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RR RUEHAG RUEHAST RUEHDA RUEHDBU RUEHDF RUEHFL RUEHIK RUEHKW RUEHLA
RUEHLN RUEHLZ RUEHPOD RUEHROV RUEHSR RUEHVK RUEHYG
DE RUEHPG #1060/01 2561604
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 131604Z SEP 07
FM AMEMBASSY PRAGUE
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 9611
INFO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 PRAGUE 001060 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: EZ PHUM PREL
SUBJECT: PRESIDENT'S HUMAN RIGHTS ROUNDTABLE AT 2007 UNGA: 
CZECH REPUBLIC 
 
REF: A. SECSTATE 12546 
     ¶B. PRAGUE 630 
     ¶C. PRAGUE 557 
     ¶D. PRAGUE 531 
     ¶E. 06 PRAGUE 85 
     ¶F. 06 PRAGUE 68 
     ¶G. 06 PRAGUE 66 
     ¶H. 06 PRAGUE 58 
 
¶1. The Czech Republic is justifiably proud of its record as a 
country actively engaged in promoting democracy and 
protecting human rights, particularly in oppressed societies 
such as Cuba, Belarus, Burma and countries in the Middle 
East.  They are engaged in myriad projects in support of free 
media, they provide capacity training - notably in Belarus 
and other Eastern European nations as well as Iraq and 
Afghanistan - and they are committed to building 
relationships with civil society, notably youth.  In addition 
to the work of the Czech government, there is vibrant support 
within the Czech NGO community for human rights and democracy 
promotion. Embassy Prague enjoys a close working relationship 
with Czech officials and NGOs on these issues. 
 
Czech Human Rights and Democracy Priorities 
------------------------------------------- 
¶2. Democracy promotion is at the heart of Czech foreign 
policy since Czech officials and NGOs alike firmly believe 
that they have a moral obligation to help others struggling 
to be free because of their own peaceful transition to 
democracy in 1989.  As noted in our series of cables on Czech 
democracy promotion last year (reftels), the GOCR also 
recognizes the security benefits of democracy promotion and 
the Czech Security Strategy identifies the promotion of 
"freedom, democracy, and the principles of rule of law" as a 
strategic national interest.  The key partners in Czech 
transformational diplomacy are the MFA (particularly under 
the leadership of Foreign Minister Schwarzenberg and Deputy 
Foreign Minister Tomas Pojar), the NGO People in Need (PIN), 
former Czech President Vaclav Havel and the International 
Committee for Democracy in Cuba (ICDC). 
 
Czechs Emphasize Transformation Through Civil Society 
--------------------------------------------- -------- 
¶3. The Czechs focus on "transformational cooperation" when 
speaking of democracy promotion in third countries, the key 
of which is the systematic cooperation and support for civil 
society.  The MFA Department of Human Rights and Transition 
Policy monitors the status of democracy, human rights and 
fundamental freedoms in priority countries and, as needed, 
identifies projects to establish and reinforce democratic 
institutions (primarily through educating civil society and 
supporting peaceful opposition).  Some of the key priority 
countries for MFA funding are: Cuba, Belarus, Burma, Bosnia, 
Georgia, Afghanistan, Iraq, Moldova, Serbia, and Ukraine. 
 
Czech Support for Free Media 
---------------------------- 
¶4. The Czechs are very engaged in access to free media.  In 
Belarus, they support the European Radio Belarus project 
(modeled on Radio Free Europe) which transmits independent 
content prepared by Belarusian journalists into Belarus.  In 
Cuba and Iraq, as another example, they provide training, 
hardware and supplies for independent journalists.  This 
training focuses on media ethics and best practices for 
reporting and photography.  Besides providing training for 
Cuban journalists, many of whom end up as political 
prisoners, the Czech NGO People in Need makes a point of 
visiting all of the families of these political prisoners to 
bring news and supplies, but perhaps most importantly to show 
solidarity.  PIN arranges medical assistance for the 
prisoners, enlisting sympathetic Cuban doctors and PIN also 
provides financial support to these prisoners and their 
families. 
 
Capacity Building 
----------------- 
¶5. The Czechs believe that a successful democratic transition 
requires preparation of civil society, democratic opposition 
leaders and elected officials in key areas such as judicial 
reform, social systems, economics, police and military reform 
restitution and privatization issues.  Thus, they have 
provided this training in Belarus and other East European 
countries as well as Iraq.  For use in this training, they 
have published a book describing Czech "lessons learned" 
during their transition to democracy, which has been 
translated into Spanish and Belarusian. 
 
Willing to Chide Other Governments on Responsibilities 
--------------------------------------------- --------- 
¶6. The Czechs are a lead nation when it comes to advancing 
human rights, and Foreign Minister Schwarzenberg is 
deservedly well-known for his fervent speeches on this issue. 
 
PRAGUE 00001060  002 OF 002 
 
 
 He does not hesitate to remind other EU member states of the 
importance of providing support for nascent democratic 
movements and succor to dissidents.  At the September EU 
Foreign Minister's Meeting last week in Portugal, it was the 
Czech government that stepped forward and added Burma to the 
agenda.  As well, Czech support for democratic change in Cuba 
has been invaluable, especially when other EU member states 
have wavered.  PIN and the ICDC, for example, organizing a 
conference on Cuba policy in Berlin during the German EU 
presidency. 
 
Embassy Partnership with Czechs 
------------------------------- 
¶7. The Embassy frequently partners with the Czech government 
and Czech NGOs on democracy promotion.  For instance, Post 
has supported PIN's Cuba awareness campaigns and sent the 
ICDC's Executive Secretary on a Volvis to Washington, New 
York and Miami.  Most notably, however, in March of this year 
the Embassy partnered with the Czech MFA on a workshop 
"Supporting Change" regarding the role of Central Europe in 
democracy promotion (details available from Embassy Prague 
POC: Michael Feldman).  The workshop, attended by European 
and U.S. officials and NGOs, highlighted the benefits of 
Cental Europeans expanding their work with transition 
governments and dissidents.  Embassy Prague also provides 
funding for Czech think tanks on training and internships for 
young Belarus democracy activists. 
 
A Worthy Partner on Democracy Promotion 
--------------------------------------- 
¶8. The Czech government is a committed partner with a proven 
track record on promoting democracy and human rights.  They 
will remain a key interlocutor as we strive to advance the 
recommendations from the Democratic roundtables chaired by 
President Bush at the UN General Assembly. 
THOMPSON-JONES