VZCZCXRO0642
PP RUEHAG RUEHAST RUEHDA RUEHDF RUEHFL RUEHIK RUEHKW RUEHLA RUEHLN
RUEHLZ RUEHNP RUEHPOD RUEHROV RUEHSK RUEHSR RUEHVK RUEHYG
DE RUEHPG #0755 3430922
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 080922Z DEC 08
FM AMEMBASSY PRAGUE
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 0891
INFO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE
UNCLAS PRAGUE 000755
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
EUR/ERA JGIAUQUE, EUR/CE FOR ATRATENSEK, SCA/PA FOR
MTOWNSWICK
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EUN EZ EG PGOV PREL ZL IS
SUBJECT: CZECH COMMENTS IN ADVANCE OF THE DECEMBER EU GAERC
REF: A. STATE 127023
B. STATE 124618
1. (SBU) Summary: Emboff spoke with Magdalena Janesova of the
Czech MFA Department of Common Foreign and Security Policy
prior to the December 8-9 EU General Affairs and External
Relations Council (GAERC). Of note were her comments on: the
Middle East, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Pakistan.
End Summary.
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Middle East
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2. (SBU) Janesova noted that at this moment in time the EU is
in a bit of a "waiting mode" with respect to the Middle East,
particularly since there are upcoming elections in Israel,
which are expected to set the tone for Israeli engagement in
the future. Janesova, who accompanied FM Schwarzenberg on
his visit to Israel and the Palestinian territories on
November 30 and December 1, commented that while the Czechs
are still interested in upgrading EU-Israeli relations during
their EU Presidency, quite a lot of work remains, both within
the EU and with Israel, as well as the Palestinians. She
also stated that while the Palestinians were consulted about
a possible EU-Israel Summit in May or June of 2009, and that
they initially expressed understanding for an upgrade in
relations as well as interest in something perhaps being done
for the Palestinians, this has now changed and the
Palestinians are expressing opposition to the idea. Janesova
also commented that the Middle East remains on the agenda of
just about every EU foreign policy related meeting, however,
until the political situation in Israel becomes clearer, the
EU remains focused on expressing support for the Annapolis
process and encouraging dialogue.
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Democratic Republic of Congo
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3. (SBU) The EU plans to announce an additional 45.6M euros
in additional humanitarian assistance for the DRC, according
to Janesova. She also noted that the idea of a
multi-national force for the DRC has been widely discussed,
however, the EU does not plan to put together such a force as
many EU members opposed the idea. Some of the concerns
focused on the fact that EU battlegroups were not designed
for such a situation, nor to complement other forces. As
well, some EU member states thought more needed to be done to
address conflicts in the EU's backyard and that this proposed
mission for the DRC did not fit well with the EU's priorities
and limited resources.
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Pakistan
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4. (SBU) The Czech MFA Departments for CFSP and the Asia and
Pacific Region have appreciated our details related to the
Friends of Democratic Pakistan and the proposed donor
conference to support the IMF stand-by arrangement reached
with Pakistan. They share our concerns related to Pakistan
future path and the need to encourage Pakistan in its efforts
to fight terrorism. According to Janesova, Czech FM
Schwarzenberg would like to enhance the EU's dialogue and
engagement with Pakistan and he has proposed to his EU
colleagues, arranging an EU-Pakistan troika meeting in
Islamabad in February, perhaps in conjunction with the EU's
participation at a Friends of Pakistan meeting around the
same time. The Czechs have promised to keep us apprised of
any developments in this area.
Graber