US embassy cable - 04ZAGREB1592

C O N F I D E N T I A L  ZAGREB 001592 
 
SIPDIS 
 
 
DEPARTMENT FOR EUR/SCE, IO/UNP 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/08/2014 
TAGS: PREL, ECON, PHUM, KDEM, AORC, HR, Defense Reform (Mil & NATO) 
SUBJECT: CROATIA'S UNGA PRIORITIES 
 
REF: A) ZAGREB 1443 B) STATE 152009 
 
Classified By: PolOff Justin Friedman, reasons 1.5 (b) & (d) 
 
Summary and Comment 
------------------- 
 
1. (C): We followed up on reftel A with Ranko Vilovic, 
Director of the Office for UN Affairs in the Ministry of 
Foreign Affairs.  Vilovic said that Prime Minister Ivo 
Sanader would lead the Croatian delegation to UNGA, although 
the final composition had not been approved.  He said Croatia 
would focus on the Secretary General's agenda for responding 
to global threats and challenges and reform of the UN. 
Croatia is likely to follow the EU lead at this UNGA session. 
 However, on issues where there is no EU consensus position 
) e.g. Security Council expansion ) Croatia will be more 
amenable to U.S. lobbying.  End Summary and Comment. 
 
2. (C) CROATIA'S UNGA TEAM: The MFA's Director for UN Affairs 
Ranko Vilovic told us on Sept. 3 that Prime Minister Ivo 
Sanader would lead the Croatian delegation to UNGA.  The 
final composition of the delegation did not have final 
approval yet, but Vilovic said that the following people 
would most likely join the PM on Croatia's UNGA team: 
 
Miomir Zuzul ) Foreign Minister 
Bianka Matkovic ) State Secretary and Chief of Staff to the 
Prime Minister 
Miroslav Kovacic ) State Secretary and Director of the 
Government office for e-Croatia 
Aleksander Heina ) Chief of Staff to the Foreign Minister 
Tomislav Vidosevic ) Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs 
for Multilateral Affairs and International Organizations 
Ambassador Neven Jurica ) Ambassador to the U.S. 
 
Possible additions to the team yet to be determined are: 
 
Ivan Suker ) Minister of Finance 
Ranko Vilovic ) Director for UN Affairs, Ministry of Foreign 
Affairs 
 
3. (C) CROATIA'S UNGA PRIORITIES:  Vilovic provided us with 
the preliminary overview of Croatia's priorities for the 
coming UNGA.  Although these priorities were not yet approved 
by his leadership, Vilovic did not expect any major changes. 
In priority order, Croatia will focus on: 
 
A)  Working to support the Secretary General's initiatives on 
responding to global threats and global challenges. 
 
B) Reform of the UN including Security Council reform. 
Vilovic said that traditionally Croatia had supported the 
German and Japanese proposals for expanding the UNSC P-5 to 
10 and adding four or five new non-permanent seats.  The GoC 
was more interested in expansion of the Security Council than 
in addressing the issues of reform of the P-5 veto.  Croatia 
would support any solution to reform the Council in hopes 
that a compromise will emerge. 
 
C) Developing International Counter-Terrorism Cooperation 
including implementation of UNSCR 1535 or any other 
developments in this direction. 
 
D) Post Conflict Management.  Croatia has direct experience 
and hopes to increase its contributions in this area, 
particularly in peacekeeping operations.  The GoC would like 
to make a high profile effort in this area, particularly in 
light of its bid for a UNSC seat for 2009-10. 
 
E) Millenium Declaration.  Vilovic said that the GoC's 
assessment was that implementation of the Declaration was not 
going well and that the 2005 High Level Plenary to assess 
progress would not have a good outcome unless implementation 
can get back on track.  The GoC's first report was getting a 
final polishing and would be ready for submission soon. 
 
F) Development issues. The GoC will look to support 
initiatives on the Commission for Sustainable Development as 
well as forward movement on the Monterrey Consensus. 
 
G) The GoC Human Rights. Croatia's term on the UNHRC is 
expiring.  However, GoC will support in particular efforts on 
UNSCR 1324, the Protocol on Torture, and the Convention on 
Rights of Vulnerable Groups. 
 
H) Disarmament and Non-Proliferation.  Croatia has the Chair 
of the Ottawa process and will focus energies there, as well 
as on implementing CTBT. 
 
I) ICTY. Vilovic repeated the mantra that GoC is fully 
cooperating with The Hague Tribunal and will continue to do 
 
so. 
FRANK 
 
 
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