US embassy cable - 05PRAGUE356

C O N F I D E N T I A L PRAGUE 000356 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/10/2015 
TAGS: MASS, PREL, EZ, BO, RS, UP 
SUBJECT: (C) US NAVY POTENTIAL PURCHASE OF RUSSIAN MISSILES 
FROM BELARUS: CZECHS RECONSIDERING EXPORT LICENSE 
 
REF: PRAGUE 337 
 
Classified By: Deputy Political Counselor Mark Canning for reasons 1.4 
(a) (b) and (c) 
 
1. (C) Poloff was shown March 10 the request for an export 
license filed by the Czech firm that is working to provide an 
initial shipment of 23 Russian-made sea-skimming missiles 
(KH-31) to the US Navy. The application showed the name and 
address of the firm in Minsk that was supplying the missiles, 
but contained no other information about the role Belarus 
plays in this transaction.  After issuing a preliminary 
opinion in favor of the transaction,  partly in the belief 
that the U.S. supported the purchase,  the Czechs are now 
putting the license application on hold while they gather 
more information and reconsider. The Czech government has 
been very critical of the Lukashenko regime, and some in the 
MFA,  particularly those responsible for the promotion of 
human rights and democracy, have voiced objection to the 
deal. The matter has now been passed to Principal Deputy 
Foreign Minister Jan Winkler,  who will make the final 
decision, possibly over the next couple of weeks.  Please 
provide the U.S. Government position on the proposed purchase. 
CABANISS