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RR RUEHAG RUEHAST RUEHDA RUEHDBU RUEHDF RUEHFL RUEHIK RUEHKW RUEHLA
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DE RUEHPG #0201 1001340
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 101340Z APR 09
FM AMEMBASSY PRAGUE
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 1287
INFO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE

UNCLAS PRAGUE 000201 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PGOV PHUM EUN PREL IR EZ
SUBJECT: CZECH EU PRESIDENCY - EXPRESSES CONCERN ABOUT CASE 
OF SABERI 
 
REF: STATE 30046 
 
(SBU) On April 9, British Embassy Political Counselor in 
Prague contacted Embassy Prague to inform us of their efforts 
to encourage an EU presidency statement on the Saberi case. 
Prior to this, Emboff delivered the reftel demarche to the 
Czech MFA Middle East Department on April 2.  Charge 
Thompson-Jones also followed up and contacted MFA Political 
Director Martin Povejsil April 9 to reiterate USG concerns 
about journalist Roxanna Saberi.  Povejsil acknowledged to 
Charge Thompson-Jones that the MFA was working on a 
statement, which he hoped would be ready for release April 9 
or 10.  On the evening of April 9, the Czech EU Presidency 
released a statement. 
 
Begin text: 
EU Presidency Statement on developments in the case of 
Roxanna Saberi 
 
The Presidency of the EU expresses its serious concern at the 
developments in the case of Roxanna Saberi following the 
announcement on 8.4. that she has been charged with espionage. 
 
The Presidency urges the Islamic Republic of Iran to comply 
with all international and regional human rights instruments 
ratified by Iran, and would like to underline the need to 
comply with Article 10, on the right to a fair trial and 
Article 19, on the right to freedom of expression, of the 
Universal Declaration of Human Rights, as enshrined in the 
constitution of the Islamic Republic of Iran. 
End Text. 
Thompson-Jones