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UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 06 PRAGUE 000166 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPT FOR PM/SNA AND EUR/NCE, 
DOD FOR OSD/PA&E, OASD/ISA/EUR, 
OASD/ISA/NP, OASD/ISA/AP, 
OASD/ISA/NESA AND OASD/ISA/BTF 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: MCAP PREL NATO EZ
SUBJECT: CZECH REPUBLIC: 2005-2006 REPORT ON ALLIED 
CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE COMMON DEFENSE 
 
REF: STATE 223383 
 
¶1. The following information is provided in response to 
reftel. Note that one dollar equals approximately 23 Czech 
crowns (CZK). 
 
¶2. General Assessment. The Czech Republic is a close ally of 
the United States, operating in support of U.S. objectives 
both in Europe and farther afield. The Czechs have not 
wavered in their participation in the War on Terror. The 
Czechs are solid members of the NATO alliance and continue to 
use NATO priorities to direct the focus of their defense 
policy. The Czech Republic remains a proponent of NATO 
expansion and is supportive of U.S. efforts to prevent EU 
defense planning from sapping NATO resources. The Czech 
Republic currently contributes over 800 soldiers, observers, 
monitors, specialists, and civilian police throughout the 
world. The Czechs, military, capacity-building, and economic 
contributions to aspects of the War on Terror are detailed in 
paragraphs 3-4, 6, 10-12, 29 and 32. 
 
--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- 
CZECH DEPLOYMENTS IN 2004-2005 
--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- 
 
¶3. IRAQ: In 2004 and 2005 the Czech Republic maintained a 
deployment of 100 troops near Basra to train Iraqi military 
police. Additionally the Czechs provided a ten-member medical 
team to work in a British field hospital near Basra from 
January 2004 until the end of 2005. The Czechs also 
volunteered for the NATO Training Mission-Iraq, detailing six 
MPs to Baghdad and approving a USD 200,000 contribution to 
the Trust Fund to support this mission. Training of Iraqi 
army soldiers in the Czech Republic is also ongoing, with 100 
Iraqi soldiers taking the training in 2005 calendar. In 2005 
the Ministry of Defense donated 35 tons of arms and 
ammunition to the Iraqi Ministry of Culture to assist in the 
protection of sites of significant cultural heritage. The MFA 
fully allocated a 200 million Czech crown ($8.7 million USD) 
fund specifically designated for Iraqi reconstruction. The 
GOCR in 2004 announced donations of 46 tons of weapons and 
ammunition for U.S. training of Georgian troops in 
preparation for a deployment to Iraq. Delivery was completed 
in 2005 (Note: The donation earned disapproving comments from 
Russian officials in the press, who claimed such assistance 
could complicate Georgia,s internal situation. End note). 
The Czechs were also very active in capacity building for 
Iraq, see para 10. 
 
¶4. AFGHANISTAN: In 2004-2005 the Czechs maintained between 15 
and 50 ISAF specialists in Kabul, fulfilling EOD engineering, 
demining, and air-traffic-control missions. Between March and 
September 2004, the GOCR deployed a 112-man Special 
Operations Force company in support of Operation Enduring 
Freedom. They served as part of CFC-A, under U.S. command. 
Upon the return of the special forces the Czechs bolstered 
their commitment to ISAF by providing 40 light infantry 
reconnaissance troops and medical staff to the German PRT 
near Konduz. In 2005 the GOCR began planning for a second 
deployment of special forces to Afghanistan, again under U.S. 
command. This mission is on schedule to begin in Spring 2006. 
The MOD elected to spend much of its USD $6 million Coalition 
Support Fund allocation on weapons and equipment for this 
special forces mission. In 2004 the Czech Government also 
made a donation of 6000 tons of ammunition to Afghanistan, 
material that was delivered by General Dynamics in 2005. 
 
¶5. THE BALKANS: The Czech Republic continued its robust 
engagement in the Balkans in 2004-2005 deploying 600 troops 
for the KFOR mission in Kosovo and 90 troops as part of the 
EU's operation in Bosnia. In Kosovo they operated in a joint 
battalion with 100 Slovaks in Multinational Brigade-Center. 
The Czechs took command of the brigade in August 2005, 
assuming responsibility for the security of over half of 
Kosovo,s population. In Bosnia, 25 troops were accompanied 
by two M-17 helicopters, and 40 Czechs joined 40 Austrians in 
a mechanized infantry unit. 
 
¶6. NATO: In addition to ongoing contributions to ISAF in 
Kabul and Konduz, Parliament also authorized the 
 
PRAGUE 00000166  002 OF 006 
 
 
participation of Czech NBC Defense units in the NRF in 
2004-2005.  The Czechs provided an NBC Reconnaissance Platoon 
and Decontamination unit to NRF 2.  Also from 1 July 2004 to 
13 Jan 2005 the Czechs were the lead nation for the 
Multinational Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear 
(CBRN) Battalion in NRF 3. The 312th CBRN Battalion n 
provided the headquarters and a NBC Defense company (plus) to 
this effort that included a deployment to protect the summer 
Olympics in Athens.  An additional 35-member NBC platoon 
joined the NATO Reaction Force in the second half of 2005. 
 
--- --- --- --- ----- --- --- --- ----- --- --- 
OTHER BILATERAL ACTIVITY WITH THE UNITED STATES 
--- --- --- --- ----- --- --- --- ----- --- --- 
 
¶7. Defense Minister Karel Kuehnl in 2005 offered the use of 
Czech military training ranges and airspace for the use of 
U.S. special operations forces stationed in Germany and 
elsewhere. The United States began such training in December 
2005 
 
¶8. In April 2004 four soldiers from the Texas and Nebraska 
National Guards participated in a disaster training exercise 
in Usti nad Labem. In June the Texas Army National Guard sent 
a 16-man armor platoon to Vyskov to participate in a 
simulation exercise with the Czech Defense  University. In 
July the Nebraska National Guard sent six instructors to 
Plzen for three weeks to facilitate English-language 
discussions focused on military topics at Western Bohemia 
University. 
 
¶9. In March 2005 Czech infantry soldiers from the 71st 
Mechanized Battalion trained at the Combat Maneuver Training 
Center, Hohenfels, Germany, alongside a Texas National Guard 
infantry company. In June the Czech Military University 
hosted a 35 member Texas National Guard cavalry squadron 
staff and platoon at Vyskov and Brno to participate in 
simulation exercises with a Czech mechanized brigade. In July 
the Nebraska National Guard again sent six instructors to 
Plzen for three weeks to facilitate international 
discussions. In December, as part of a KFOR mission rehearsal 
exercise, 90 Czech soldiers from the 71st Mechanized 
Battalion trained with the Kosovo-Bound Texas National Guard 
Task Force Falcon at the Joint Multinational Readiness 
Center, also at Hohenfels. 
 
--- --- --- --- --- --- - 
Capacity Building in Iraq 
--- --- --- --- --- --- - 
 
¶10. The Czech Republic is active in civilian assistance to 
Iraq. It has contributed to training more than 200 Iraqi 
judges at the CEELI Institute in Prague, has brought Iraqi 
diplomats for training at the Czech diplomatic academy and 
Czech police instructors participate in police training in 
Jordan as part of an ongoing since November 2003. The Czech 
government is helping to sponsor a number of Iraqi students 
pursuing graduate economic studies at the Prague campus of 
the Center for Economic Research and Graduate Education 
(CERGE-EI). The GOCR also regularly provided assistance to 
facilitate Iraqi citizens living in the Czech Republic to 
vote in the series of Iraqi elections in 2005 
 
¶11. People in Need (PIN), an NGO with close financial and 
personnel ties to the Czech Government, began training Iraqi 
civil society in August 2005 at a center located in Amman, 
Jordan, with the working title, The Democracy and Transition 
Center. The project is 75 percent funded by the Czech MFA. 
This Center trains carefully selected Iraqi journalists on 
their role in transforming society, and on professional 
ethics. It also helps Iraqi NGOs develop management skills, 
and provides training for the trainers. In 2006, PIN plans to 
expand the training program at the Center to include Iraqi 
civil servants. 
 
¶12. The MFA remains committed to Iraqi reconstruction and has 
allocated their entire 200 million Czech crown (approximately 
$8.7m USD) Iraqi reconstruction budget; a fund that they 
successfully protected from attempts to raid it after the 
tsunami disaster in Southeast Asia.  In addition, a separate 
 
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PRAGUE 00000166  003 OF 006 
 
 
"transformation assistance" fund will continue to offer pilot 
programs assisting Iraqi NGO's. A  project for NGO training 
in Iraq, which will continue into at least 2008, will be 
funded by the MFA,s Transformation Assistance Office. 
Additional Czech assistance to Iraq has focused on the 
protection of Iraqi cultural heritage (restoration of 
manuscripts in the National Library of Baghdad), provision of 
equipment for the Police Academy at Az Zubayr and specialized 
training programs for experts in various fields. 
 
--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- -- 
DEFENSE STRUCTURE AND REFORM IN THE CZECH REPUBLIC 
--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- -- 
 
¶13. STRUCTURE: Effective 1 January 2004, the Czechs 
Integrated the MOD and General Staff, dissolved the services 
and created two operational commands*the Joint Forces 
Command, responsible for training, command and control of 
units in peacetime and the Support and Training Command. 
Several organizations were kept under the MOD General Staff, 
e.g. military police, special forces, the Defense University. 
 All Czech forces deployed abroad come under the command of 
the Joint Operational Commander/Center of the General Staff. 
In July 2005, Specialized Forces (NBC Defense, Passive 
Surveillance) were reintegrated into regular Army and Air 
Force units. These units had previously been part of a 
special command and later under separate command and control 
within the JFC. In 2005 the Polish-Czech-Slovak multinational 
brigade was disbanded. The brigade was based on similar 
regional units created after the expansion on NATO in 1999. 
It was seen as a vehicle to assist Slovakia towards NATO 
accession.  That being done the unit lost its principal 
raison d'etre.  With NRF and EU Battle Group requirements the 
Czechs no longer have the luxury of supporting such units. 
 
¶14. PERSONNEL: The Czech armed forces ended conscription on 
31 December 2004, completing the transition to an 
all-volunteer force.  The force was short 2000 professionals 
in 2005 due to force structure issues.  The MOD expects to 
correct these problems and recruit sufficient numbers in 2006. 
 
¶15. PROCUREMENT AND FORCE MODERNIZATION: The 2004 tender to 
select a modern supersonic fighter was fraught with problems, 
including allegations of corruption. The GOCR eventually 
signed a contract to lease 14 Gripen supersonic fighters for 
its air force for a period of ten years. These problems were 
likely the reason that the MOD chose to have an outside body, 
Price Waterhouse Coopers, manage the Czech Republic,s next 
major tender (for USD 1 billion in armored personnel 
carriers), hoping to promote transparency and preserve the 
integrity of the selection process. Although there were some 
concerns with the decision by the MOD to reopen the final 
submission process in late 2005, overall we believe this was 
the most professionally managed and conducted high value 
military tender in recent memory. The official result of the 
tender were announced in early 2006: The government selected 
Vienna-based Steyr-Daimler-Puch Spezialfahrzeug GmbH, a part 
of General Dynamics European Land Combat Systems, to supply 
the Czech army with up to 243 new eight-wheeled Pandur II 
armored vehicles between 2007 and 2012. In November 2004 the 
GOCR completed the modernization of its T-72M4 CZ. After some 
difficulties with suppliers, cost-overruns and force 
structure changes the program eventually produced 35 tanks, 
which are now in service. Strategic airlift remains a 
critical shortfall for the Czech armed forces, which are 
widely deployed and have relied in part on the U.S. to fund 
its deployments. Attempts to acquire strategic transport 
aircraft in exchange for Russian debt floundered in 2004. 
After first expressing interest in procuring C-130s in 2004, 
the Ministry of Defense continues to gather information for a 
possible procurement. In 2005 the Czech Government also 
proposed to spend $200m to purchase 977 trucks from Tatra, a 
domestic supplier, a unit of U.S. firm Terex Corp. In July 
2005, the Czech government approved a privatization plan for 
Aero Vodochody, the aircraft company responsible for the 
L-159 subsonic fighter. Aero Vodochody was formerly partnered 
with Boeing until their 2004 split.  In exchange for the 
Russian debt, the ACR acquired 7 Mi-35 and 16 Mi-171S 
helicopters in 2005.  An additional 3 Mi-35s will be received 
in 2006. In 2005, the MOD signed agreements to purchase 24 
 
PRAGUE 00000166  004 OF 006 
 
 
AMRAAM air-to-air missiles for $16m, the largest purchase to 
date of U.S. military equipment using Czech national funds. 
 
--- --- --- --- ----- --- --- --- -- 
Major Developments in Defense Policy 
--- --- --- --- ----- --- --- --- -- 
 
¶16. The most important defense-related decisions in 2004 and 
2005 centered on ongoing deployments in support of U.S. and 
NATO-led missions. The results of these decisions are 
outlined above. The required support in Parliament for 
overseas deployment was generally good, although there was 
some hesitancy over the continued presence of Iraqi troops in 
Iraq, even though the Czech Republic did not experience the 
level of public dissatisfaction that was expressed in other 
European countries.  The Czech Government and even the 
opposition parties (with the exception of the Communist 
Party) have supported the U.S. efforts in Iraq. 
 
¶17. Spending: In 2004 though the economy has recovered from 
the 2002 floods, Defense spending was USD $2.1 billion, 
rising to USD $2.22 billion in 2005. This represents 
approximately 1.81 percent of GDP. Current Defense Minister 
Karel Kuehnl has waged a public battle for maintaining 
defense spending at two percent of GDP, saying that a 
shortfall will have significant consequences for reform and 
professionalization of the army. 
 
¶18. The cornerstones of Czech defense reform policy remain 
the acquisition, by the promised dates, of its fourteen 
Prague Capability Commitments, and its preparations for 
participation in the NATO Reaction Force. 
 
¶19. In 2004 new Defense Minister Kuehnl listed his priorities 
as fulfilling the country's obligations toward NATO, 
continuing defense reform, practicing sound personnel policy, 
and strengthening civilian control of the military. 
 
¶20. When the reform plan is completed in 2008, the Czech 
military will have shrunk from a high of 162,000 conscripted 
soldiers in 1993 when the Czech Republic separated from 
Slovakia to as few as 30,000 professional soldiers. 
Territorial defense units will be abolished with the 
intention of having as many troops available for NATO 
deployments as possible.  By the end of the reform, the Czech 
Republic will have force structure equivalent to one U.S. 
mechanized division and  one composite air force squadron. 
They will be able to deploy up to a 3000-person brigade for 
low-intensity Article V operations.  (High-intensity Article 
V operations would require mobilization, but these troops 
would generally not be deployable outside the territory of 
the Czech Republic.) Additionally, by following NATO guidance 
and remaining firm in their commitment to acquire the 
capabilities pledged at the Prague Summit in 2002, the Czech 
Republic's armed forces will become heavily specialized in 
NBC defense, passive surveillance, and military medical 
capabilities. As a result of having a smaller, more 
specialized military, the Czech Republic will rely more on 
NATO to confront threats to their territorial and national 
security. The Czech Republic, however, will be able to 
contribute more to NATO's out of area deployments.  A key 
feature of the reform plan is the Czech plan to participate 
in operations conducted by the NATO Reaction Force.  In order 
to achieve these goals with fewer resources, the Czech 
Defense Ministry has implemented a plan of force reduction, 
civilian layoff, base closures and realignment of existing 
units. 
 
¶21. Progress of the modified reform plan: The Reform plan 
revised after budget cuts in May 2003, has been well executed 
in 2004 and 2005.  The cornerstone of this reform has been 
the full professionalization of the force. Additionally, the 
past two years witnessed the streamlining of force structure 
as five operational commands were reduced to two and the MOD 
and General Staff were integrated.  A significant number of 
obsolete or redundant bases were relocated or closed.  Large 
stores of excess equipment and ammunition were sold, donated 
or destroyed.  Long-term programs which diverted significant 
funds from the MOD budget such as the L-159 acquisition and 
the T-72 modernization came to an end.  The tender for the 
 
PRAGUE 00000166  005 OF 006 
 
 
new wheeled armored vehicle to replace the ancient OT-64 was 
approved as was the tender for new medium and heavy trucks. 
Major progress was made reorganizing the training and 
education system with the creation of a Defense University. 
 
--- --- ---- 
EU CFSP/ESDP 
--- --- ---- 
 
¶22. The Czech Republic views NATO as the cornerstone of its 
defense policy and has opposed efforts within the EU to form 
a separate European command structure or structured military 
cooperation that would either undermine NATO or create 
duplicative structures. Prague is a strong supporter of the 
Berlin-Plus agreement In November 2005 the MFA hosted a major 
seminar on the European Union,s  Battlegroups concept, and 
announced it would field an EU Battlegroup in 2009. The Czech 
Republic joined the European Union in May 2004. As one of the 
new bloc of members the Czechs are gaining confidence in 
their interactions in Brussels, and have shown themselves to 
be a reliable U.S. ally when addressing issues such as the 
EU's China arms embargo. 
 
--- --- --- --- 
NONPROLIFERATION 
--- --- --- --- 
 
¶23. The Czech Republic is a member in good standing of every 
major arms control and international regime for the control 
of weapons of mass destruction and delivery technology. They 
are members of the Missile Technology Control Regime, the 
Australia Group, the CBW and the Wassenaar Arrangement.  On 
issues not covered by any treaty, convention or control 
regime, the Czechs have made notable efforts to conduct all 
transactions and sales of military equipment in a transparent 
manner. 
 
¶24. Czech law currently prevents domestic firms from 
supplying equipment to Iran's Bushehr nuclear power plant. 
The Czech Republic continues to suffer the effects of an 
informal trade embargo imposed by Iran in retaliation. In 
2004 and 2005 the GOCR was a consistent proponent of 
maintaining the EU arms embargo against China. 
 
¶25. In May and June 2005 the Czech Republic hosted BOHEMIAN 
GUARD, a major Proliferation Security Initiative (PSI) 
exercise. 
 
--- --- --- --- ----- --- --- --- --- --- - 
LEGAL CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE WAR ON TERRORISM 
--- --- --- --- ----- --- --- --- --- --- - 
 
¶26. The Czech Republic have now ratified all major 
anti-terrorism conventions. In December 2004 the Czech 
Republic ratified the Convention for the Suppression of 
Unlawful Acts Against the Safety of Maritime Navigation 
(SUA), Protocol for the Suppression of Unlawful Acts Against 
the Safety of Fixed Platforms Located on the Continental 
Shelf. 
 
--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- 
GRANT AID, PEACEKEEPING AND HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE 
--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- 
 
¶27. The Czech Republic provided grant aid, assistance to 
humanitarian projects, disaster relief, and support for 
humanitarian projects in developing countries in 2004-2005. 
2005 saw a record total disbursement of USD 16.6 million, up 
from USD 2.2 million in 2004. Of this USD 8.3 million was for 
Iraqi reconstruction. In addition, humanitarian relief 
included Pakistan earthquake relief (USD 4.6 million), 
Southeast Asia tsunami relief (USD 1.2 million), and U.S. 
Hurricane Katrina relief (USD 652,000). 
 
¶28. Hurricane Katrina: The Czech contribution for Hurricane 
Katrina relief in the U.S. was the largest contribution among 
the Visegrad-4. The Czech Republic provided 24,000 blankets, 
600 cots, and 14 large tents for the victims of hurricane 
Katrina. The items were delivered by NATO airlift. The City 
of Prague approved CZK 16 million (USD 700,000) in assistance 
 
PRAGUE 00000166  006 OF 006 
 
 
for Hurricane Katrina relief. Both the MFA and Prague City 
Hall have pledged coordination of their resources for 
longer-term assistance offers. 
 
¶29. International Disasters: The GOCR provided 230 million 
crowns of assistance to victims of the Asian tsunami, divided 
into 40 million crowns of humanitarian assistance and 190 
million crowns of reconstruction projects. The Czech 
government assistance to victims of the Pakistan Earthquake 
totals approximately $4.6 million (110 million CZK). The 
Ministry of Defense spent about USD 1.5 million on Pakistan 
earthquake relief (USD 625,000 to send doctors to a Dutch 
hospital in Pakistan and USD 835,000 on NATO flights), the 
Ministry of the Interior spent USD 417,000 on medevacs from 
Pakistan, In the aftermath of the disaster the Czech Republic 
sent an initial medical team, tents and 12 tons of other 
emergency supplies. The team left all medical equipment for 
local use when they returned home. Czech private donations 
via local NGOs for relief efforts in Pakistan were estimated 
at well over $1 million. 
 
¶30. Direct Cost Sharing.  Not Applicable. There are no 
stationed U.S. forces in the Czech Republic. 
 
¶31. Indirect Cost Sharing.  Not Applicable.  There are no 
stationed U.S. forces in the Czech Republic. 
 
--- --- --- ---- 
OUTLOOK FOR 2006 
--- --- --- ---- 
 
¶32. The Czech Republic will increase its engagement in 
international security in 2006  The Czech Parliament has 
already given the necessary constitutional approval for 
deployment of 150 troops to Afghanistan, the continued 
presence of 100 military police in Iraq, and transfer of 
Czech troops to NTM-I The government also has approval to 
maintain up to 590 troops in the Balkans under NATO, and up 
to 70 troops in that region under the EU. Additionally the 
parliament has authorized deployment of 20 troops as part of 
the NATO Rapid Reaction Force that will comprise a CIMIC 
detachment. The Czech Army will achieve initial operational 
capability of its reform in 2006. The Czech Republic is 
currently considering a plan to establish a Provincial 
Reconstruction Team in Afghanistan. 
 
¶33. In 2006, the MFA hopes to reach a 65/35 balance between 
assistance funding for emergency relief projects and existing 
crises.  While much of the humanitarian assistance will 
depend on emerging crises around the world, thus far the GOCR 
plans to focus on the "forgotten crisis" of sub-Saharan 
Africa and on avian flu outbreaks.  At the recent Afghanistan 
Donors Conference in London, the GOCR announced over USD 1 
million (CZK 25 million) to support Czech NGOs, demining 
projects, and UN activities in Afghanistan. 
 
¶34. Point of Contact for this report is Brian Greaney, 
External Affairs Chief, 420-257 530 663 xt 2306 (tel.) 
420-257 532 717 (fax), greaneybe@state.gov (email). 
CABANISS