VZCZCXYZ0017
OO RUEHWEB
DE RUEHPG #1701/01 3421649
ZNR UUUCC ZZH
O 081649Z DEC 05
FM AMEMBASSY PRAGUE
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 6690
INFO RUEHGB/AMEMBASSY BAGHDAD PRIORITY 0054
RUEHBW/AMEMBASSY BELGRADE PRIORITY 0110
RUEHBUL/AMEMBASSY KABUL PRIORITY 0054
RUEHRA/AMEMBASSY RIGA PRIORITY 0383
RUEHTL/AMEMBASSY TALLINN PRIORITY 0374
RUEHVL/AMEMBASSY VILNIUS PRIORITY 0400
RUEHBS/USEU BRUSSELS PRIORITY
RUEHNO/USMISSION USNATO PRIORITY 1667
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK PRIORITY 0065
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC PRIORITY
RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHDC PRIORITY
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC PRIORITY
RHMFITT/CDR USEUCOM VAIHINGEN GE PRIORITY
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.
--------------------------------------------- -------
ODS: TOO MANY MISSIONS, SOMEDAY WE SHOULD DROP ALTHEA
--------------------------------------------- -------
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.
--------------------------------------------- -
COMMUNISTS: WE WANT LESS TROOPS, MORE UN MANDATES
--------------------------------------------- -
5. Alexander Cerny, KSCM member of the Defense and Security
Committee, made the following points in his remarks before
the votes: 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.
--------------------------------------------- -------
Approved 2006 Deployments for the Czech Armed Forces
--------------------------------------------- -------
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