US embassy cable - 04ZAGREB1976

C O N F I D E N T I A L ZAGREB 001976 
 
SIPDIS 
 
 
DEPT FOR EUR/SCE - KABUMOTO 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/15/2014 
TAGS: PGOV, PREL, HR, Defense Reform (Mil & NATO) 
SUBJECT: OPPOSITION SUPPORTS IMPROVED BILATERAL TIES, 
NON-MILITARY ASSISTANCE IN IRAQ 
 
REF: ZAGREB 01936 
 
Classified By: Ambassador Ralph Frank for reasons 1.4 (b) & (d). 
 
1. (U) SUMMARY AND COMMENT: As she did in her meetings with 
President Stjepan Mesic and PM Ivo Sanader (septel), A/S Beth 
Jones stressed the importance of Croatia's role in NATO 
integration and stability in the region when she met November 
11 with Social Democratic Party (SDP) president Ivica Racan. 
A/S Jones also asked for opposition support of an Article 98 
agreement and Croatia's expanded involvement in international 
military actions, explaining that our bilateral relationship 
will grow as Croatia participates more in multilateral 
actions.  She highlighted actions Croatia could undertake to 
remove barriers to Euro-Atlantic integration, such as the 
capture of ICTY fugitive Ante Gotovina. 
 
2. (C) The former prime minister said the SDP supports strong 
U.S.-Croatia relations whether the party is in government or 
in the opposition.  Racan expressed worry about the ruling 
Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ) government's handling of the 
EU integration agenda.  He said he would consider ways the 
SDP as the largest opposition party could contribute to 
improving relations with the U.S., but stopped short of 
endorsing Article 98 or troops to Iraq.  END SUMMARY AND 
COMMENT. 
 
ASSISTING IN IRAQ, BUT WITHOUT COMBAT BOOTS 
------------------------------------------- 
 
3. (C) Racan defended Croatia's role in the GWOT, 
particularly during the SDP coalition government (in power 
from 2000-2003), when Croatia decided to send troops to 
support operations in Afghanistan even before the U.S. asked. 
 When he mentioned Croatia signing the Vilnius statement, he 
motioned toward his then-FM, Tonino Picula, sitting at his 
side.  "This is the Foreign Minister who was almost hung," he 
said.  According to Racan, the Vilnius statement sparked a 
fierce public reaction that his government underestimated, as 
Croatians still recovering from war spoke out against sending 
troops outside their country's borders. 
 
4. (C) The SDP supports non-military assistance to the effort 
in Iraq, according to Racan, and his government considered 
some options a year ago.  While he didn't directly oppose 
contributing forces under UNSCR 1546 for UN security during 
election preparations, he said he could not foresee a 
decision in which Croatian troops would go to Iraq.  On 
Article 98, Racan noted that during his government, the 
opposition (the now-ruling Croatian Democratic Union - HDZ) 
linked the issue to the ICTY, supporting an Article 98 
agreement with the U.S. as justification for their opposition 
to cooperation with the ICTY. 
 
INTEGRATION, PUBLIC OPINION, AND THE HDZ GOVERNMENT 
--------------------------------------------- ------ 
 
5. (C) Racan said he was worried about the dramatic drop in 
public support for EU and NATO membership (now both below 50 
percent) since the HDZ took power in December 2003, saying it 
could seriously limit the GoC's maneuvering room in EU 
negotiations.  He attributed the dip to the HDZ's tendency to 
blame every tough decision on international pressure rather 
than presenting reforms as in Croatia's interest.  He claimed 
this is the price the country pays for a HDZ government 
pursuing policies that its voter base does not support.  Next 
week, the opposition will propose a set of principles in 
Parliament that Croatia should stand on in EU negotiations, 
as the GoC has not put forward any. 
 
6. (C) According to Racan, internal HDZ opposition to reform 
has kept the Sanader government from advancing reform 
legislation.  He also cited the conflict-of-interest scandal 
surrounding FM Miomir Zuzul (reftel) as damaging to Croatian 
credibility within the EU. 
 
"IT'S GOOD TO BE THE OPPOSITION" 
-------------------------------- 
7. (C) COMMENT: Racan and his party seem content to sit back 
and let the HDZ pursue essentially the same pro-EU/NATO 
agenda the SDP government pursued.  According to Racan, the 
current government's work on integration has helped temper 
European skepticism about the HDZ and Croatia in general. 
And while SDP strategists fear the HDZ government will leave 
important reforms left undone, some issues, such as 
Tudjman-era nationalism and ICTY cooperation, can only be 
resolved under a HDZ government.  END COMMENT. 
 
8. (U) A/S Jones cleared this cable. 
FRANK 
 
 
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