US embassy cable - 05ZAGREB183

C O N F I D E N T I A L  ZAGREB 000183 
 
SIPDIS 
 
 
DEPARTMENT FOR EUR/SCE, EUR/RPM 
DEFENSE FOR OSD/POLICY 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/03/2015 
TAGS: PREL, MARR, MASS, MOPS, HR, Defense Reform (Mil & NATO) 
SUBJECT: ADRIATIC CHARTER DEFENSE MINISTERIAL BILATERAL 
MEETINGS WITH CROATIAN OFFICIALS 
 
Classified By: Poloff Justin Friedman, reasons 1.4 (b) & (d) 
 
SUMMARY 
------- 
 
1. (SBU) The U.S. delegation to the Adriatic Charter (A3) 
Defense Ministerial, led by Ambassador Frank, met with the 
State Secretary of the Croatian Ministry of Foreign Affairs 
on 24 January 2005 and the Minister of Defense of Croatia on 
25 January 2005.  Mr. Alan Van Egmond, OSD Director of 
Balkans and Eurasia Programs, led the for the Department of 
Defense in both meetings.  Subjects covered included NATO 
accession, various topics on defense reform, the Croatian 
political situation and its affect on Croatia's campaign for 
NATO membership, regional security and stability in South 
East Europe, an Article 98 Agreement, furthering Croatia's 
participation in international peacekeeping operations in 
Afghanistan, and possible new non-military contributions to 
Iraq.  END SUMMARY 
 
MFA STATE SECRETARY BISCEVIC 
---------------------------- 
 
2. (SBU) The meeting with State Secretary Hidajet Biscevic (a 
rumored candidate to replace outgoing FM Miomir Zuzul) took 
place at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.  Croatian 
Ambassador to the US, Neven Jurica, also attended.  Biscevic 
began by saying that he was ready to discuss all issues and 
would brief the delegation on bilateral relations, especially 
in the area of possible peacekeeping roles for Croatia with 
NATO.  Mr. Van Egmond opened by stating that the United 
States believes that Croatia belongs in NATO and that Croatia 
can help the alliance.  He continued that the USG will be 
focusing on the next few months for assistance as a decision 
will most likely be made on the next round of any expansion 
of NATO in early 2006.  Within this short timeline, he 
expressed that there is not a lot of time for slippage in 
Croatian reform efforts.  Van Egmond noted that Croatia's 
most recent Annual National Program (ANP) received positive 
reviews.  While urging Croatia to continue with necessary 
regional cooperation, he commended Croatia on the pursuit of 
regional leadership roles in the Adriatic Charter (A3) and 
the Southeastern Europe Defense Ministerial (SEDM). 
 
3. (SBU) Mr. Van Egmond repeated the Istanbul Communique - 
that NATO will assess each country on its own merits in 
deciding whether or not to admit a new member.  He remarked 
that there is concern that with the recent political 
turbulence some defense reform issues could be affected. 
After the Bilateral Defense Consultation to be held in 
Croatia in the early summer, there will only be a few months 
left to work on full achievement of Croatia's Partnership 
Goals. 
 
4. (SBU) Biscevic appreciated the candid assessment of 
Croatia's current situation with regards to a potential NATO 
decision and the support of the USG in that process. While 
expressing hope that with the passing of "election fever" a 
working context could be created, Biscevic observed that a 
hectic EU agenda will divert much of the government's energy. 
 However, He stated that within the next 4-6 months there has 
to be a clearer picture and that once there is a normalized 
situation Croatia can focus more on NATO.  In the meantime, 
the political framework in Croatia is oriented to keep NATO 
accession preparation going.  Importantly, he submitted that 
because the discussion on NATO has not yet been accompanied 
by an educated public awareness campaign, that a positive 
public relations drive would start in a couple of weeks. 
 
5. (SBU) On regional Cooperation, Biscevic remarked that A3 
participation is "very, very important" and that Croatia now 
accepts and promotes the regional aspect of the A3.  He 
believes that the A3 will lead to greater stability in South 
East Europe and that given the political situation in some 
neighboring countries, the A3 will have a role in helping. 
 
6. (SBU) Mr. Van Egmond then raised several items for 
discussion: NATO/EU tension in Croatia, an Article 98 
agreement, and the Proliferation Security Initiative (PSI). 
 
7. (SBU) Addressing the sometimes seeming tension between 
Croatia's paths to accession in the EU and NATO, he affirmed 
that the two organizations are partners.  A good example is 
the recent transition from SFOR to EURFOR in Bosnia.  This 
process was characterized with good cooperation and hard work 
 
 
by both sides. 
 
8. (C) On a possible Article 98 agreement, Mr. Van Egmond 
noted that this is a tough bilateral issue to grapple with as 
it binds our hands as far as providing training and security 
assistance is concerned.  Informing the State Secretary that 
there are some new ways to get these types of agreements 
done, because of Croatia's re-engagement on this topic, the 
USG will begin looking at new avenues of approach. 
 
9. (SBU) Relating to PSI, Van Egmond was appreciative of the 
support that Croatia has given.  He noted that as Croatia has 
already shown a proactive way to interdict, increased 
cooperation through activities is something that will 
increase our bilateral relationship as well as make the 
region more secure.  One possible way to increase Croatia's 
counter-proliferation efforts is through USG assistance under 
the International Counter-proliferation Program (ICP).  As 
this money is not barred by the absence of an Article 98 
agreement, that help is available. 
 
10. (SBU) State Secretary Biscevic stated Croatia's belief in 
the compatibility of the EU and NATO.  He said Croatia 
understands that there must be more done on NATO awareness. 
According to Biscevic, on PSI, Croatia would like to be very 
active.  The government is about to nominate a PSI 
coordinator and will undertake a review of bilateral 
agreements with the United States to improve the strategic 
framework.  He stated that Croatia is ready to participate in 
PSI exercises, particularly the upcoming exercises in Spain 
and Portugal, and that within PSI and the greater topic of 
border control, the Adriatic Charter gives an opportunity for 
cooperation.  He also re-iterated the Croatian goal of 
signing a ship-boarding agreement with the United States. On 
the subject of regional cooperation on counter-proliferation, 
Biscevic announced the recent signing of bilateral agreements 
with Serbia and Montenegro and Bosnia-Herzegovina on the 
exchange of classified information.  The agreements, he 
explained,  are important for further cooperation on Hague 
Tribunal indictees and border security.  Additionally, 
Croatia and Bosnia-Herzegovina will undertake discussions on 
the delineation of their shared border. 
 
11. (C) Biscevic then spoke to Article 98 and the Croatian 
desire to re-engage on this issue.  Biscevic related that in 
the post-election mood, promising new avenues could be opened 
on this issue.  The MFA is proposing to have a Croatian legal 
team come to Washington for further discussions.  The 
Croatians would like private, expert level discussions. 
 
12. (SBU) Croatia would like to expand their cooperation on 
Iraq.  In addition to proposals to train Iraqi government and 
civil administrative workers, Biscevic asserted that Croatia 
would be ready to help with structuring the development of 
administration.  The idea is to invite 10-20 Iraqis for 
education and training in Croatia.  Biscevic also mentioned 
that Croatia has some military equipment available for 
donation.  He also mentioned that some Croatian demining 
companies had approached the government and inquired about 
contract possibilities in Croatia.  Finally, Biscevic was 
pleased to announce that Croatia is sending a few election 
observers to Iraq.  These were all, in Croatia,s view, 
concrete, pragmatic measures to continue dialogue. 
 
13. (SBU) Mr. Van Egmond agreed that engagement needed on 
Iraq is not purely military in nature.  Training is needed 
and we have to address requirements like demining. However, 
maybe Croatia will be interested in the intermediate 
possibilities of further cooperation like the UN protection 
mission.  He stressed that it is important to the U.S. that 
Croatia is looking to increase cooperation in a post-election 
Iraq.  The proposed forensics cooperation will be a good 
start.  This forensics capacity can be a niche capability. 
 
14. (SBU) On Afghanistan, Van Egmond thanked Biscevic for 
Croatia,s recent deployment to a Provincial Reconstruction 
Team (PRT).  He noted that Secretary Rumsfeld is aware that 
Prime Minister Sanader did take action on his request for 
Croatia to engage on PRTs.  Van Egmond then inquired whether 
Croatia could expand cooperation on PRTs and remarked that 
Lithuania would be standing up a new PRT.  As more 
opportunities evolve, Van Egmond stated, this can be a way 
for Croatia to get involved.  Additionally, he asked whether 
Croatia was planning to follow up on their offer of sending 
police trainers to the Jordan international Police Training 
 
 
Center (JIPTC). 
 
15. (SBU) Biscevic responded that in Croatia there are 
post-war sensibilities that must be considered.  He remarked 
that Croatia was ready to consider the police training issue 
and that Croatia will look at this more seriously as Sanader 
is planning to visit Jordan in the near term.  Noting that 
Croatia had established diplomatic relations with Iraq two 
weeks prior, and that in previous times Croatian companies 
did business in Iraq, Biscevic then asked for U.S. help in 
having Croatian private companies access that market. 
 
16. (SBU) In concluding remarks, Biscevic stated that Croatia 
will expand cooperation with the Coalition.  When Iraq is 
more stable, he said, more can happen. 
 
MINISTER OF DEFENSE RONCEVIC 
---------------------------- 
 
17. (SBU) Mr. Van Egmond led the U.S. delegation in a meeting 
with Croatia Minister of Defense Berislav Roncevic.  Roncevic 
opened the meeting by discussing his interview in the 25 
January edition of Croatian weekly magazine &Nacional8. 
Roncevic noted that while some of the attributed remarks were 
&unauthorized8, the most important part ) his apology for 
using &harsh words8 to the President ) was published. 
 
18. (SBU) Van Egmond noted that there are likely only two 
more opportunities for bilateral consultations before NATO,s 
decision process on accepting new members in 2006 begins ) 
April presentation of the OSD-sponsored Defense Assessment 
(DA) and the June Bilateral Defense Consultations.  Because 
of this time frame, Van Egmond requested a status update on 
the Croatian Armed Forces (CAF) Strategic Defense Review 
(SDR).  He remarked that the U.S. would like the SDR and the 
DA to be complementary reports.  Because the decision process 
will begin soon, we would like to know where Croatia is on 
defense reform so we can help. 
 
19. (SBU) Roncevic replied that the Croatians are very close 
to a finalized draft.  According to Roncevic, four of the 
five phases are complete.  The final phase ) the General 
Staff,s proposal for a structure of the Armed Forces ) is 
important because it requires financial verification.  This 
verification has the goal of shaping the CAF into what the 
Croatians want: a small and affordable Armed Forces. 
Affordability, Roncevic asserted, will be based on verified 
parameters.  He continued that if the proposed model is not 
affordable, cuts will be made.  As far as the process itself 
is concerned, no one in the government has withdrawn from the 
project.  The problems are with the proposed model of 
organization. 
 
20. (SBU) Van Egmond then turned the conversation to NATO. 
As the U.S. is willing to help Croatia with NATO accession, 
it is important that Croatia take a larger role in public 
relations.  Van Egmond noted that public opinion needs work. 
He remarked that President Mesic has not been helpful in this 
regard with his recent ambivalence towards NATO membership. 
 
21. (SBU) Roncevic responded that he did not want to comment 
on the opinion of the President.  He stated that with regards 
to the timing of the next Summit, he will pass the comments 
and advice to the Prime Minister.  Roncevic maintained that 
NATO accession is as important a goal as getting into the EU. 
 On the subject of public opinion, he replied that the 
government is aware that those who are in favor of NATO must 
begin to speak louder and receive more space in the media. 
 
22. (SBU) Van Egmond remarked that there seems to be an 
impression that the EU and NATO are not complementary 
organizations: for Croatia the choice is between one or the 
other.  In fact, NATO and the EU are compatible and work 
together well.  It would be helpful if Croatian leaders could 
provide more perspective to Croatians on the need to work 
closely with both the EU and NATO.  Roncevic fully agreed but 
noted that Euro-skeptics get more press in Croatia. 
 
23. (SBU) On Coalition support, Van Egmond thanked Croatia 
for their continuing contribution to ISAF.  He also thanked 
the Croatians for looking at ways to expand contact with Iraq 
and the Iraqi government.  He remarked that the U.S. would 
welcome a contribution of trainers for the Iraqi police in 
Jordan.  He added that Lithuania is looking to stand up a PRT 
in Afghanistan and asked if Croatia would be interested in 
 
 
participating. 
 
24. (SBU) Roncevic replied that Croatia will be contacting 
Turkey about potentially joining a new PRT. 
 
25. (C) The subject then turned to the issue of whether 
Croatia will maintain air policing as a capability after 
their defense reform process.  Roncevic said that this is a 
question of when to stop investing in something old and when 
to get into something newer.  Van Egmond asked that this 
should become a question of what the best way is to use the 
resources that Croatia has available. Assistant Minister for 
Policy, Jelena Grcic-Polic, remarked that while visiting 
NATO,s Defense Section in October, the Croatian delegation 
was told that NATO would prefer those countries that want to 
keep the air policing capability to keep the capability. 
Roncevic added that he has a vision of what is affordable and 
Croatia will pursue that path. 
 
26. (SBU) In conclusion, both sides looked forward to the 
upcoming defense assessment and Bilateral Defense 
Consultations in early summer. 
 
COMMENT 
------- 
 
27. (C) The meeting with State Secretary Biscevic covered 
most of the same ground that Ambassador to the United States, 
Neven Jurica, relayed to Assistant Secretary of Defense Mira 
Ricardel on 13 January 2005.  The most newsworthy items from 
the discussion with the State Secretary are the Croatian 
governments plans to step up a public relations campaign for 
NATO in the coming weeks and the new effort by the Croatians 
on an Article 98 agreement. 
 
28. (C) The SDR has now been delayed for a third time and 
there is chatter that it may be scrapped entirely.  On 
Coalition issues, Roncevic,s statement that Croatia will 
soon contact Turkey on providing for a PRT is promising as 
Croatia has only recently begun supporting the German PRT in 
Faizabad.  END COMMENT. 
 
29. (U) This message was cleared by OSD Policy. 
FRANK 
 
 
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