US embassy cable - 05PRAGUE1287

UNCLAS PRAGUE 001287 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PREL, AEMR, KPAO, EZ 
SUBJECT: TFUS01:  CZECH REPUBLIC RESPONSE 
 
 
1.  In response to Hurricane Katrina, the Czech government 
made a general offer of assistance on August 30 in a letter 
from FM Cyril Svoboda to Secretary Rice.  Svoboda wrote "I 
would also like to assure you of our readiness to provide to 
the American people our help and assistance."  Since then 
officials from the President's office, Foreign Ministry, 
Prime Minister's office, and City of Prague have expressed to 
the embassy their desire to provide some concrete assistance, 
both immediate and as part of the reconstruction effort 
(drawing in particular on Prague's experience recovering from 
heavy flooding in 2002). 
 
2.  Both President Klaus and PM Paroubek have asked to meet 
with Ambassador on Monday, Sept 5 to discuss specifics. 
 
3.  Ambassador Cabaniss, who was at his home in Alabama 
during the storm, was interviewed on the main Czech 
television news on Sept 2, immediately after his return to 
post.  During his 15-minute interview the Ambassador 
expressed thanks for the sympathy and offers of support from 
Czech officials and private citizens, and drew links between 
the devastation following Katrina and the impact of the 2002 
floods, which also ended up causing damage much greater than 
was initially anticipated.  Interviews with print journalists 
are planned on Sept 5. 
 
4.  Post requests TF1 update international assistance matrix 
to include Czech Republic. 
CABANISS