Report on the Foreign Policy of the Czech Republic 2004
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Report on the Foreign Policy of the Czech Republic Opening Message Dear readers, You have in your hands the sixth annual Report on the Foreign Policy of the Czech Republic, which was prepared by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Czech Republic and summarises Czech foreign policy in 2004. On 1 May 2004, the Czech Republic joined the European Union, thus achieving the fundamental goal that Czech foreign policy had been targeted at since 1989. This goal is also a new beginning, however. Membership of the European Union constitutes a major new challenge and opportunity for the Czech Republic and its citizens. We can now take full part in the great project of European cooperation. This report will enable you to judge how successfully the Czech Republic has asserted its interests within the European Union and defended the priorities that the cabinet formulated in its Government Policy Statement of 19 August 2004. Besides information on our involvement in the EU, this report also summarises the work of our diplomatic service in two other key areas: strengthening Euro-Atlantic ties and furthering friendly relations with our neighbours. You will also find information on the economic dimension of Czech foreign policy, on the enduring emphasis we place on human rights and on spreading the democratic system of government in the globalised international environment, as well as information on many other matters. I hope and trust that you will find this annual report useful. Cyril Svoboda Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Czech Republic 1 Report on the Foreign Policy of the Czech Republic Contents Introduction ............................................................................................................................... 6 I. MULTILATERAL COOPERATION ................................................................................. 23 1. The Czech Republic and the European Union ........................................................ 23 The Czech Republic and the EU’s Common Foreign and Security Policy .......... 36 The Czech Republic and European Security and Defence Policy ........................ 38 2. The Czech Republic and the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) ........... 41 3. The Czech Republic and Regional Cooperation ..................................................... 47 Visegrad Cooperation ........................................................................................... 47 Central European Free Trade Agreement (CEFTA) ............................................. 49 Central European Initiative (CEI) ......................................................................... 50 Regional Partnership ............................................................................................. 52 Stability Pact for South Eastern Europe ............................................................... 53 4. The Czech Republic and Other European Forums .................................................. 56 The Czech Republic and the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE)............................................................................. 56 The Council of Europe .......................................................................................... 60 5. The Czech Republic and International Organisations........................................... 65 United Nations Organisation (UN)........................................................................ 65 Principal UN Bodies ............................................................................................. 65 UN International Conferences .............................................................................. 69 Specialised Organisations in the UN System ........................................................ 69 Programmes, Funds and Other Specialised UN Organisations ........................... 73 The Czech Republic and International Organisations........................................... 79 The Czech Republic and the World Economy (OECD, WTO, IMF, WB, CEB, IBEC, IIB) ........................................................... 79 The Czech Republic’s Membership of Certain Other International Organisations ....................................................... 88 6. Non-proliferation of Weapons, Arms Control and Disarmament ........................ 94 7. The Czech Republic in the Fight against International Terrorism....................... 105 8. Foreign Development and Humanitarian Aid ...................................................... 111 II. THE CZECH REPUBLIC’S BILATERAL RELATIONS............................................... 115 Arab Republic of Egypt.............................................................................................. 115 Argentine Republic .................................................................................................... 117 Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela ............................................................................. 119 Bosnia and Herzegovina............................................................................................. 120 Canada........................................................................................................................ 122 Commonwealth of Australia ...................................................................................... 124 Democratic People’s Republic of Korea.................................................................... 126 Democratic Republic of the Congo............................................................................ 127 Eastern Republic of Uruguay ..................................................................................... 128 Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia.................................................................. 130 Federal Republic of Germany .................................................................................... 131 Federal Republic of Nigeria ....................................................................................... 135 Federation of Malaysia............................................................................................... 136 2 Report on the Foreign Policy of the Czech Republic Federative Republic of Brazil .................................................................................... 137 Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia ................................................................. 138 French Republic ......................................................................................................... 140 Georgia....................................................................................................................... 142 Grand Duchy of Luxembourg .................................................................................... 144 Grand Socialist People’s Libyan Arab Jamahiriya .................................................... 145 Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan................................................................................... 146 Hellenic Republic....................................................................................................... 148 Holy See ..................................................................................................................... 149 Ireland......................................................................................................................... 150 Islamic Republic of Afghanistan................................................................................ 152 Islamic Republic of Iran............................................................................................. 154 Islamic Republic of Pakistan...................................................................................... 155 Japan........................................................................................................................... 157 Kingdom of Belgium.................................................................................................. 158 Kingdom of Denmark................................................................................................. 160 Kingdom of Morocco................................................................................................. 161 Kingdom of Norway................................................................................................... 163 Kingdom of Saudi Arabia .......................................................................................... 164 Kingdom of Spain ...................................................................................................... 165 Kingdom of Sweden................................................................................................... 167 Kingdom of Thailand ................................................................................................. 169 Kingdom of The Netherlands..................................................................................... 171 Kyrgyz Republic ........................................................................................................ 173 Mongolia .................................................................................................................... 174 New Zealand .............................................................................................................. 176 Palestine (Palestinian Autonomous Territories)......................................................... 177 People’s Democratic Republic of Algeria.................................................................