US embassy cable - 04ZAGREB2060

S E C R E T ZAGREB 002060 
 
SIPDIS 
 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/30/2014 
TAGS: PREL, PGOV, PINR, KAWC, HR, Regional Issues, War Crimes 
SUBJECT: (S) PM SANADER ASKS AMBASSADOR TO INTERVENE WITH 
PRESIDENT ON BEHALF OF INTELLIGENCE DIRECTOR 
 
REF: ZAGREB 02044 
 
Classified By: Ambassador Ralph Frank; Reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). 
 
1.  (S) Summary:  PM Sanader and FM Zuzul asked Ambassador 
Frank and UK Ambassador Ramsden December 1 for assistance in 
persuading President Mesic to suspend seeking the dismissal 
of head of the Croatian Counter-Intelligence Agency 
Podbevsek, stating that his work was critical to the hunt for 
PIFWC Ante Gotovina. End Summary. 
 
2.  (S) PM Sanader and FM Zuzul invited Ambassador Frank and 
UK Ambassador John Ramsden to meet December 1 to discuss 
issues related to the capture of PIFWC Ante Gotovina. 
 
3.  (S) Sanader and Zuzul told the Ambassadors that President 
Mesic's effort to dismiss Josko Podbevsek,  new head of the 
counter-intelligence agency POA, was interfering in the 
effort to capture Gotovina.  Although President Mesic is 
trying to portray the Puljiz/Podbevsek case (ref) as being 
directed against him for political reasons, the investigation 
is really all about tracking down Gotovina.  The GOC has 
indicted Franjo Turek, a Mesic associate and former head of 
the POA, because it is convinced he is a valid target who has 
had telephone conversations with Gotovina.  Podbevsek is a 
critical player in the hunt for Gotovina; Mesic's effort to 
fire Podbevsek is a blow against that hunt. 
 
4.  (S) Sanader asked the Ambassadors to intervene with Mesic 
on behalf of Podbevsek.  Ambassador Frank and UK Ambassador 
Ramsden said they could not do so, because it would be 
directly interfering in Croatia's internal affairs. 
 
5.  (S) Ambassador Frank suggested an alternate approach to 
the PM: that the PM propose that he and the President make a 
joint public statement in support of apprehension of 
Gotovina, and the dedication of all elements of the 
Government of Croatia to that end.  Then it would be up to 
the PM to make the case to the President that Podbevsek 
remaining in place would be the key element of that effort. 
 
6.  (S) Comment: Podbevsek, while young (38) and 
inexperienced, has the PM's confidence on the Gotovina issue, 
and under his leadership, cooperation with the U.S. and the 
UK has greatly increased.  However, the full range of the 
PM's persuasive powers will be needed to convince the 
President of the merit of retaining Podbevsek. 
FRANK 
 
 
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