411. Telegram From the Embassy in Czechoslovakia to the Department of State1
618/Depto 10017.
Prague, February 3, 1987,
0754Z
SUBJECT
- Czechoslovakia: The Government Go-Round; A Mild Surprise.
- 1.
- Secret—Entire text.
- 2.
- After a day of sightseeing on Sunday,2 it was back to work today with a vengence with six hours of serious meetings with Party Secretary Bilak—who is said to be the second most powerful man in the country—Foreign Minister Chnoupek and Prime Minister Strougal. I don’t know if they meant it to be this way, but we noticed a distinct progression from our morning tussle with Bilak (who lived up to his reputation as quite a recalcitrant) through Chnoupek to Strougal. Somewhat to my surprise, the Czechoslovaks are more ready to move forward to improve our relationship than I would have thought. It won’t be easy, of course, because these visits always tend to make the obstacles seem smaller, but I am convinced that if we press ahead step-by-step, we might achieve some of our objectives here.
- 3.
- I hit them hard on a string of human rights violations and on their anti-U.S. attitude at the UN and elsewhere. But they didn’t say no to anything, promised to get going on some outstanding issues, and seem ready to contemplate further steps. We still have no word about a visit with a President Husak, but from what has been said I have the feeling he may be ill or that some change may be about to occur. Shevardnadze arrives Wednesday.3 Our potential trouble spot tomorrow is a scheduled breakfast with Charter 77 leaders.4 Yesterday they were being warned not to show up. We protested strongly, as have the British. Tim Renton (one of Sir Geoffrey’s deputies)5 is here, and we hear he had a pretty full gathering of dissidents over dinner tonight. We may be able to see our group without a confrontation.
- 4.
- As I say, I was mightily struck by the differences in views which I heard today. Bilak has an entire extended family in America, but he is a throwback to Stalinism. His suit wouldn’t pass muster with Raisa Gorbachev [Page 1338] and I doubt his ideas would impress Mikhail. Should try to avoid being hopelessly smothered by Moscow. Bilak said that in 37 years as a politician he’d never heard such frank talk. It was probably good for him. We argued long and hard about human rights.
- 5.
- Things went better with Chnoupek. He didn’t particularly like hearing about human rights either, but did say that some of our five remaining divided family cases could be solved. We agreed that the level of our relations are unnatural. But I made it clear the state of the human rights situation here is largely to blame. Chnoupek had his own agenda. They want regular exchanges with us, including narcotics and terrorism. I reinforced the point that MFN is not likely soon but agreed that we should work to improve our meager economic relationship. He seemed genuinely eager to improve things.
- 6.
- Strougal lived up to his reputation as a leading pragmatist. His surprisingly frank and critical comments on his country’s problems couldn’t have differed more from Bilak’s, who is the big stumbling block to people like Strougal. The Prime Minister boldly predicted substantial change here; the winds of change blowing from Moscow have at least reached his door. He gave his full support to the idea of a step-by-step effort designed to resolve our outstanding problems and perhaps lead to something better.
- 7.
- An indication of the state of things here is that the story is circulating around government ministries that George Bush, in his speech in Vienna in September 1983, called the Czechoslovaks “savages.” I set the record straight by quoting from George’s speech, which was critical but hardly the kind of attack it was madeout to be.
- 8.
- At dinner tonight I said I would like to be invited back to Czechoslovakia in six months to judge what progress has been made. I also told Deputy Foreign Minister Johanes that he should come to Washington in the spring.
- 9.
- I had a drink last night with Tim Renton. He sought me out to tell me that London believes we should lift our sanctions on Poland. I told him I would be reporting to you and I would add British views.
Niemczyk