US embassy cable - 05PRAGUE1687

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CZECHS ALSO CONCEREND ABOUT RUSSIAN NGO LAW

Identifier: 05PRAGUE1687
Wikileaks: View 05PRAGUE1687 at Wikileaks.org
Origin: Embassy Prague
Created: 2005-12-06 16:30:00
Classification: CONFIDENTIAL
Tags: EZ RS PGOV PHUM PINR PREL
Redacted: This cable was not redacted by Wikileaks.
VZCZCXYZ0029
OO RUEHWEB

DE RUEHPG #1687 3401630
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
O 061630Z DEC 05
FM AMEMBASSY PRAGUE
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 6673
INFO RUEHMO/AMEMBASSY MOSCOW PRIORITY 0664
RUEHVI/AMEMBASSY VIENNA PRIORITY 1563
RUEHBS/USEU BRUSSELS PRIORITY
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK PRIORITY 0064
RUEHVEN/USMISSION USOSCE PRIORITY 0133
C O N F I D E N T I A L PRAGUE 001687 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
EUR/NCE FOR FICHTE 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/04/2015 
TAGS: EZ, RS, PGOV, PHUM, PINR, PREL 
SUBJECT: CZECHS ALSO CONCEREND ABOUT RUSSIAN NGO LAW 
 
REF: STATE 212899 
 
Classified By: Poloff Brian Greaney for reasons 
1.4 (B) and (D) 
 
1. (C) The Czech Republic shares USG concerns about the draft 
Russian NGO law, and is interested in coordinating with the 
U.S. on practical measures that will result in changes to the 
legislation.  Embassy discussed reftel points in recent weeks 
with MFA Director General for European Bilateral Relations 
Jaromir Plisek, MFA director for South Eastern and Eastern 
Europe Tomas Szunyog, and MFA Director for Human Rights 
Veronika Stromsikova.  All agreed that the NGO legislation 
goes too far.  FM Cyril Svoboda, who plans to visit Moscow 
December 20, will deliver talking points on the specific 
problem that Czech NGO People in Need is having with the 
Russian authorities, possibly as a result of the group's 
human-rights activities in the North Caucasus. 
 
2. (C) Plisek told visiting EUR DAS Pekala that the GOCR 
hopes the EU will take a more active approach to the GOR, 
going beyond the letter recently delivered by the British 
Ambassador in Moscow representing the EU Presidency.  Plisek 
encouraged the USG to suggest to the EU tactics that would 
help bring about changes, noting the opportunities raised by 
the Russian G-8 and Council of Europe presidencies.  Plisek 
and others noted that there is widespread agreement among 
members states that the draft NGO law is problematic, but 
given the unresolved differences among members about just how 
confrontational the EU's approach to Russia ought to be, the 
Czechs currently are not optimistic about a stronger EU 
effort. 
 
3. (C) Szunyog said coordination between the U.S. and the EU 
could be a key factor in ensuring the success of planned 
U.S.-Russian consultations on regional CIS issues (Ref B). 
Such coordination would also be necessary because the 
upcoming Austrian EU Presidency would be too pragmatic to be 
ambitious on Eastern Europe. 
CABANISS 

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