US embassy cable - 05PRAGUE1056

UNCLAS PRAGUE 001056 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
 
FOR IO/PSC LMALENAS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PREL, PTER, KUNR, KPKO, EZ, UNGA, UNSC, ECOSOC 
SUBJECT: CZECH POLITICAL DIRECTOR ON UN REFORM, CCIT AND 
PEACEBUILDING COMMISSION 
 
REF: A. STATE 128008 
 
     B. STATE 126870 
     C. STATE 130530 
     D. PRAGUE 1007 
 
 1. (U) This message is Sensitive But Unclassified - Not for 
Internet Distribution. 
 
2.  (SBU) Summary.  On July 14, the Charge d'Affairs met with 
MFA Political Director Martin Povejsil to discuss reftels 
regarding the G-4 proposal on UN Security Council reform, 
support for the Comprehensive Convention on International 
Terrorism (CCIT) and creation of a UN Peacebuilding 
Commission.  Povejsil reaffirmed our earlier report on Czech 
support for the G-4 proposal (ref D), stating that they 
believe it is the best option for countries of their size to 
serve with some frequency on the Security Council.  At the 
same time, the Czechs are supportive of our administrative 
reform goals and "agree 100%" that UNSC reform efforts should 
not block or delay other very necessary reforms.  Povejsil 
said that the Czechs have been supportive of the CCIT and 
hoped that the conflict over the definition of terrorism 
would be resolved.  Finally, he reaffirmed Czech support for 
the creation of the Peacebuilding Commission, a point which 
was later confirmed by the Director of the UN Department at 
the MFA, Jan Kara.  Kara was pleased to finally see a 
concrete proposal on establishing the Peacebuilding 
Commission and agreed that it should function as a subsidiary 
organ of the UNSC.  End Summary. 
 
3.  (SBU) The CDA opened the meeting by detailing our ref B 
concerns about the G-4 proposal and USG desire that the rush 
for UNSC reform not overtake other serious reform needs. 
Povejsil admitted that the primary motivation behind the 
Czech's support for the G-4 proposal is that it is one of the 
few options that they believe would allow a country of its 
size to serve on the UNSC with "reasonable frequency."  He 
added that with the security contribution that the Czechs are 
making, they would like to see a reformed UNSC with adequate 
space and opportunity for it to participate regularly, 
particularly as the regional group to which it belongs is 
"incapable of reaching consensus" on important issues.  At 
the same time, Povejsil "agreed 100%" that it is vital for 
the UN that Security Council enlargement not prevent overall 
reform of the system.  According to him, the G-4 proposal is 
simply one element of the reform package that they hope 
everyone can agree on. 
 
4.  (SBU) In discussing the CCIT, Povejsil stated that the 
Czech Republic had long been supportive of the treaty, but 
that the crucial problem has been the definition of 
terrorism.  He also hoped that the coordinator's draft text 
would be acceptable.  This is in line with our meeting last 
week with Director of the Department Jan Kara (ref D) who 
said that adoption of the CCIT was also a priority for the EU 
countries, and thus the Czech Republic.  Kara also noted that 
the U.S. points on the definition of terrorism were 
definitely ones that the Czechs "can easily live with."  Kara 
added today that the Czechs are hoping that the CCIT will be 
ready for signature by their Prime Minister when he travels 
to New York in September to participate in the High-Level 
Event. 
 
5.  (SBU) Finally, Povejsil reiterated Czech support for the 
creation of a Peacebuilding Commission.  In a follow-up 
conversation with Jan Kara, he was very interested in the USG 
proposal.  According to Kara, while many countries have 
expressed interest in the concept, the USG is one of the 
first to make a concrete proposal about how the Peacebuilding 
Commission should be set up.  Furthermore, he agreed with the 
USG proposal that the Commission should be be created via UN 
Security Council resolution and function as a subsidiary 
organ of the UNSC as the UNSC has the primary mandate for 
peace and security issues.  He added that putting it under 
UNSC control would also make the Commission "more prompt and 
rational" in its operations. 
 
Visit Prague's Classified Website: 
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/eur/prague/index. cfm 
DODMAN