US embassy cable - 04ZAGREB181

C O N F I D E N T I A L ZAGREB 000181 
 
SIPDIS 
 
 
DEPARTMENT FOR EUR/SCE - KABUMOTO, S/WCI - PROSPER 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/29/2014 
TAGS: KAWC, PREL, KJUS, HR, War Crimes 
SUBJECT: FM ZUZUL COMMITS TO FULL ICTY COOPERATION, 
GOTOVINA UPDATE 
 
REF: A) ZAGREB 149 B) 03 ZAGREB 2642 

CLASSIFIED BY: AMBASSADOR RALPH FRANK, REASONS 1.5 (B) & (D) 
 
1. (C) FULL COOPERATION WITH ICTY: ON JANUARY 28, FOREIGN 
MINISTER ZUZUL GAVE AMBASSADOR FRANK A READ OUT OF HIS 
CONVERSATION IN STOCKHOLM EARLIER IN THE WEEK WITH 
AMBASSADOR-AT-LARGE FOR WAR CRIMES ISSUES PIERRE PROSPER. 
ZUZUL SAID THAT HE HAD COMMITTED THAT THE GOC WOULD 
"COMPLETELY COOPERATE ON DOCUMENTS" REQUESTED BY THE ICTY. 
ZUZUL ALSO SAID ALTHOUGH HE HAD NO INFORMATION ON POSSIBLE 
NEW INDICTMENTS BY THE ICTY, HE HAD COMMITTED TO AMB. PROSPER 
THAT CROATIA WOULD ACT APPROPRIATELY, EVEN IF IT WOULD LEAD 
TO STRONG CRITICISM AT HOME. 
 
2. (C) SEEKS U.S. ASSISTANCE:  FM ZUZUL SAID THAT HE HAD 
ASKED AMB. PROSPER FOR U.S. ASSISTANCE TO HELP CROATIA 
DEVELOP ITS DOMESTIC CAPABILITIES TO PROSECUTE WAR CRIMES 
CASES.  ZUZUL ALSO SAID HE WOULD WELCOME A VISIT TO CROATIA 
BY AMB. PROSPER, BUT HAD NO PREFERENCE AS TO TIMING. 
 
3. (C) GOTOVINA: ZUZUL TOLD AMB. FRANK THAT HE HAD HEARD THAT 
U.S.-BASED ADVISORS TO ICTY INDICTEE ANTE GOTOVINA WERE 
ADVISING GOTOVINA TO WAIT OUT THE ICTY CLOSURE STRATEGY. 
HOWEVER, ZUZUL SAID THAT ALTHOUGH THE GOC WAS NOT IN CONTACT 
WITH GOTOVINA, IT WAS READY TO NEGOTIATE CONDITIONS AND 
CIRCUMSTANCES TO FACILITATE GOTOVINA'S MOVEMENT TO THE HAGUE. 
 HE NOTED THAT THE ICTY HAD AGREED TO SEND SOMEONE TO ZAGREB 
MEET WITH GOTOVINA PRIOR TO HIS PROCEEDING ON TO THE HAGUE. 
ZUZUL ALSO SAID THAT THE GOC WOULD PROVIDE GOTOVINA WITH 
LEGAL COUNSEL, AS IT HAD WITH OTHER INDICTEES, AND WOULD 
PROVIDE FINANCIAL SUPPORT TO GOTOVINA'S FAMILY. 
    FRANK 
 
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