VZCZCXRO4963
RR RUEHDBU RUEHFL RUEHKW RUEHLA RUEHNP RUEHROV RUEHSL RUEHSR
DE RUEHPG #0034/01 0221001
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
R 221001Z JAN 10 ZDK
FM AMEMBASSY PRAGUE
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 2079
INFO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 PRAGUE 000034 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/21/2020 
TAGS: PREL PGOV MARR RS TU EZ
SUBJECT: A/S GORDON'S MEETING WITH CZECH SENATOR ALEXANDR 
VONDRA 
 
Classified By:  EUR A/S Phil Gordon, reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). 
 
¶1.  (C) Summary:  During a January 14 meeting in Prague with 
A/S Gordon, Czech Senator (and former DPM) Alexandr Vondra 
urged U.S. "reassurance" on Article 5 in the new NATO 
Strategic Concept formulation and expressed positive interest 
in Czech participation in the new missile defense Phased 
Adaptive Approach (PAA).  Vondra was cautious about the new 
U.S. approach to relations with Russia, but did not contest 
A/S Gordon's assertion that the U.S. had not sacrificed 
allies or principles in its approach.  End Summary. 
 
¶2.  (C) Vondra opened the meeting by asking about the timing 
of a new U.S. ambassador for the Czech Republic, adding that 
"in 20 years we have not waited this long."  A/S Gordon 
explained that the appointment system was not always quick 
and the delay in naming an ambassador was no reflection on 
bilateral relations. 
 
NATO and Article 5 
------------------ 
 
¶3.  (C) Vondra expressed satisfaction with the January 12 
NATO Strategic Concept conference in Prague.  Central and 
Eastern European leaders, and leaders from the Baltics, had 
said that the U.S.-Russia "reset" needed to be accompanied by 
"reassurance" on Article 5 guarantees.  Asked by A/S Gordon 
what was needed to provide reassurance, Vondra suggested more 
detailed defense planning for the region and regular military 
exercises. 
 
¶4.  (C) Vondra noted the Czech Defense Ministry was 
reinforcing its capabilities for Afghanistan operations, but 
not for homeland defense.  Gordon asked whether Vondra would 
prefer more funding for homeland defense instead of 
out-of-area operations.  Vondra responded that his 
center-right Civic Democrat Party (ODS) had defended funding 
out-of-area operations, the trouble was the center-left 
Social Democrats (CSSD). 
 
¶5.  (C) Moreover, across Europe, countries with large defense 
industries had been able to increase defense spending as part 
of economic stimulus in response to the economic downturn. 
The Czech Republic did not have a large defense industrial 
sector and could not so this; it had to "steal" funding from 
social welfare programs to pay for overseas missions. 
 
¶6.  (C) A/S Gordon agreed on the need for balance between 
Article 5 and out-of-area operations and said NATO should do 
both.  NATO defense planning to date and the Phased Adaptive 
Approach (PAA) to missile defense showed the U.S. was focused 
on Article 5 concerns. 
 
Missile Defense 
--------------- 
 
¶7.  (C) Vondra asked whether PAA would "really materialize," 
and what the obstacles were.  Gordon replied that NATO had 
agreed on the way forward.  Some Allies had questions on 
costs; the U.S. would pay for SM-3s and would like to see 
other Allies pay for local defense and contribute to command 
and control. 
 
¶8.  (C) Vondra asked how much time the Czech Republic had to 
decide how to participate in the PAA, and wondered whether 
the Czech government should be more "ambitious" in its PAA 
efforts.  Vondra said the Czech Republic wanted to be engaged 
and be part of the PAA discussion.  A/S Gordon pointed out 
the system infrastructure was still being formed and there 
would be opportunities to make decisions in the future, 
including about industrial cooperation. 
 
Russia 
------ 
 
¶10.  (C) Vondra advised that the U.S. approach Putin "with 
caution."  He agreed it was important to work with Russia on 
counter-terrorism and non-proliferation.  However, he warned 
not to underestimate Russia's "assertive policy toward the 
neighborhood."  Vondra said that President Obama had no 
experience in Europe.  He wondered whether the President was 
a "hard" or "soft" realist on Russia, and what the President 
was "getting" for the new approach to Russia. 
 
¶11.  (C) A/S Gordon pointed out that the President was being 
criticized both for making a cynical "bargain" to get 
something from Russia -- and for getting nothing.  He urged 
Vondra to carefully consider the administration's record. 
Senior officials such as Secretary Clinton, VP Biden, NSA 
Jones, Secretary Gates all have deep experience in Europe and 
NATO.  There was no example to date of the administration 
sacrificing either allies or principles to its Russia policy. 
 
PRAGUE 00000034  002 OF 002 
 
 
 
START, Turkey 
------------- 
 
¶12.  (C) In response to a question from Vondra, A/S Gordon 
said the U.S. and Russia were close to agreement on START, 
but would not agree to make defensive systems part of it. 
 
¶13.  (C) Gordon said relations with Turkey were a challenge, 
and included a huge agenda:  Nagorno-Karabakh, Cyprus, Iran, 
Israel.  The Turkish government was active and ambitious. 
The U.S. does not always agree with Turkish leaders' public 
statements, but we still support Turkish EU membership. 
Vondra pointed out opposition in France and Germany made this 
difficult.  Vondra urged the U.S. to stay engaged in 
promoting Turkish EU membership; he worried that otherwise, 
Turkey's leaders would "re-orient" themselves away from 
Europe and toward Russia. 
 
¶14.  (U) A/S Gordon has cleared this message. 
Thompson-Jones