US embassy cable - 05PRAGUE346

C O N F I D E N T I A L PRAGUE 000346 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/09/2015 
TAGS: PREL, MARR, PINS, PINR, SY, LE, EZ 
SUBJECT: CZECHS SUPPORT U.S. POSITION ON LEBANON 
 
REF: SECSTATE 39018 
 
Classified By: Classified by DCM Kenneth Hillas for reasons 1.4 (b) and 
 (d). 
 
1.  (SBU)  Summary.  In a meeting with DCM Hillas, Czech 
Deputy Minister for Bilateral Relations Petr Kolar and Czech 
Ambassador to Lebanon Marek Skolil stated that the Czech 
Republic agrees with the U.S. position about the complete 
withdrawal of Syrian forces from Lebanon.  The Czech MFA 
issued a statement on Lebanon last week, although not as 
strong as ours. Kolar assured the DCM of Czech intention to 
put sustained pressure on Syria regarding Lebanon.  Both 
Kolar and Skolil expressed concern, however, that Syria and 
Hezbollah will attempt to instigate violence in Lebanon in 
order to justify its continued presence there.  End summary. 
 
 
2.  (SBU)  On March 8, DCM Hillas met with Deputy Minister 
for Bilateral Relations Petr Kolar at the MFA to discuss 
Czech views on Syrian withdrawal from Lebanon.  The meeting 
was also attended by Czech Ambassador to Lebanon, Marek 
Skolil, back in Prague for consultations.  Kolar expressed 
immediate support for the U.S. position on Lebanon, pointing 
to the statement issued by the MFA last week regarding the 
resignation of PM Umar Karami's government.  Calling the 
resignation "appropriate," the statement calls for 
restoration of Lebanese sovereignty under UN 1559 and the 
withdrawal of all foreign military troops from the country. 
DCM Hillas explained that now was a time of unique 
opportunity for U.S.-European cooperation to make a 
difference in Lebanon.  In this regard it would be key to 
place sustained pressure on Syria to withdraw completely from 
Lebanon.  The DCM recognized EU High Representative Solana's 
statement on Lebanon and stressed the need for consensus in 
the Council to allow Solana to be sufficiently aggressive and 
effective in his role.  The Czechs concurred on the need for 
sustained pressure, but cited logistical/housing constraints 
Syria claims limit its ability to redeploy forces from 
Lebanon.  The Czechs recall similar problems for Soviet 
forces after the end of the Cold War. 
 
3.  (C)   Both Kolar and Skolil expressed concern that Syria 
and Hezbollah may attempt to instigate violent demonstrations 
in Lebanon, allowing the Syrians to claim that Lebanon is 
unstable without Syrian forces present and that the Lebanese 
are unable to quell uprisings on their own.  Skolil admitted 
that the EU has neglected the Lebanon/Syria issue for some 
time, but that now there is "growing consensus" to "do more" 
about Lebanon.  Skolil noted that maintaining EU focus on the 
issue would be key.  In his view, there is no chance that 
Syrian forces and intelligence services will completely leave 
Lebanon within the next two months, noting Czech reports that 
Syrian personnel at Beirut airport were being replaced by 
Lebanese employees of Syrian intelligence.  Kolar agreed on 
the need to ensure that international observers are able to 
monitor upcoming parliamentary elections and that the 
Fitzgerald Commission receives the necessary cooperation in 
carrying out its investigation of Hariri's assassination. 
Skolil stressed the need for the international community to 
think about how to respond to renewed violence in Lebanon. 
 
4.  (C)  Comment:  Last week's MFA statement did not call for 
an "immediate" withdrawal or include a reference to Syria's 
intelligence services.  Czech concerns about Syrian capacity 
to provoke violence in Lebanon and the proper response to 
such an eventuality is an issue we will need to address as 
part of a broad strategy for common U.S.- EU action. 
CABANISS