VZCZCXRO0564
PP RUEHAG RUEHAST RUEHDA RUEHDBU RUEHDF RUEHFL RUEHIK RUEHKW RUEHLA
RUEHLN RUEHLZ RUEHNP RUEHPOD RUEHROV RUEHSK RUEHSR RUEHVK RUEHYG
DE RUEHPG #0335 1670934
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 160934Z JUN 09 ZDK
FM AMEMBASSY PRAGUE
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 1467
INFO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE PRIORITY

UNCLAS PRAGUE 000335 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPT FOR OES/OA EPHELPS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: EFIS KSCA PREL SENV IWC EZ
SUBJECT: CZECH REPUBLIC: REPLY TO DEMARCHE ON US PRIORITIES 
FOR THE 2009 INTERNATIONAL WHALING COMMISSION'S ANNUAL 
MEETING 
 
REF: STATE 57020 
 
¶1. (SBU) We delivered reftel demarche on June 8 to Pavla 
Hycova, a Czech Environment Ministry official working in the 
Department for the International Protection of Biodiversity. 
Hycova, who represents the Czech Republic in the IWC small 
working groups, had no immediate substantive response. 
Hycova, however, responded June 12 that she appreciated our 
efforts to keep the Environment Ministry abreast of U.S. 
priorities.  She explained that the EU is currently working 
to find a common position on many of the issues raised, and 
so the appraisals that follow are strictly her own.  She also 
promised to inform us once the EU reached an official 
decision on these issues. 
 
¶2. (SBU) Hyncova expressed her preference that upcoming 
"Future" process meetings be closed sessions to encourage 
frankness and openness on the part of participants.  She also 
conveyed concerns that limiting participation in these 
sessions would be difficult.  Rather, she suggested, the 
larger group should frequently split into "mini-groups" for 
further discussion, then reconvene and present outcomes to 
the broader Small Working Group (SWG). 
 
¶3. (SBU) Hyncova also opined that the chairmanship of the SWG 
was effective and was responsible for much of the SWG's 
progress.  Her only suggestion is that the next Chair exert 
greater pressure on participants to "play with open cards." 
Thompson-Jones