Disclaimer: This site has been first put up 15 years ago. Since then I would probably do a couple things differently, but because I've noticed this site had been linked from news outlets, PhD theses and peer rewieved papers and because I really hate the concept of "digital dark age" I've decided to put it back up. There's no chance it can produce any harm now.
| Identifier: | 03ZAGREB159 |
|---|---|
| Wikileaks: | View 03ZAGREB159 at Wikileaks.org |
| Origin: | Embassy Zagreb |
| Created: | 2003-01-22 18:28:00 |
| Classification: | CONFIDENTIAL |
| Tags: | PARM PREL PHUM HR PARM PREL PHUM HR PARM PREL PHUM HR PARM PREL PHUM HR IT NATO ITNATO |
| Redacted: | This cable was not redacted by Wikileaks. |
This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 04 ZAGREB 000159
SIPDIS
EUR FOR DAS BRADTKE AND DAS BOGUE
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/22/2013
TAGS: PARM, PREL, PHUM, HR, PARM, PREL, PHUM, HR, PARM, PREL, PHUM, HR, PARM, PREL, PHUM, HR, IT, NATO, ITNATO
SUBJECT: SCENESETTER FOR DAS BOGUE AND BRADTKE VISIT TO
ZAGREB
CONFIDENTIAL
PAGE 02 ZAGREB 00159 01 OF 04 221842Z
REF: A. ZAGREB 107
B. ZAGREB 127
C. ZAGREB 72
CLASSIFIED BY: AMBASSADOR LAWRENCE ROSSIN FOR REASONS 1.5 (B,D)
SUMMARY
-------
1. (C) YOUR VISIT TO ZAGREB WILL TAKE PLACE JUST DAYS AFTER
CROATIA'S FIRST ANP REVIEW AT NATO AND IN THE MIDST OF THE
GOC'S PROCESS OF RE-DEFINING ITS RELATIONSHIPS WITH NATO'S
OTHER CONTINUING ASPIRANTS. BUT NATO IS NOT MUCH IN THE NEWS
IN ZAGREB THESE DAYS; FOCUS IS ON RELATIONS WITH ICTY,
CROATIA'S APPLICATION FOR EU MEMBERSHIP, A DOCTOR'S STRIKE
AND -- AS ALWAYS -- INTERNAL POLITICS. YOUR VISIT SHOULD
HELP TO REMIND THE PUBLIC HERE THAT NATO STILL CONSIDERS
CROATIA A SERIOUS CANDIDATE BASED ON ITS OWN EFFORTS TO
PREPARE FOR MEMBERSHIP. IT WILL ALSO BE AN EXCELLENT
OPPORTUNITY TO REINFORCE THE MESSAGE ABOUT HOW IMPORTANT
CIVIL SOCIETY REFORMS, INCLUDING REFUGEE RETURN AND
REINTEGRATION ARE TO THEIR CANDIDACY AND TO ENCOURAGE THE GOC
TO CONTINUE EFFORTS TO DOWNSIZE AND RESTRUCTURE THE ARMED
FORCES. END SUMMARY.
NEW MOMENTUM FROM PRAGUE SUMMIT
-------------------------------
2. (C) BY THE TIME THE PRAGUE SUMMIT TOOK PLACE, THE PUBLIC
HERE WAS WELL-USED TO THE FACT THAT CROATIA WOULD NOT RECEIVE
CONFIDENTIAL
PAGE 03 ZAGREB 00159 01 OF 04 221842Z
AN INVITATION. WHILE THE GOC FAILED TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE
SUMMIT AS AN OPPORTUNITY TO REINFORCE POPULAR SUPPORT FOR
NATO AT HOME, THEY DID USE THE OPPORTUNITY TO BEGIN TO
REDEFINE RELATIONSHIPS WITH OTHER CONTINUING ASPIRANTS. EVEN
IF CRITICS CARPED, GOC OFFICIALS WHO ATTENDED THE SUMMIT
NOTED THE DIFFERENCE IN HOW CROATIA WAS TREATED AT PRAGUE AS
COMPARED TO THE WASHINGTON SUMMIT. THEY TOOK THE "TOUGH
LOVE" MESSAGE ON BOARD, YET WERE ENCOURAGED BY THEIR
RECOGNITION AS A SERIOUS CANDIDATE WITH SERIOUS WORK TO DO.
PRE-ELECTION POLITICS AN INCREASING DISTRACTION
--------------------------------------------- --
3. (C) THE COALITION LED BY PM RACAN'S SDP JUST COMPLETED
ITS THIRD YEAR IN GOVERNMENT (SEE REF A FOR BROADER OUTLINE).
ALTHOUGH, BY LAW, ELECTIONS COULD BE HELD AS LATE AS APRIL
2004, MANY OBSERVERS PREDICT THEY WILL TAKE PLACE THIS
AUTUMN. PRE-ELECTION CAMPAIGNING IS ALREADY WELL UNDERWAY
AND IS A SERIOUS DISTRACTION TO THOSE IN THE COALITION STILL
COMMITTED TO MOVING REFORMS ALONG. RACAN'S SDP IS FACED WITH
A RESURGENT HDZ WHILE AT THE SAME TIME HE IS TRYING TO KEEP
INCREASINGLY UNRULY SMALLER COALITION PARTNERS IN LINE. ALL
TOO OFTEN, THE RESULT IS POLICY PARALYSIS EVEN ON THE
GOVERNMENT'S NARROW ELECTION-YEAR AGENDA.
THE BOBETKO INDICTMENT: THE GOC'S SELF-INFLICTED WOUND
--------------------------------------------- ----------
4. (C) THE GOC'S MISHANDLING OF THE BOBETKO INDICTMENT
CRYSTALLIZED THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY'S FRUSTRATION WITH
CROATIA'S PROGRESS ON KEY REFORMS NEEDED FOR INTEGRATION IN
CONFIDENTIAL
PAGE 04 ZAGREB 00159 01 OF 04 221842Z
EURO-ATLANTIC INSTITUTIONS. THIS CHANGE IN APPROACH TO
CROATIA IS MOST DRAMATIC AMONG EU MEMBER STATES WHICH HAD
BEEN WILLING TO GIVE THE GOC THE BENEFIT OF THE DOUBT ON SOME
OF THE SOCIAL ISSUES WHICH HAVE THEIR ORIGINS IN THE ETHNIC
WAR OF THE PREVIOUS DECADE. NO LONGER. TWO EU MEMBER STATES
HAVE DELAYED CONSIDERATION OF CROATIA'S STABILIZATION AND
ASSOCIATION AGREEMENT (SAA) PENDING A SATISFACTORY OUTCOME OF
THE BOBETKO CASE. EU STATES ARE PRESSING THE GOC HARDER TO
APPREHEND 2001 ICTY INDICTEE GENERAL ANTE GOTOVINA, WHO
REMAINS AT LARGE.
5. (C) EVER SINCE THE GOVERNMENT FINALLY DELIVERED THE
INDICTMENT AGAINST BOBETKO TO THE LOCAL COURT OF
JURISDICTION, CROATIA HAS BEEN IN FORMAL COOPERATION WITH
ICTY. A COURT-APPOINTED MEDICAL TEAM DETERMINED THAT BOBETKO
IS TOO ILL TO GO THROUGH THE STRESS OF THE INDICTMENT, LET
ALONE TRAVEL TO THE HAGUE. AN ICTY MEDICAL TEAM WAS IN
ZAGREB ON JANUARY 15 TO REVIEW THE LOCAL MEDICAL FINDINGS AND
TO EXAMINE BOBETKO. THE RESULTS OF THAT EXAMINATION WILL
SOON BE MADE PUBLIC. THE WAVE OF EMOTIONAL NATIONALISM THAT
FOLLOWED ANNOUNCEMENT OF THE INDICTMENT HAS RECEDED, AND WITH
IT PM RACAN'S REAL FEARS THAT HIS GOVERNMENT -- AND PUBLIC
CONFIDENTIAL
CONFIDENTIAL PTQ3495
PAGE 01 ZAGREB 00159 02 OF 04 221842Z
ACTION EUR-00
INFO LOG-00 NP-00 AF-00 AMAD-00 CIAE-00 DODE-00 PERC-00
DS-00 EAP-00 VC-00 TEDE-00 INR-00 VCE-00 MED-07
AC-01 NRRC-00 NSAE-00 PM-00 ACE-00 IRM-00 SSO-00
SS-00 R-00 SSD-00 PMB-00 DSCC-00 PRM-00 DRL-02
NFAT-00 SAS-00 SWCI-00 /010W
------------------29D744 221843Z /38
O 221828Z JAN 03
FM AMEMBASSY ZAGREB
TO SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 9266
INFO AMEMBASSY BELGRADE PRIORITY
AMEMBASSY LJUBLJANA PRIORITY
AMEMBASSY SARAJEVO PRIORITY
AMEMBASSY SKOPJE PRIORITY
AMEMBASSY SOFIA PRIORITY
AMEMBASSY TIRANA PRIORITY
AMEMBASSY ROME PRIORITY
USMISSION USOSCE PRIORITY
USMISSION USNATO PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 02 OF 04 ZAGREB 000159
SIPDIS
EUR FOR DAS BRADTKE AND DAS BOGUE
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/22/2013
TAGS: NATO, PARM, PREL, PHUM, HR, IT
SUBJECT: SCENESETTER FOR DAS BOGUE AND BRADTKE VISIT TO
ZAGREB
CONFIDENTIAL
PAGE 02 ZAGREB 00159 02 OF 04 221842Z
ORDER -- WERE IN DANGER. WHAT REMAINS IS THE MISTRUST OF THE
INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY AND THE BITTERNESS OF SOME KEY GOC
OFFICIALS (LIKE DEPUTY PM GORAN GRANIC) WHO MIGHT HAVE CHOSEN
TO CONTINUE TO CHALLENGE WHAT THEY FEEL IS AN UNFAIR
INDICTMENT OF THE GOALS OF CROATIA'S "HOMELAND WAR."
EU MEMBERSHIP
-------------
6. (C) WHILE CROATIA IS KEEN FOR NATO MEMBERSHIP, THE GOC'S
TOP FOREIGN POLICY PRIORITY IS THE EU. RACAN HAS RECENTLY
BEGUN A "EUROPEAN OFFENSIVE" AIMED AT GETTING CROATIA'S
RELATIONSHIP WITH KEY MEMBER STATES BACK ON TRACK AFTER
BOBETKO. THE GOC IS COMMITTED TO SUBMITTING FORMALLY ITS
APPLICATION FOR EU MEMBERSHIP IN THE SECOND HALF OF FEBRUARY.
ALTHOUGH WE UNDERSTAND INITIAL CONSIDERATION OF CROATIA'S
APPLICATION IS TECHNICAL IN NATURE, IF CONSIDERATION IS
POSTPONED FOR POLITICAL REASONS, IT COULD HAVE A NEGATIVE
IMPACT ON THE ELECTORAL CHANCES OF PM RACAN'S SDP.
FAILURE ON REFUGEE RETURN
-------------------------
7. (C) THE POLICY AREA IN WHICH THE RACAN GOVERNMENT'S
PROGRESS HAS BEEN MOST DISAPPOINTING IS REFUGEE RETURN AND
RESETTLEMENT. THE LEVEL OF GOC INACTION AND LACK OF
COLLABORATION IS REACHING A POINT WHERE THE LOCAL
INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY IS CONSIDERING PULLING OUT OF
COLLABORATIVE MECHANISMS (THE JOINT LEGAL WORKING GROUP) TO
PREVENT THE GOC FROM CLAIMING IN THEIR EU "CHARM OFFENSIVE"
CONFIDENTIAL
PAGE 03 ZAGREB 00159 02 OF 04 221842Z
THAT IT IS ENGAGED WITH US ON REFUGEE RETURN ISSUES. DESPITE
CHANGES IN KEY LAWS AND A SERIES OF COMMITMENTS TO THE
INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY, THE NUMBER OF ETHNIC SERBS RETURNING
TO THEIR HOMES IS FAR BELOW WHAT IT SHOULD BE. LEGAL AND
ADMINISTRATIVE BARRIERS REMAIN DESPITE GOC ASSERTIONS TO THE
CONTRARY. THE REASONS FOR THIS FAILURE VARY, AND WE DON'T
EXPECT YOU TO ENGAGE WITH YOUR GOC INTERLOCUTORS ON THE
SUBSTANCE OF THIS COMPLEX ISSUE ON THIS VISIT. YOUR MESSAGE
SHOULD BE STRAGHTFORWARD: THE CONSENSUS OF THE INTERNATIONAL
COMMUNITY IS THAT CROATIA IS NOT TAKING THIS ISSUE SERIOUSLY.
UNTIL CROATIA MAKES A REAL COMMITMENT AND PRODUCES
SIGNIFICANT RESULTS, ITS CANDIDACY FOR MEMBERSHIP IN
EURO-ATLANTIC INSTITUTIONS WILL NOT BE TAKEN SERIOUSLY.
STRONG SUPPORT FOR THE WAR ON TERROR
------------------------------------
8. (C) CROATIA RATES HIGH PRAISE FOR ITS COMMITMENT TO THE
WAR AGAINST TERRORISM. FROM ITS IMMEDIATE STATEMENTS OF
POLITICAL SUPPORT IN SOLIDARITY WITH US TO ITS CONTRIBUTIONS
OF HUMANITARIAN AND MILITARY ASSISTANCE TO AFGHANISTAN TO ITS
DECISION TO DEPLOY A MILITARY POLICE UNIT TO ISAF, THE GOC
HAS CONSISTENTLY BEEN IN THE FRONT RANKS OF THE GLOBAL WAR ON
TERROR. YOUR EXPRESSIONS OF APPRECIATION WILL BE WELCOME IN
YOUR MEETINGS WITH GOC OFFICIALS AND IN YOUR STATEMENTS TO
THE MEDIA. (NOTE: A SCHEDULE CHANGE HAS DELAYED THE FIRST
GREEK AIRLIFT OF CROATIA'S DONATION OF WEAPONS AND MUNITIONS
TO THE ANA. END NOTE.)
IRAQ
----
CONFIDENTIAL
PAGE 04 ZAGREB 00159 02 OF 04 221842Z
9. (C) ON IRAQ, OFFICIAL CROATIA SEEMS TO BE FOLLOWING THE
STANDARD EUROPEAN LINE. THE GOC ISSUED A STATEMENT CALLING
FOR IRAQ TO "DEMONSTRATE THAT IT DOES NOT PRESENT A THREAT"
TO INTERNATIONAL SECURITY (REF C), BUT ALSO EXPRESSING ANGST
THAT ANY ACTION SHOULD BE SANCTIONED BY UN MECHANISMS. THE
MFA ESTABLISHED A TASK FORCE TO TRACK THE IRAQ ISSUE (WE ARE
ENGAGING WITH THE TASK FORCE TO USE IT AS ANOTHER CONDUIT FOR
USG VIEWS), BUT THE GOVERNMENT IS GENERALLY KEEPING A LOW
PROFILE ON IRAQ. FM PICULA, FRESH FROM A TRIP TO THE
MID-EAST HAS IN SEVERAL CONVERSATIONS WITH THE AMBASSADOR
EXPRESSED HIS CONCERN ABOUT THE EFFECT THERE OF A POSSIBLE
WAR IN IRAQ.
CONVENTIONAL/DUAL-USE PROLIFERATION
-----------------------------------
10. (C) IN SEPTEMBER 2001, AT OUR URGING, CROATIA CANCELLED
A CONTRACT FOR HIGH-SPEED PATROL BOATS TO IRAN; THE SHIPYARD
WHICH WAS TO HAVE BENEFITED FROM THE CONTRACT WENT BANKRUPT
AND AN ITALIAN FIRM APPARENTLY NOW HAS THE CONTRACT WITH
CONFIDENTIAL
CONFIDENTIAL PTQ3496
PAGE 01 ZAGREB 00159 03 OF 04 221843Z
ACTION EUR-00
INFO LOG-00 NP-00 AF-00 AMAD-00 CIAE-00 DODE-00 PERC-00
DS-00 EAP-00 VC-00 TEDE-00 INR-00 VCE-00 MED-07
AC-01 NRRC-00 NSAE-00 PM-00 ACE-00 IRM-00 SSO-00
SS-00 R-00 SSD-00 PMB-00 DSCC-00 PRM-00 DRL-02
NFAT-00 SAS-00 SWCI-00 /010W
------------------29D764 221843Z /38
O 221828Z JAN 03
FM AMEMBASSY ZAGREB
TO SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 9267
INFO AMEMBASSY BELGRADE PRIORITY
AMEMBASSY LJUBLJANA PRIORITY
AMEMBASSY SARAJEVO PRIORITY
AMEMBASSY SKOPJE PRIORITY
AMEMBASSY SOFIA PRIORITY
AMEMBASSY TIRANA PRIORITY
AMEMBASSY ROME PRIORITY
USMISSION USOSCE PRIORITY
USMISSION USNATO PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 03 OF 04 ZAGREB 000159
SIPDIS
EUR FOR DAS BRADTKE AND DAS BOGUE
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/22/2013
TAGS: NATO, PARM, PREL, PHUM, HR, IT
SUBJECT: SCENESETTER FOR DAS BOGUE AND BRADTKE VISIT TO
ZAGREB
CONFIDENTIAL
PAGE 02 ZAGREB 00159 03 OF 04 221843Z
IRAN. (THE GOC IS EITHER UNAWARE OF THIS OR HAS CHOSEN NOT
TO POINT IT OUT TO US. SOONER OR LATER, WORD THAT THIS
HAPPENED WILL GET AROUND; HOW WE HANDLE IT WILL BE DECISIVE
TO FUTURE GOC COOPERATION ON SUCH DEALS.) NOW, THE GOC IS
DEBATING WHETHER TO PROCEED -- OVER OUR OBJECTIONS -- WITH A
CONTRACT TO REFIT A LIBYAN NAVY DIVER SUPPORT VESSEL. WE
KNOW OUR PRESSURE HAS HAD A BIG THOUGH NOT YET CLEARLY
DECISIVE IMPACT. WE LOOK TO YOUR VISIT TO HELP KEEP THE
PRESSURE ON THE GOC TO REJECT THE CONTRACT AND OTHER CONTACTS
WHICH COULD LEAD TO TRANSFERS OF LETHAL MILITARY EQUIPMENT TO
STATE SPONSORS OF TERRORISM.
STALLED PROGRESS ON MOD RESTRUCTURING AND DOWNSIZING
--------------------------------------------- -------
11. (C) DEFENSE REFORMS, BEGUN LATE LAST YEAR, ARE
PROGRESSING SLOWLY. REORGANIZATION OF THE MOD AND CROATIAN
ARMED FORCES IS HAMPERED BY A DYSFUNCTIONAL PERSONNEL
MANAGEMENT SYSTEM AND A LACK OF FUNDING FOR THE MOD'S
AMBITIOUS AND COSTLY -- ALBEIT ESSENTIAL -- DOWNSIZING
PROGRAM. THE DEFENSE REFORM PROCESS HAS GAINED NEW MOMENTUM
WITH THE APPOINTMENT OF A MORE DYNAMIC NEW DEFENSE MINISTER,
DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER ZELJKA ANTUNOVIC (SDP). TWO OF THE
CHALLENGES ANTUNOVIC MUST FACE ARE A SHRINKING DEFENSE
BUDGET, 70 PERCENT OF WHICH IS DEVOTED TO PERSONNEL COSTS,
AND A MILITARY ELITE THAT IS MISTRUSTFUL OF HER LEADERSHIP.
12. (C) ANTUNOVIC HAS OBTAINED POLITICAL APPROVAL FOR A
FAR-REACHING RESTRUCTURING PROGRAM, BUT IMPLEMENTATION HAS
BEEN SLOWED BY POLITICAL BICKERING. THE GOC HAS BEGUN TO
CONFIDENTIAL
PAGE 03 ZAGREB 00159 03 OF 04 221843Z
MOVE FORWARD ON DOWNSIZING THE CROATIAN ARMED FORCES (CAF)
AND THE MOD, A STEP ESSENTIAL FOR BUILDING A
NATO-INTEROPERABLE FORCE. A DETAILED, NATO-APPROVED, BUT
VERY EXPENSIVE DOWNSIZING PLAN REMAINS ON THE SHELF AS THE
GOC SEEKS EXTERNAL SOURCES OF FUNDING TO HELP IMPLEMENT IT.
ANTUNOVIC ANNOUNCED SHE WILL MOVE FORWARD WITH A
SELF-FINANCED PILOT PROGRAM TO ENCOURAGE 400 MOD EMPLOYEES,
BOTH CIVILIAN AND MILITARY, TO LEAVE THE RANKS. BUT
ESTIMATES SAY THAT TO "RIGHT-SIZE" THE CAF MUST LAY OFF OR
OFFER EARLY RETIREMENT TO MORE THAN 10,000 PERSONNEL, NEARLY
ALL OF WHOM ARE VETERANS OF CROATIA'S HOMELAND WAR. IN YOUR
MEETING, ANTUNOVIC MAY ASK FOR INCREASED U.S. SUPPORT TO FUND
DOWNSIZING. OUR ONLY ENGAGEMENT ON THIS ISSUE IS A PUBLIC
INFORMATION PROJECT AIMED AT BUILDING SUPPORT FOR THIS POLICY
GOAL, BEYOND THIS MODEST PROJECT, THERE IS NO ROOM IN OUR
ASSISTANCE BUDGET TO FUND DOWNSIZING. ANTUNOVIC WILL ALSO
MENTION CROATIA'S CONTINUED SUPPORT TO THE COALITION AGAINST
TERRORISM AND WILL SEEK TO EXPLORE AREAS WHERE U.S.
ASSISTANCE IS NEEDED TO SECURE CROATIA'S MARITIME BORDER AND
COUNTER WMD PROLIFERATION.
BILATERAL MILITARY COOPERATION
------------------------------
13. (C) U.S. MILITARY COOPERATION WITH CROATIA SURGED AFTER
THE 2000 ELECTIONS, BUT THE NUMBER OF BILATERAL EXERCISES
DROPPED IN THE FOLLOWING TWO YEARS AS OUR FORCES HAVE BEEN
ENGAGED ELSEWHERE. RESTRICTIONS TO OUR ENGAGEMENT IN CROATIA
ARE CREEPING IN AT THE LEGAL LEVEL: UNWORKABLE RESTRICTIONS
PREVENTING NUCLEAR POWERED VESSELS FROM ANCHORING IN CROATIAN
TERRITORIAL WATERS, ISSUES PREVENTING SHIPS FROM IMPLEMENTING
CONFIDENTIAL
PAGE 04 ZAGREB 00159 03 OF 04 221843Z
POST-USS COLE FORCE PROTECTION PROCEDURES (AND THEREBY
PREVENTING USN SHIP VISITS), AND PUBLIC OBJECTIONS TO
EXERCISES DURING THE CONSTANTLY-EXPANDING TOURIST SEASON NOW
TOP THE LIST. DASD RICARDEL'S DELEGATION (SEE BELOW) WILL
ADDRESS THESE ISSUES IN DEPTH DURING ITS VISIT, BUT RAISING
THE ISSUE IN YOUR CONVERSATIONS WOULD FLAG IT FOR THE GOC'S
ATTENTION.
CROATIA'S BUSY POL-MIL SCHEDULE
-------------------------------
14. (C) CROATIA'S POLITICAL-MILITARY POLICY MAKERS HAVE A
VERY FULL DANCE CARD FOR THE NEXT FEW WEEKS. IN ADDITION TO
YOUR VISIT AND THE ANP REVIEW, CROATIA IS ACTIVELY DRAFTING
AN "ADRIATIC CHARTER" WITH ALBANIA AND MACEDONIA (REF B). AS
YOU KNOW, BRUCE JACKSON WAS IN ZAGREB FOR MEETINGS, INCLUDING
WITH FM PICULA. DEPUTY ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF DEFENSE MIRA
RICARDEL WILL BE IN ZAGREB WITH A DELEGATION FROM FEBRUARY 3
- 6 FOR THE BILATERAL DEFENSE CONSULTATIONS. (THE KEY
"DELIVERABLE" FOR THIS VISIT SHOULD BE THE SIGNING OF AN
UMBRELLA AGREEMENT COVERING PROVISION OF WMD ASSISTANCE FROM
OSD.) AT THE SAME TIME, NATO'S ASSISTANT SECRETARY GENERAL
CONFIDENTIAL
CONFIDENTIAL PTQ3498
PAGE 01 ZAGREB 00159 04 OF 04 221843Z
ACTION EUR-00
INFO LOG-00 NP-00 AF-00 AMAD-00 CIAE-00 DODE-00 PERC-00
DS-00 EAP-00 VC-00 TEDE-00 INR-00 VCE-00 MED-07
AC-01 NRRC-00 NSAE-00 PM-00 ACE-00 IRM-00 SSO-00
SS-00 R-00 SSD-00 PMB-00 DSCC-00 PRM-00 DRL-02
NFAT-00 SAS-00 SWCI-00 /010W
------------------29D76C 221843Z /38
O 221828Z JAN 03
FM AMEMBASSY ZAGREB
TO SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 9268
INFO AMEMBASSY BELGRADE PRIORITY
AMEMBASSY LJUBLJANA PRIORITY
AMEMBASSY SARAJEVO PRIORITY
AMEMBASSY SKOPJE PRIORITY
AMEMBASSY SOFIA PRIORITY
AMEMBASSY TIRANA PRIORITY
AMEMBASSY ROME PRIORITY
USMISSION USOSCE PRIORITY
USMISSION USNATO PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 04 OF 04 ZAGREB 000159
SIPDIS
EUR FOR DAS BRADTKE AND DAS BOGUE
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/22/2013
TAGS: NATO, PARM, PREL, PHUM, HR, IT
SUBJECT: SCENESETTER FOR DAS BOGUE AND BRADTKE VISIT TO
ZAGREB
CONFIDENTIAL
PAGE 02 ZAGREB 00159 04 OF 04 221843Z
GUNTHER ALTENBURG WILL BE IN CROATIA WITH A PARP TEAM TO
DISCUSS IMPLEMENTATION OF CROATIA'S PARTNERSHIP GOALS.
POINTS TO MAKE
--------------
15. (C) IN YOUR SHORT VISIT, YOU WILL HAVE THREE KEY
SUBSTANTIVE MEETINGS, A PRESS EVENT AND A DINNER WITH A
CROSS-SECTION OF CROATIAN LEADERS. AT ALL OF YOUR MEETINGS,
YOU SHOULD TOUCH ON THE ELEMENTS OF THE CHECKLIST BELOW,
ESPECIALLY EMPHASIZING THE IMPORTANCE OF CIVIL SOCIETY
REFORMS NEEDED FOR PROGRESS TOWARD NATO MEMBERSHIP. IN YOUR
MEETING WITH FM PICULA, YOU MAY WISH TO ASK ABOUT PROGRESS ON
THE ADRIATIC CHARTER AND HIT THE LIBYA ISSUE. DEFMIN
ANTUNOVIC HAS A KEY VOICE IN THE GOC DEBATE ON THE LIBYA SHIP
REFIT. YOU SHOULD ASK HOW SHE INTENDS TO PRIORITIZE REFORMS
ABSENT RESOURCES TO ADDRESS ALL ISSUES; DASD RICARDEL'S
DELEGATION WILL ADDRESS THIS ISSUE IN GREATER DEPTH. WITH
THE NEWLY FORMED INTER-AGENCY WORKING GROUP FOR NATO'S MAP
PROGRAM, IT WOULD BE HELPFUL IF YOU COULD ENCOURAGE THE
GROUP'S DEVELOPMENT INTO AN ACTIVE POLICY-MAKING BODY.
CHECKLIST OF ISSUES TO RAISE WITH CROATIAN INTERLOCUTORS
--------------------------------------------- -----------
- NATO'S OPEN DOOR.
- URGE CLOSE COOPERATION WITH OTHER "CONTINUING ASPIRANTS,"
BUT REITERATE THAT INVITATIONS WILL BE ISSUED ON INDIVIDUAL
BASIS.
CONFIDENTIAL
PAGE 03 ZAGREB 00159 04 OF 04 221843Z
- NEED MORE THAN DEFENSE REFORMS TO GET AN INVITATION TO
NATO; CROATIA NEEDS TO MAKE MORE PROGRESS ON CIVIL SOCIETY
REFORMS.
- LITMUS TESTS WILL BE FULL COOPERATION WITH ICTY AND
MEASURABLE PROGRESS ON REFUGEE RETURN AND REINTEGRATION; NEED
TO BRIDGE THE GAP BETWEEN RHETORIC AND REALITY.
- REACTION TO CROATIA'S FIRST ANP REVIEW.
- NEED TO DEVELOP A LONG-TERM STRATEGY TO MAINTAIN AND BUILD
PUBLIC SUPPORT FOR CROATIA'S BID FOR NATO. NO PLAN EXISTS
NOW, POLLS SHOW PUBLIC SUPPORT WANING.
- COMMEND PREVLAKA AGREEMENT, CLOSER RELATIONS WITH FRY. NOW
THAT NATIONALIST PARTIES IN BOSNIA WILL BECOME OUR
INTERLOCUTORS, WE WILL ALL NEED TO REDOUBLE OUR EFFORTS TO
SUPPORT CENTRAL INSTITUTIONS AND PREVENT BACKSLIDING TOWARDS
NATIONALIST, CENTRIFUGAL POLICIES.
- HAIL CROATIAN SUPPORT FOR ANTI-TERRORIST COALITION; WILL
LOOK FOR CONTINUED CROATIAN SUPPORT IN ENSURING IRAQI
COMPLIANCE WITH UN RESOLUTIONS.
- CONCERN ABOUT CROATIA'S PUSH TO RENEW COOPERATION WITH
LIBYA; ZERO "FLEXIBILITY" IN WASHINGTON FOR ANYTHING THAT
COULD REMOTELY BE CONSIDERED LETHAL MILITARY EQUIPMENT (LME)
TRANSFERS TO STATE SPONSORS OF TERRORISM.
- WE LOOK FOR GOC SUPPORT TO REMOVE LEGAL BARRIERS TO OUR
CONFIDENTIAL
PAGE 04 ZAGREB 00159 04 OF 04 221843Z
MILITARY COOPERATION AND SHIP VISITS.
END CHECKLIST.
ROSSIN
CONFIDENTIAL
>
Latest source of this page is cablebrowser-2, released 2011-10-04