US embassy cable - 03ZAGREB288

UNCLAS ZAGREB 000288 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR OPS CENTER, S/ES, EUR, EUR/SCE (NARDI), 
EUR/PA/PD (HORNBUCKLE) 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PREL, PGOV, KPAO, KMDR, HR 
SUBJECT: CROATIAN MEDIA COVERAGE OF SECRETARY OF 
STATE POWELL'S FEBRUARY 5 SPEECH TO THE UNITED 
NATIONS SECURITY COUNCIL 
 
REF: STATE 34089 
 
1.   CROATIAN MEDIA COVERAGE OF THE SECRETARY'S FEBRUARY 5 
PRESENTATION TO THE SECURITY COUNCIL HAS BEEN EXTENSIVE AND 
STRAIGHTFORWARD.  TIMING OF THE SECRETARY'S PRESENTATION 
                       UNCLASSIFIED 
 
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HELPED: IT OCCURRED SHORTLY BEFORE CROATIA'S NIGHTLY NEWS 
BROADCASTS, FACILITATING EXTENSIVE PLAY ON TV AND RADIO 
NEWS.  MUCH FOCUS HAS BEEN ON THE VILNIUS GROUP'S STATEMENT 
OF SUPPORT FOR THE U.S. POSITION ISSUED AFTER POWELL'S 
PRESENTATION (REFTEL).  WHILE NOT AN INCOMING NATO MEMBER 
LIKE MOST OTHERS IN THE V-10, CROATIA BELONGS TO THIS 
GROUP. 
 
2.   THERE HAVE BEEN FEW COMMENTARIES YET.  ONE WAS 
FEATURED PROMINENTLY IN THE GOVERNMENT-OWNED DAILY 
"VJESNIK" ON FEBRUARY 6 BY BRUNO LOPANDIC UNDER THE 
HEADLINE "CROATIA WILL HAVE TO TAKE A CLEARER POSITION 
TOWARD THE IRAQI CRISIS."  LOPANDIC WROTE THAT THE VILNIUS 
GROUP STATEMENT WAS INITIATED BY BRUCE JACKSON.  HE NOTED 
THAT CROATIA'S INSISTENCE ON SIGNING SUCH A DOCUMENT WILL 
"FORCE THE CROATIAN GOVERNMENT TO DECIDE MORE CLEARLY" HOW 
CROATIA SHOULD POSITION ITSELF ON THE ISSUE. 
 
3.   THERE HAS BEEN NO OFFICIAL GOC REACTION YET OTHER THAN 
THE V-10 STATEMENT TO THE SECRETARY'S PRESENTATION.  WE 
EXPECT MORE COMMENTARIES AND ANALYSIS IN COMING DAYS AND 
WILL REPORT SEPTEL. 
 
4.  FEBRUARY 6 HEADLINES IN THE CROATIAN DAILIES: 
 
-- ZAGREB-BASED MASS-CIRCULATION "JUTARNJI LIST" - "SUPPORT 
FOR WAR AGAINST SADDAM - CROATIAN YES TO ATTACK ON IRAQ" 
 
-- ZAGREB-BASED MASS-CIRCULATION "VECERNJI LIST" - "CROATIA 
TOO SIDES WITH BUSH" 
 
                       UNCLASSIFIED 
 
PAGE 03        ZAGREB  00288  061035Z 
-- ZAGREB-BASED GOVERNMENT-OWNED "VJESNIK" - "IRAQ IS 
HIDING WEAPONS, CHEATING INSPECTORS, AND WILL NOT STOP 
UNLESS SOMEONE PUTS AN END TO IT" 
 
-- RIJEKA-BASED "NOVI LIST" - "POWELL:  IRAQ HAS NOT DONE 
ANYTHING TO DISARM ITSELF." 
 
ROSSIN 
 
                       UNCLASSIFIED 
 
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