VZCZCXRO4765
RR RUEHFL RUEHKW RUEHLA RUEHROV RUEHSR
DE RUEHPG #0524 2191345
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
R 061345Z AUG 08
FM AMEMBASSY PRAGUE
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 0593
INFO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE
RUEHBW/AMEMBASSY BELGRADE 0003
RUEHPS/AMEMBASSY PRISTINA 0043

C O N F I D E N T I A L PRAGUE 000524 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
EUR/CE FOR ATRATENSEK, EUR/SCE FOR SSHIRATORI 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/04/2013 
TAGS: PREL ETTC KAWCK ICTY BK EZ EUN
SUBJECT: PRAGUE COMMENTS ON KARADZIC, SERBIA AND KOSOVO 
 
REF: STATE 82494 
 
Classified By: Acting POLEC Counselor Martina Strong for reasons 1.4 (b 
) and (d). 
 
¶1. (C) Czech MFA Department of South and South East Europe 
official, Josef Zrzavecky, noted that the GOCR has been 
surprised by the speed at which the EU has taken up the 
potential lifting of the travel restrictions for the Karadzic 
family.  Zrzavecky opined that the EU is likely to support a 
blanket lifting of the travel ban, rather than a one-off 
lifting to allow the Karadzic family to travel to the Hague. 
He noted that the GOCR was likely to join the consensus. 
Emboffs urged the Czechs to hold off lifting these 
restrictions since information on the networks and linkages 
between the Karadzic family and the remaining fugitives is 
still emerging.  Emboffs also emphasized USG interest in the 
EU coordinating closely with the U.S., and the Office of the 
High Representative (OHR) in Bosnia prior to taking any 
action to lift restrictions. Zrzavecky took note of our 
concerns. 
 
---------- 
Encouraging Serbia Toward the EU 
---------- 
¶2. (C) Zrzavecky noted that rather than Karadzic, the EU is 
much more consumed with defining how far to extend its 
engagement with Serbia, especially related to the 
Stabilization and Association Agreement 'carrot' for Serbia, 
signed and then immediately frozen by the EU on April 29, 
¶2008.  The Czechs anticipate that Belgium and the Netherlands 
will remain the strongest hold-outs against movement, given 
that Serbia still has remaining Persons Indicted for War 
Crimes.  An upcoming report from the ICTY prosecutor, if 
positive, could help address Belgian and Dutch concerns and 
pave the way for closer cooperation.  Zrzavecky highlighted 
the GOCR's long-standing commitment to advancing closer EU 
cooperation with the Balkans (a priority of the upcoming 
Czech EU Presidency) and that they plan to press for visa 
liberalization for Serbians with EU member states during the 
Czech EU Presidency. 
 
---------- 
Kosovo - Upcoming FM Visit 
---------- 
¶3. (C) Zrzavecky noted that the MFA is working to finalize 
the details of a visit by the Kosovo Foreign Minister around 
the third week of August.  The target date for this visit is 
August 22, but this has not been finalized (nor announced). 
The proposed agenda for the visit will include dialogue with 
Czech parliamentarians.  The MFA anticipates FM Hyseni will 
emphasize the GOK commitment to safeguard minority rights in 
Kosovo, an issue that Czech politicians, who were opposed to 
early Czech recognition of Kosovo, cited as a reason to delay 
recognition this spring.  On a related note, the Serbian 
Ambassador, who was recalled to Serbia for 'consultations' 
following the recognition of Kosovo by the GOCR on May 21, 
returned to the Czech Republic on August 3. 
Thompson-Jones