US embassy cable - 05PRAGUE1222

C O N F I D E N T I A L PRAGUE 001222 
 
SIPDIS 
 
EUR/NCE FOR FICHTE, PM/RSAT FOR GOROG, EUR/RPM FOR ANDERSON 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/18/2015 
TAGS: MARR, PREL, AF, EZ, NATO, UNSC 
SUBJECT: ISAF: CZECHS AGREE ON MANDATE, BUT CAUTIOUS ON 
OPERATIONS 
 
REF: STATE 146276 
 
Classified By: Political-Military Officer Brian Greaney 
 for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) 
 
1) PolCouns and Pol-Mil Off August 18 delivered reftel points 
to MFA Security Policy Department Director Veronika Kuchynova 
Smigolova. Noting the Czech Republic had always been a 
supporter of the eventual unification of ISAF and CFC-A, 
Smigolova agreed ISAF's UN mandate was sufficiently broad to 
allow for security operations and integration of the two 
forces. She gave her assurance that the Czech Republic did 
not see the UN mandate as a limiting factor in the revision 
of the operations plan. 
 
2) Moving beyond the legal question of the mandate itself, 
Smigolova cautioned that the Czech republic would have 
concerns if ISAF's role were to be changed significantly. 
ISAF's role was centered in PRT activities. Force protection 
was its security focus, and "it would be better" to avoid a 
significant move towards anti-terror operations. 
 
3) Comment: The GOCR does not/not believe the UN mandate is a 
barrier to permit integration or operations. However the 
Czechs are likely to be cautious in discussions, and will 
have to be convinced that ISAF can and should be involved in 
responses to all key security threats. End comment. 
MUNTER