US embassy cable - 05PRAGUE1701

UNCLAS PRAGUE 001701 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
EUR/NCE FOR FICHTE 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: EZ, PGOV, PHUM, PINR, PREL, MARR, MOPS 
SUBJECT: CZECHS APPROVE 2006 MILITARY DEPLOYMENT PLANS 
 
REF: STATE 212899 
 
1. Summary: The Czech Chamber of Deputies voted December 7 in 
favor of proposed foreign military deployments for 2006, 
including the retention of 100 troops in Iraq. End Summary 
 
2. The Czech Chamber of Deputies voted December 7 in favor of 
proposed foreign military deployments for 2006. This time 
around there was no repetition of the noisy debate that 
preceded last year's vote on the deployments bill. The Social 
Democrats (CSSD) generally voted in favor of each proposed 
deployment, with a few abstentions. The ODS, although it is 
an opposition party, gave the strongest voting support to the 
proposals. The Communist KSCM opposed, though several 
parliamentarians broke ranks and abstained, particularly on 
the Iraq vote. The only remaining deployment for 2006 to be 
approved is the planned service of Czech Special Forces in 
Afghanistan under CFC-A. Czech Minister of Defense Karel 
Kuehnl will raise that issue with the cabinet once he 
receives a letter from the United States requesting 
deployment of the Czech Special Forces to Afghanistan. 
 
3. The Senate approved the deployments on November 30. 
Presidential signature is the last step in the approval 
process and no difficulties are expected. 
 
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ODS: TOO MANY MISSIONS, SOMEDAY WE SHOULD DROP ALTHEA 
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4. In the speeches before the deployment votes, David Seich, 
ODS member of the Defense and Security Committee said the ODS 
believes the country can only afford, and effectively 
implement two or three foreign deployments. Seich said the 
ODS has, in the past, made known its opposition to the EU 
ALTHEA mission in the Balkans. After discussing it, the ODS 
has come to the conclusion that immediate and unilateral 
withdrawal from this mission on January 1, 2006 would be an 
unstately step that would threaten the foreign policy ties of 
the Czech Republic.  Seich promised the great majority of ODS 
parliamentarians would support this mission, on the condition 
that if ODS is in a position to be a relevant part of the 
next government, the party will take all the steps it can to 
see that the mission doesn't continue. 
 
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COMMUNISTS: WE WANT LESS TROOPS, MORE UN MANDATES 
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5. Alexander Cerny, KSCM member of the Defense and Security 
Committee, made the following points in his remarks before 
the votes: &Our active participation in military operations 
anywhere on the planet, and even in space, are in the 
interest of the Czech republic...But let me remind you of one 
point that is essential for us. We draw distinctions between 
different types of missions. We categorically refuse to allow 
our people to participate in military conflicts of the type 
in Iraq or Afghanistan.  In other operations, which are under 
the UN, or the EU, or even NATO, we are prepared to recognize 
the distinction and enter into them ... Our conditions for 
sending troops anywhere overseas are unchanged: only those 
with a mandate from the UN Security Council or those of a 
humanitarian nature.8 The KSCM supported the NATO 
humanitarian mission to Pakistan. Cerny went on to complain 
about the dramatic increase in the number of troops deployed 
overseas, from 650 in 2004, to nearly 800 in 2005.  He cited 
the Defense Minister's predictions that 2006 could see almost 
1000 troops deployed and said KSCM finds the trend 
"pernicious and dangerous."  He assured the chamber that the 
Communist Party would oppose the trend. 
 
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Approved 2006 Deployments for the Czech Armed Forces 
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6. Each deployment was voted on separately. 
 
A. DEPLOYMENT OF UP TO 590 TROOPS TO THE BALKANS, UNDER NATO 
JAN 1 - DEC 31, 2006 
 
B. DEPLOYMENT OF UP TO 70 TROOPS TO THE BALKANS UNDER THE EU, 
JAN 1 -DEC 31, 2006 
 
C. DEPLOYMENT OF UP TO 150 TROOPS TO ISAF, UNDER THE 
LEADERSHIP OF NATO, JAN 1- DEC 31, 2006 
 
D. DEPLOYMENT OF UP TO 100 TROOPS WITHIN THE FRAMEWORK OF 
MULTINATIONAL FORCES IN IRAQ, JAN 1-DEC 31, 2006 
 
E. TRANSFER OF TROOPS TO THE NATO TRAINING MISSION IN IRAQ, 
IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE PLANNED OPERATIONS OF NATO. 
 
F. DEPLOYMENT OF TWO MEMBERS OF THE CZECH ARMED FORCES TO 
HELP PROTECT THE AIRSPACE OF ESTONIA, LITHUANIA AND LATVIA, 
FOR FOUR MONTHS DURING 2006, IN ACCORDANCE WITH PLANNED NATO 
OPERATIONS. 
 
G. DEPLOYMENT OF 20 TROOPS OUTSIDE THE CZECH REPUBLIC, AS 
PART OF THE NATO RAPID REACTION FORCE.  JAN 1 - AUGUST 15, 
2006. 
 
H. APPROVAL FOR FLIGHTS AND GROUND TRANSFERS THROUGH CZECH 
TERRITORY 
 
I. DECISION TO LINK THE TROOPS AND RESOURCES OF THE MINISTRY 
OF DEFENSE TO THE NATO OPERATIONS TO PROVIDE HUMANITARIAN 
ASSISTANCE TO DEAL WITH THE EFFECTS OF THE PAKISTANI 
EARTHQUAKE 
CABANISS