US embassy cable - 04ZAGREB923

UNCLAS ZAGREB 000923 
 
SIPDIS 
 
 
FOR AMBASSADOR WEISER FROM AMBASSADOR FRANK 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PREL, HR, Defense Reform (Mil & NATO) 
SUBJECT: CROATIAN PARLIAMENTARIAN NATO TOUR TO BRATISLAVA 
 
1.  I WOULD LIKE TO THANK YOU AND YOUR TEAM FOR THE 
OUTSTANDING SUPPORT PROVIDED DURING THE MAY 4 - 5 VISIT OF 
FOUR CROATIAN PARLIAMENTARIANS TO BRATISLAVA.  THIS TRIP MADE 
AN IMPORTANT CONTRIBUTION TO THE UNDERSTANDING BY THESE 
LAWMAKERS OF HOW TO HELP MOVE CROATIA FORWARD TOWARD NATO 
    MEMBERSHIP.  I VERY MUCH APPRECIATE THE TIME AND COMMITMENT 
OF DCM SCOTT THAYER AS WELL AS THAT OF YOUR DEFENSE ATTACHE, 
YOUR POL COUNSELOR AND YOUR PUBLIC AFFAIRS OFFICER.  I WOULD 
LIKE TO SINGLE OUT POLOFF KASSIE KOHLER, WHO PUT TOGETHER AN 
OUTSTANDING PROGRAM AND MADE INSIGHTFUL CONTRIBUTIONS TO 
DISCUSSIONS. 
 
2.  WHILE I UNDERSTAND THE VISIT CAME DURING A BUSY PERIOD 
FOR YOUR EMBASSY, FROM A POLICY STANDPOINT THE TIMING COULD 
NOT HAVE BEEN BETTER.  CROATIA'S TOP POLICY PRIORITIES ARE TO 
JOIN THE EU AND NATO, AND THE VISITING CROATIAN MPS WERE 
EAGER TO LEARN FROM SLOVAKIA'S RECENT SUCCESS. 
 
3.  THE CROATIAN DELEGATION LEARNED THAT IN ORDER TO REACH 
ITS GOAL, SLOVAKIA HAD TO OVERCOME THE LEGACY OF THE MECIAR 
GOVERNMENT, WORK STEADILY ON REFORM ISSUES WITHIN NATO'S MAP 
PROGRAM AND ENGAGE WITH NGOS AND OPINION LEADERS TO BUILD 
PUBLIC UNDERSTANDING AND SUPPORT FOR INTEGRATION.  PERHAPS 
THE MOST IMPORTANT LESSON LEARNED WAS THE UNDERSTANDING THAT 
IF IT FOLLOWS SLOVAKIA'S LEAD, CROATIA CAN OVERCOME THE LATE 
START BROUGHT ABOUT BY THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY'S 
OSTRACISM OF THE TUDJMAN REGIME. 
 
4.  IN EACH MEETING, THE CROATIAN MP'S WERE GIVEN THE 
OVERWHELMING IMPRESSION THAT SLOVAKIA BACKS FURTHER EXPANSION 
OF THE EU AND NATO AND STANDS READY TO HELP CROATIA SUCCEED. 
AT THE MOD AND MFA, EXPERTS SHARED COPIES OF LEGISLATION, PR 
STRATEGY DOCUMENTS AND ADVICE ON HOW SLOVAKIA QUALIFIED FOR 
NATO MEMBERSHIP.  AT THE PARLIAMENT, MEMBERS OF THE FOREIGN 
AFFAIRS AND NATIONAL DEFENSE COMMITTEES DISCUSSED THE 
ACTIVIST ROLE THAT PARLIAMENTARIANS MUST PLAY TO HELP THEIR 
    NATION MOUNT A SUCCESSFUL BID FOR MEMBERSHIP IN THE EU AND 
NATO.  THE SLOVAK MPS MADE A CLEAR COMMITMENT TO SUPPORT 
CROATIA'S EFFORTS. 
 
5.  AGAIN, I'D LIKE TO THANK YOU AND YOUR TEAM FOR MAKING 
THIS SUCH A SUCCESSFUL VISIT; IT WAS A CLEAR CONTRIBUTION TO 
OUR TOP MISSION GOALS. 
FRANK 
 
NNNN