrorist organziation before ministers.  Noting that 
the Feb 16 EU Clearhouse meeting (refs B & C) had identified 
that many EU members remain opposed to designation, Jirkal 
said the Czechs, Danes and Dutch have agreed to highlight 
this at the GAERC and argue for an agreement to designate 
(the Czechs were surprised that the Swedes did not agree to 
join this effort). 
 
4. (C) Jirkal described Svoboda's planned intervention on 
Hizballah as the Czechs' second attempt to become more active 
on CFSP matters, following last month's Czech engagement on 
the EU's Cuba policy.  The third target for EU engagement 
will be the China arms embargo.  Jirkal admitted the GOCR has 
not yet finalized its position on the arms embargo, since 
many pieces are still in play, but he said the fundamentals 
of the Czech position are clear.  First, Beijing must take 
some steps to improve the human rights situation, perhaps by 
signing "an international human rights convention" or by 
releasing some political prisoners.  Second, the Code of 
Conduct and Toolbox need to be improved and become a reliable 
set of procedures that will regulate trade in arms and 
dual-use items.  Third, the EU must make good on its pledge 
to consult with other interested parties, namely the U.S., 
Japan, and South Korea, before a post-embargo regime is 
finalized.  On the latter point, Jirkal said he understands 
an EU delegation to the three countries is being assembled, 
but he had no specifics.  On timing, he said France and some 
other members are pushing for European Council action in 
March, which the Czechs will resist as none of the 
preconditions will be in place.  They believe April-May is a 
more reasonable timeframe.  Jirkal reiterated what we have 
heard regularly from the Czechs:  that the current "embargo" 
is only a political statement that has failed to halt 
significant arms exports to China, and that a new Toolbox and 
Code of Conduct stand a much better chance of achieving the 
U.S. goal (shared by the Czechs) of actually restricting 
export of sensitive goods and technology.  Jirkal added that 
the Czechs are well aware of the likely U.S. Congressional 
reaction if the embargo is lifted without an effective regime 
to replace it. 
 
5. (C) On other topics, Jirkal said said the GOCR is 
encouraging EU engagement in Iraq, specifically following 
through on plans to train police, judges and others.  He 
noted that the Czechs have been active in these same areas, 
but had no details about how on-going Czech assistance would 
be coordinated with the planned EU efforts. 
 
6. (C) Jirkal said the GOCR supports the EU Action Plan for 
Moldova.  The Czechs are following this particularly closely 
as a Czech diplomat, Jaromir Plisek (currently head of the 
MFA Central European department and a former Ambassador in 
Romania), is in the running to be EU Special Representative 
for Moldova.  The Czechs are also considering opening an 
embassy in Chisinau. 
 
7. (C) On Ukraine, Jirkal described the GOCR position as 
"less enthusiastic than Hungary" in terms of pushing for a 
forward-leaning EU plan for Ukraine.  The Czechs believe the 
new government in Kiev needs to "do their homework" first and 
prove that they are willing and able to meet the many 
promises made by the new government. 
8. (C) On Croatia, the GOCR shares our view that Gotovina 
must be turned over to the ICTY before there is any concrete 
movement on accession talks with Zagreb. 
CABANISS