US embassy cable - 05PRAGUE1245

C O N F I D E N T I A L PRAGUE 001245 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/25/2015 
TAGS: PREL, EZ, EUN 
SUBJECT: CZECHS ON SEPTEMBER 1-2 GYMNICH POINTS 
 
REF: A. STATE 153187 
 
     B. PRAGUE 1243 
 
Classified By: Pol-Econ Counselor Michael Dodman for reasons 1.4 b+d 
 
1. (C)  Pol-Econ Chief met August 25 with Czech MFA Director 
for CFSP Issues, Petr Kaiser, to discuss ref A points in 
advance of the September 1-2 EU Foreign Ministers Gymnich 
meeting.  Kaiser noted that HMG had not yet circulated a 
final agenda for the meeting, but he expects it will cover 
most of the topics covered by the US points.  He offered the 
following comments. 
 
A)  Turkey:  making clear that enlargement is not a CFSP 
issue within his competence, Kaiser offered his own thoughts 
to supplement those of his colleagues focused on EU affairs 
(ref B).  Kaiser said Czech MFA officials appreciate the 
strategic reason for "including Turkey in Europe" and 
following through on the EU's repeated promises to Turkey. 
But he also reviewed the challenges the EU is facing since 
the constitution referendum defeats.  In the end, Kaiser 
believes the decision on what to do with Turkey in October 
will be made not by Foreign Ministers (and he personally 
expects little fruitful discussion of this topic at the 
Gymnich) but by Prime Ministers and Presidents balancing 
their domestic political concerns with the strategic 
importance of Turkey. 
 
B)  Iraq:  Kaiser said that, "as a coalition member," the CR 
will be pushing for a more active EU role in Iraq, including 
the opening of an EC office in Baghdad.  The Czechs hope that 
the final completion of the constitution will provide the 
momentum necessary to expand EU activity.  But the Czechs are 
not pushing for any specific EU steps at this point. 
 
C)  Iran:  Kaiser described Czech thinking as squarely in 
line with the U.S., terming the CR one of the few 
"hardliners" within the EU. 
 
D)  China:  Kaiser took the opportunity to restate the CR's 
opinion on the Chinese arms embargo:  human rights 
improvements remain essential before the embargo is lifted; 
lifting of the embargo should not result in any increase in 
exports of destabilizing military material, and therefore an 
effective toolbox is much better than the unevenly-applied 
"embargo;" and the EU's strategic dialogue with the US and 
Asian partners needs to continue.  Kaiser, who also oversees 
export licensing and was instrumental in efforts last year to 
cancel the planned sale of the sensitive VERA-E radar to 
China, insisted that the Czechs intend to play a constructive 
role in the internal EU debate on the arms embargo, and 
expressed satisfaction that it was no longer on a fast track. 
MUNTER