US embassy cable - 04ZAGREB2001

C O N F I D E N T I A L  ZAGREB 002001 
 
SIPDIS 
 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/15/2014 
TAGS: PREL, PGOV, MARR, KAWC, HR, Defense Reform (Mil & NATO), Regional Issues 
SUBJECT: A/S JONES WELCOMES CROATIAN CONSTRUCTIVENESS IN 
REGION, AFGHANISTAN; URGES ADDITIONAL CONTRIBUTIONS 
 
Classified By: Ambassador Frank, reasons 1.5 (b and d) 
 
Summary 
------- 
 
1.  (SBU) During their November 11 meeting, A/S Beth Jones 
and Prime Minister Sanader discussed steps to improve 
regional relations, current and possibly additional Croatian 
contributions to resolve international crises, and the 
possibility of signing an Article 98 Agreement.  PM Sanader 
stressed that while 
Croatia was looking toward the EU, it was mindful of its 
responsibilities in the region.  A/S Jones congratulated 
Croatia on its progress toward regional cooperation and 
Euro-Atlantic integration, while calling for greater Croatian 
contributions to resolve international conflicts.  In her 
meeting with President Mesic November 10, A/S Jones urged 
Croatia to support UN activities in Iraq. 
 
Regional Cooperation 
-------------------- 
 
2.  (SBU) PM Sanader said he would visit Belgrade the 
following week -- the first visit of a Croatian Prime 
Minister to Belgrade ever.  Cooperation of Serbian 
authorities in helping locate 1200 Croatians missing since 
the war would help close a painful chapter in history.  SaM, 
BiH and Croatia were developing common methodologies and a 
common register of missing persons.  Looking to the future, 
he and his counterpart would initial the first bilateral 
agreement on minority protection.  PM Sanader stressed the 
parliamentary support of all minority representatives -- 
including the Serbs -- for his government. 
 
3.  (C) PM Sanader appealed for a strong continued U.S. 
presence in the region.  He noted that Croatia's positive 
steps toward EU accession and NATO integration were 
incentives for the whole region.  PM Sanader recommended 
against broadening the Adriatic Charter (A3) to include BiH 
and Serbia-Montenegro.  The addition of weaker partners, who 
were not yet even members of Partnership for Peace, would 
slow the A3's momentum and stir negative public reaction in 
the three countries. 
 
4.  (SBU) A/S Jones reassured the Prime Minister of the U.S. 
continued commitment to the region, stressing that NATO would 
remain in BiH in a smaller, more focused manner, and that 
EU-FOR would liaise with NATO.  The Adriatic Charter was 
about encouraging each other, but NATO would make the 
determination on whom to invite on an individual basis.  When 
A3 reached out to BiH and SaM, it was welcomed as sign of 
strong leadership. 
 
ICTY Cooperation 
---------------- 
 
5.  (C) PM Sanader noted stepped-up cooperation with ICTY -- 
most recently GoC involvement that resulted in the voluntary 
surrender in BiH of indictee Miroslav Bralo, a Bosnian Croat. 
 A/S Jones welcomed the recent cooperation, noting that the 
arrest of fugitive General Gotovina would be essential to 
Croatia's Euro-Atlantic integration.  President Mesic made 
similar comments to A/S Jones, noting that full ICTY 
cooperation is in Croatia's national interest. 
 
Afghanistan/Iraq 
---------------- 
 
6.  (SBU) A/S Jones thanked PM Sanader for Croatia's sending 
of troops to Afghanistan, which contributed to the historic 
elections there.  The U.S. was seeking international 
community support in Iraq as well -- the EU and member states 
were quite involved in reconstruction and humanitarian 
assistance.  There was a new focus on working through the UN, 
as elections neared.  We would like to see Croatian 
contribute in some way to a UN Protection Force.  In general, 
we welcomed greater Croatian involvement in any of the crisis 
areas around the world -- Iraq, Afghanistan, Darfur, or 
others. 
 
7.  (C) PM Sanader noted that he had publicly supported the 
U.S. intervention in Iraq before the election, but the 
requirement for a two-thirds vote in the parliament to send 
troops abroad made an Iraq deployment impossible. 
Additionally, there were presidential elections in January 
and local elections in April that made the topic difficult 
even to consider. 
 
8. (C) President Mesic said Croatian military contributions 
to the UN-Iraq mission were possible "under the right 
conditions."  President Mesic said that Croatia was 
"maximally cooperating" in the anti-terrorist coalition, but 
he was deeply concerned about the devastating fall out for 
Croatia's vital tourism industry from a possible terrorist 
 
 
attack.  He observed that the Israel-Palestine problem was 
the main generator of terrorism and the key ultimately to 
resolving both Afghanistan and Iraq.  Noting the opportunity 
created by the passing of Palestinian leader Yassar Arafat, 
President Mesic urged the U.S. to take the lead in 
reinvigorating the Middle East Peace Process.  He welcomed 
the upcoming Morocco initiative but suggested that the key to 
winning the war on terrorism would be to have prominent 
Muslim clerics unequivocally condemn all terrorist acts. 
 
Article 98 
---------- 
 
9.  (SBU) Similarly, on the possibility of an Article 98 
agreement, PM Sanader recalled his public comments urging 
consideration for the U.S. position.  The EU had made clear, 
however, that no accession hopeful could sign such an 
agreement.  If the EU position changed, Croatia would be 
happy to reconsider. 
 
10.  (U) Assistant Secretary Jones has cleared this message. 
 
DELAWIE 
 
 
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