US embassy cable - 05PRAGUE1446

S E C R E T PRAGUE 001446 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/05/2015 
TAGS: PHUM, PREL, MOPS, EZ 
SUBJECT: CZECHS STATE THAT UIGHUR RESETTLEMENT IS POSSIBLE, 
BUT ASK, "HOW IMPORTANT IS THIS TO U.S.?" 
 
REF: STATE 183800 
 
Classified By: Poloff Sarah C. Peck for reasons 1.4(b) and (d). 
 
1.  (U)  Action request paragraph 5. 
 
2.  (S)  Poloff met on October 6 with Tomas Haisman, Director 
of Asylum and Migration Policies at the Czech Ministry of 
Interior, to discuss resettlement of 15 Uighur detainees 
(reftel).  Haisman called the situation "shocking," but 
nevertheless held out hope that at least some of the Uighurs 
could be resettled in the Czech Republic -- but only if 
sufficient political will exists at the highest levels of the 
Czech government.  He has already sent the request to 
Frantisek Bublan, Minister of Interior, who will decide 
whether to forward the request to PM Jiri Paroubek. 
 
3.  (S)  Haisman said the Czech response will depend in part 
on how important this issue is to the USG.  To improve the 
chances of a positive response, he advised arranging a 
meeting between Ambassador Cabaniss and senior Czech 
officials to signal that this issue is a high priority.  He 
was less enthusiastic about the possibility of a call from 
Washington.  Haisman also said the Czechs will want to 
conduct their own evaluation of the detainees to satisfy 
themselves that the detainees do not pose an unacceptable 
security risk. 
 
4.  (S)  Comment: the Czechs are currently working to 
strengthen relations with China and may conclude that the 
cost of accepting the Uighurs -- thereby incurring China,s 
wrath -- is just too high.  To outweigh this concern, the USG 
would need to demonstrate the importance of this issue by 
arranging meetings between Ambassador Cabaniss and 
high-ranking Czechs, possibly including PM Paroubek.  We 
expect that in the final analysis, other USG support, 
including financial support for the resettlement of the 
Uighurs, may be required. 
 
5.  (S)  Action Request:  In light of the initial Czech 
response, Post requests additional points and Washington 
guidance on how, and if, to approach senior Czech leadership. 
CABANISS