Cablegate: Czechs Support Creation of Foundation for Future

This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.

UNCLAS PRAGUE 001559

SIPDIS

EUR/ERA FOR LBONO, NEA/PI FOR TWINCUP, EUR/NCE FOR FICHTE

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EAID PREL PHUM XF EZ
SUBJECT: CZECHS SUPPORT CREATION OF FOUNDATION FOR FUTURE
BUT UNABLE TO FULLY FUND

REF: STATE 190583

1.(U) Action request - see para 4.

2.(U) In response to reftel demarche, Miloslav Stasek,
Director of the Middle East and Africa Department at the
Czech Ministry of Foreign Affairs, informed Poloff on Nov 2
that the Ministry supports the Foundation for the Future
politically, but is not in a position to contribute the
minimum required amount of $1 million. Stasek explained that
the full Ministry budget for similar projects is only $2
million. He suggested that the Ministry could possibly be
able to afford a donation of $250,000. However, any amount
would need to be approved by the Czech government at a
cabinet session, which would not be possible before next
week. Thus based on both timing and funding level, Stasek
and Poloff agreed that Czech participation at the November 11
Forum for the Future meeting in Bahrain appeared unlikely.

3. (U) Stasek emphasized continued Czech desire to
participate in the Foundation for the Future, within its
financial capabilities, and requested embassy advise him of
appropriate next steps.

4. (U) Action request: please provide guidance for us to pass
to Czech MFA on next steps in terms of (a) suitability of the
notional $250,000 donation, and (b) what this would mean for
the CR in terms of their participation in the Foundation for
the Future.
CABANISS

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