Cablegate: Czech Response On Osce Dialogue

VZCZCXRO8237
RR RUEHAG RUEHAST RUEHDA RUEHDF RUEHFL RUEHIK RUEHKW RUEHLA RUEHLN
RUEHLZ RUEHPOD RUEHROV RUEHSR RUEHVK RUEHYG
DE RUEHPG #0488 2110708
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 290708Z JUL 08
FM AMEMBASSY PRAGUE
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 0548
INFO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE
RUEHVEN/USMISSION USOSCE VIENNA AU

UNCLAS PRAGUE 000488

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

DEPARTMENT FOR EUR/CE TRATENSEK

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EZ KDEM OSCE PGOV PHUM PREL
SUBJECT: CZECH RESPONSE ON OSCE DIALOGUE

REF: STATE 76294

1. (SBU) Summary: On July 25, Emboffs delivered reftel
demarche to Czech Director of Human Rights and Transition
Policy, Gabriela Dlouha. Dlouha noted that the Czechs are
prepared for and engaged in the upcoming OSCE Human Dimension
Implementation Meeting (HDIM). Emboff also raised the reftel
human rights concerns with respect to the Czech Republic,s
Roma minority. MFA officials outlined several proactive
changes the Czech government has adopted to address these
concerns. End Summary.
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Czech Agenda for HDIM
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2. (SBU) The GOCR,s agenda for the HDIM, including Czech
priorities and concerns, will be completed by early to
mid-September, and Dlouha offered to share it with the
Embassy. Dlouha cited Czech concerns raised by several
domestic and international NGOs regarding the existence of
neo-Nazi hate speech on U.S.-based Internet domains and
websites. Embassy will report on these concerns septel.
According to Dlouha, the GOCR does not plan to raise this
subject at the HDIM "at this time."
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Improvements made to the human rights of the Roma minority
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3. (SBU) In response to the points on discrimination
against the Roma community, Dlouha noted a number of actions
the Czech government is taking to address these concerns. In
January 2008, the GOCR established the Agency for Social
Inclusion of Roma Communities, which will act as an umbrella
for organizing social programs. The Agency, in cooperation
with Czech NGOs, will focus its attention on reducing
unemployment, improving the housing situation, and
implementing preventative health measures for the Roma
communities. The Agency will work to procure EU funds and
encourage "networking" and partnership of local institutions.
Through the Agency's efforts, GOCR will implement the Roma
Integration Policy Concept, a policy document outlining
concrete steps that will be taken to further integrate the
Roma. A status report on the Agency's implementation efforts
will be passed to Emboff in mid-September, prior to the HDIM.
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GOCR focus on Roma education
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4. (SBU) Dlouha also addressed the November 2007 European
Court of Human Rights ruling related to discrimination
against Roma children in schools. She attributed the fact
that Roma children often lag behind other students to the
fact that most Roma are non-native Czech speakers.
Therefore, GOCR will focus on enhancing preschool education
for Roma children and on improving their Czech language
skills. Dlouha passed Emboffs a full summary of Czech
progress in this area, which the Embassy will email to the
Department.
Thompson-Jones

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