Cablegate: Czechs Conclude Agreement On Mandpads Destruction

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OO RUEHAG RUEHAST RUEHDA RUEHDBU RUEHDF RUEHFL RUEHIK RUEHKW RUEHLA
RUEHLN RUEHLZ RUEHPOD RUEHROV RUEHSR RUEHVK RUEHYG
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ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 011140Z AUG 07
FM AMEMBASSY PRAGUE
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 9426
INFO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE

UNCLAS PRAGUE 000894

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: n/a
TAGS: MARR PREL EZ
SUBJECT: CZECHS CONCLUDE AGREEMENT ON MANDPADS DESTRUCTION

Ref: (A) State 90547 (B) Prague 804 (C) Adams e-mail 1/25/07 (D)
Adams e-mail 7/24/07

1. The Czech government and embassy have concluded necessary
arrangements related to the USG payment of $600,000 to fund
destruction of 1359 Czech-held MANPADS missiles (refs). On July 31
the Czech MFA provided embassy with the dip note accepting the terms
of the program, as previously agreed during discussions between the
two countries (ref C). Also on July 31, Charge d'Affaires Dodman
and Czech MOD Policy Director Ivan Dvorak signed the accompanying
Implementing Arrangement. Documentation was e-mailed and faxed to
PM (Attn: Mark Adams); originals will be pouched. Completion of the
legal instruments was done in accordance with instructions in ref
D.

2. The Czech press has already announced the USG funding of this
program, in relation to the agreement's formal approval by the Czech
government during the week of July 30.

3. We look forward to transfer of the FY-07 funds as soon as
possible. The Czech effort to destroy the equipment is already well
underway.

Thompson-Jones

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