VZCZCXRO1876
PP RUEHBC RUEHDBU RUEHDE RUEHFL RUEHKUK RUEHKW RUEHLA RUEHROV RUEHSR
DE RUEHPG #1124/01 2561333
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
P 131333Z SEP 06
FM AMEMBASSY PRAGUE
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 7964
INFO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE
RUCNIRA/IRAN COLLECTIVE
RUEHLB/AMEMBASSY BEIRUT 0040
RUEHDM/AMEMBASSY DAMASCUS 0110
RUEHTV/AMEMBASSY TEL AVIV 0682
RUEHBS/USEU BRUSSELS
RUEHNO/USMISSION USNATO 1774

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 PRAGUE 001124 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
EUR/NCE FOR ERIC FICHTE 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/12/2016 
TAGS: PREL IR LE MARR MOPS SY XG EZ
SUBJECT: CZECHS: STILL NO DECISION ON UNIFIL TROOPS (BUT 
OUTLOOK NOT GOOD) 
 
REF: A. STATE 148157 
     ¶B. STATE 150032 
     ¶C. PRAGUE 1060 
     ¶D. PRAGUE 898 
 
Classified By: Political-Economic Counselor Mike Dodman 
for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). 
 
¶1. (C) Summary. The Czechs remain undecided on whether to 
commit troops to UNIFIL (the MFA still supports it, but MOD 
sources say budgetary constraints make troop commitment 
"highly unlikely"). Nevertheless, the Czechs have committed 
or spent nearly $1 million in humanitarian aid and assistance 
in Lebanon, and are receptive to the request to provide 
immediate support for the removal of unexploded ordinance, or 
equipment and training for the Lebanese army. On Syria, the 
Czechs cautiously support the EU initiative to arrange for 
Javier Solana to meet with Syrian and Iranian officials to 
persuade them to cooperate on Lebanon. End summary. 
 
¶2. (C) Poloff met with the Czech MFA Head of the Near East 
Group in the Middle East and Africa Department Jaromir Marek 
on September 12 to discuss the points in Reftel A on the 
current situation in Lebanon, and to deliver Reftel B talking 
points on Syria. 
 
------- 
Lebanon 
------- 
 
¶3. (C) Marek confirmed that the Czechs have committed or 
already spent almost $1 million (22 million Czech Crowns 
(CZK)) on assistance for Lebanon (Ref C). 
 
¶4. (C) On troop deployments, Marek said the Czechs are "very 
likely" to commit troops for UNIFIL. He predicted the number 
of troops would be "symbolic" ) probably no more than 50 to 
100 troops ) and would not deployed before the first troop 
rotation in approximately six months. However, on September 
13, a source within the MOD's Security and Defense Policy 
Department said a final decision has not/not been made, but 
that commitment of troops is "highly unlikely." Local press 
reported on September 12 that the new Defense Minister Jiri 
Sedivy said the Czech Republic is not likely to send troops 
because it does not have the financial resources to pay for 
deployment in Lebanon. He estimated the cost at $4 million, 
and said his priority is maintaining current commitments in 
Iraq, Afghanistan, Kosovo, and Bosnia. 
 
¶5. (C) On the removal of unexploded ordinance, Marek said the 
Czechs may be willing to provide experts and/or equipment for 
such an effort. (Note: Marek said the Czechs would make the 
donation in coordination with EU forces, in response to a 
specific request from the EU. Therefore, because time is of 
the essence, the Department may want to urge the EU to make 
the request in the short term. End note.) 
 
¶6. (C) Regarding support for the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF), 
the Czechs expressed concern that donations of arms could 
fall into the hands of Hizbollah. However, the Czechs would 
consider providing training assistance or equipment for the 
LAF. 
 
¶7. (C) On humanitarian assistance: Marek said the Czechs 
earmarked $313,000 (7 million CZK) for NGO projects in 
Lebanon. According to Marek, the MFA decided which projects 
to fund on September 11, but has not announced its decision. 
Separately, a Ministry of Interior official informed Poloff 
on September 13 that the MOI has identified possible 
recipients for the proposed Czech medevac program for Lebanon 
(Ref D). Post will provide more information on these 
humanitarian projects as it becomes available. 
 
---------- 
Syria/Iran 
---------- 
 
¶8. (C) Marek said the EU has given EU Foreign Policy Chief 
Javier Solana the green light to meet with Syria and Iran to 
encourage them to cooperate on Lebanon. The Czechs cautiously 
support this decision, but unlike some other EU member 
states, oppose an enlargement of this effort if Solana's 
initial contacts are unsuccessful. 
 
PRAGUE 00001124  002 OF 002 
 
 
 
------- 
Comment 
------- 
 
¶9. (C) Comment. The Czechs have committed significant money 
(by Czech standards) for humanitarian aid and assistance in 
Lebanon, and some members of their government want to step up 
to the plate and commit troops to UNIFIL. With a new 
government at the helm and the reality of a limited budget, 
however, a decision to commit troops appears to be 
increasingly unlikely. End comment. 
CABANISS