US embassy cable - 04ZAGREB1661

C O N F I D E N T I A L ZAGREB 001661 
 
SIPDIS 
 
 
DEPT FOR S/WCI - PROSPER, EUR/SCE - KABUMOTO 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/16/2014 
TAGS: KAWC, PREL, KJUS, PHUM, HR, War Crimes 
SUBJECT: ARMY TO DROP ICTY FUGITIVE'S WIFE FROM PAYROLL 
 
Classified By: Ambassador Ralph Frank for reasons 1.4 (b) & (d). 
 
1. (C) Clearly surprised and embarrassed by press revelations 
that fugitive war crimes indictee Ante Gotovina's wife had 
been granted a new position within the Croatian Armed Forces 
Joint Staff, Foreign Minister Miomir Zuzul told the 
Ambassador on September 16 that the Ministry of Defense will 
"solve this problem today."  Dunja Zloic Gotovina, herself a 
former soldier and the Croatian Army's first female colonel, 
was reportedly assigned to the office for international 
military cooperation after a seven-year paid absence from 
service as an "unassigned officer," but will apparently soon 
be retired. 
 
2. (U) Dunja Gotovina's assignment had reportedly been a 
political problem the MOD had tried to avoid as long as 
possible, repeatedly delaying resolution of her ambiguous 
status and encouraging her to accept a private sector job. 
She refused to leave the service, according to the press, 
insisting that she not be held responsible for her husband's 
actions and that she receive a position in line with her 
rank. 
 
3. (C) COMMENT: The MFA's rapid reaction to public 
revelations about Gotovina's wife indicate the GOC's 
increasing sensitivity to events that could leave the 
international community with the impression that it supports 
accused war criminals.  As soon as the issue appeared in the 
press (Zuzul said the political leadership had no advance 
warning), the government took action. END COMMENT. 
FRANK 
 
 
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