Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
03ZAGREB1164
2003-05-23 10:42:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Zagreb
Cable title:  

CROATIA: ELECTIONS FOR LOCAL MINORITY COUNCILS

Tags:  PHUM HR OSCE PGOV 
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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 03 ZAGREB 001164 

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/22/2008
TAGS: PGOV PHUM PHUM PHUM HR HRPGOV OSCE
SUBJECT: CROATIA: ELECTIONS FOR LOCAL MINORITY COUNCILS
FAIL -- PLENTY OF BLAME TO GO AROUND

REF: ZAGREB 995

CLASSIFIED BY: POLOFF A.F.GODFREY FOR REASONS 1.5 (B,D)

SUMMARY
-------

CONFIDENTIAL

PAGE 02 ZAGREB 01164 01 OF 03 231059Z
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 ZAGREB 001164

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/22/2008
TAGS: PGOV PHUM PHUM PHUM HR HRPGOV OSCE
SUBJECT: CROATIA: ELECTIONS FOR LOCAL MINORITY COUNCILS
FAIL -- PLENTY OF BLAME TO GO AROUND

REF: ZAGREB 995

CLASSIFIED BY: POLOFF A.F.GODFREY FOR REASONS 1.5 (B,D)

SUMMARY
--------------

CONFIDENTIAL

PAGE 02 ZAGREB 01164 01 OF 03 231059Z

1. (C) ELECTIONS FOR CROATIA'S NEW LOCAL MINORITY COUNCILS
WERE HELD ON MAY 18, BUT THE TURNOUT WAS SO LOW THAT THE
ELECTIONS ARE BROADLY JUDGED TO BE A TOTAL FAILURE. THERE IS
ENOUGH BLAME ON ALL SIDES TO GO AROUND. THE GOVERNMENT SET
AN UNREALISTICALLY SHORT -- BUT LEGAL -- DEADLINE, FAILED TO
EDUCATE POTENTIAL VOTERS ADEQUATELY AND DID NOT TAKE STEPS TO
UPDATE A "DISASTROUSLY" OUTDATED VOTER REGISTRY. MINORITIES
WERE WARNED OF UPCOMING ELECTIONS WELL IN ADVANCE, BUT THOSE
GROUPS WHICH CHOSE TO PARTICIPATE DID LITTLE TO PREPARE AND
REMAIN DISORGANIZED. THE OSCE MISSION IN CROATIA ISSUED A
STATEMENT CALLING FOR THE GOVERNMENT TO HOLD REPEAT ELECTIONS
WHERE COUNCILS WERE NOT SEATED, BUT SUCH A REPEAT ELECTION
WOULD REQUIRE A CHANGE IN THE LAW. THE ELECTIONS COMMISSION
HAS DELAYED RELEASE OF THE RESULTS, BUT PRELIMINARY VOTER
TURNOUT DATA SHOW THAT, IN SOME DISTRICTS, OBSERVERS
OUTNUMBERED VOTERS. THE GOVERNMENT INSISTS THAT THE
ELECTIONS WERE LAWFUL AND THAT COUNCILS SHOULD BEGIN TO
FUNCTION IN REGIONS WHERE ELECTIONS TOOK PLACE. IN A MAY 21
MEETING WITH DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER ANTE SIMONIC, THE
AMBASSADOR URGED THE GOC TO ENSURE GREATER PARTICIPATION BY
MINORITIES IN THE DEMOCRATIC PROCESS. END SUMMARY.

MAY 18 MINORITY ELECTIONS -- WHERE WERE THE VOTERS?
-------------- --------------


2. (C) CROATIA'S NEW CONSTITUTIONAL LAW ON NATIONAL
MINORITIES (CLNM) CALLED FOR ELECTIONS OF LOCAL-LEVEL
"MINORITY COUNCILS" IN ALL MUNICIPALITIES WITH SIGNIFICANT
ETHNIC MINORITY POPULATIONS (SEE REFTEL FOR DETAILS). SINCE
EACH MINORITY COMMUNITY MAY ELECT ITS OWN COUNCIL (PROVIDED
IT MAKES UP ENOUGH OF THE TOTAL POPULATION OF A
CONFIDENTIAL

PAGE 03 ZAGREB 01164 01 OF 03 231059Z
MUNICIPALITY),FULLY 470 COUNCILS COULD HAVE BEEN ELECTED.
140 COMMUNITIES WITH TOO FEW MINORITIES FOR A COUNCIL WERE

ELIGIBLE TO ELECT SINGLE REPRESENTATIVES TO MAKE UP REGIONAL
MINORITY COUNCILS.


3. (C) ELECTIONS WERE HELD IN LESS THAN HALF OF THE
MUNICIPALITIES ELIGIBLE AND VOTER TURNOUT IN ALMOST ALL AREAS
WHERE ELECTIONS WERE HELD WAS SO LOW AS TO BE LAUGHABLE. IN
ONE DISTRICT, ONLY THREE VOTERS TURNED OUT TO CAST BALLOTS
FOR A FIVE-CANDIDATE LIST, A TURNOUT OF 0.13 PERCENT.
MINORITIES BLAME THE GOVERNMENT FOR NOT BEING ABLE TO FIELD
LISTS OF CANDIDATES IN TIME TO MEET THE SHORT DEADLINE.
CROATIA'S ETHNIC ITALIAN LEADERS CALLED FOR A BOYCOTT OF THE
ELECTION. IN OTHER MUNICIPALITIES, MINORITIES EITHER LACKED
INFORMATION ABOUT HOW TO REGISTER AS CANDIDATES OR WERE NOT
ORGANIZED ENOUGH AT THE LOCAL LEVEL TO PUT TOGETHER A
CANDIDATE LIST. IN A MAY 19 PRESS STATEMENT, THE OSCE
MISSION IN CROATIA EXPRESSED "CONCERN" AT THE LOW VOTER
TURNOUT AND CALLED FOR NEW ELECTIONS TO BE ORGANIZED IN
MUNICIPALITIES WHERE THEY WERE NOT HELD.

ETHNIC SERB POLITICIANS FOCUS ON RIVALRY
--------------


4. (C) MILORAD PUPOVAC, PRESIDENT OF CROATIA'S SERB NATIONAL
COUNCIL (AND ALSO PRESIDENT OF THE INDEPENDENT DEMOCRATIC
SERB PARTY - SDSS),TOOK PAINS TO DESCRIBE TO US HIS
ORGANIZATION'S EFFORTS TO REACH OUT TO LOCAL-LEVEL MINORITY
COMMUNITIES. HE AGREED THAT TURNOUT WAS DISMAL, BUT WOULD
PRESS FOR THE GOVERNMENT TO CONSTITUTE COUNCILS WHERE LAWFUL
ELECTIONS TOOK PLACE. SINCE THE LAW PREVENTED POLITICAL
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PAGE 04 ZAGREB 01164 01 OF 03 231059Z
PARTIES FROM SUBMITTING CANDIDATE LISTS, PUPOVAC'S POSITION
ON THE SERB NATIONAL COUNCIL GAVE HIM AND HIS SDSS UNIQUE
ADVANTAGE OVER RIVAL ETHNIC SERB POLITICIANS IN CAMPAIGNING
FOR MINORITY COUNCILS. PUPOVAC TOLD US THAT ONE INDIRECT
GOAL OF THE CLNM IN CREATING LOCAL COUNCILS WAS TO GIVE LOCAL
COMMUNITIES MORE OF A VOICE IN MINORITY AFFAIRS. HE AGREED
THAT OUTSIDE OF A SMALL, POLITICALLY ACTIVE ELITE, MOST
MINORITIES ARE NOT ENGAGED IN THE DEMOCRATIC PROCESS IN
CROATIA. MILAN DUKIC, PRESIDENT OF THE SERB INDEPENDENT
PARTY (SNS - RIVAL TO PUPOVAC' SDSS) WAS NOT ABLE TO MOBILIZE
VOTERS TO TAKE PART IN ELECTIONS, AND SO DISPARAGED THE
ELECTIONS AS A "CHARADE."


5. (C) PUPOVAC TOLD US HE RECOGNIZES THAT THE GOVERNMENT'S
DECISION TO SET THE ELECTION DATE WAS LEGAL, BUT POINTS OUT
THAT IT WOULD ALSO HAVE BEEN LEGAL TO SET THE DATE NEARLY A
MONTH LATER. FURIO RADIN, WHO REPRESENTS THE ITALIAN
MINORITY IN PARLIAMENT AND ALSO CHAIRS ITS HUMAN RIGHTS
COMMITTEE, DECLARED TO THE PRESS THAT THE LOW TURNOUT MADE
THE ELECTION A "FAILURE" AND CALLED FOR THE GOVERNMENT TO
HOLD NEW ELECTIONS WITH MORE REASONABLE LEAD TIME AND WITH
GREATER EFFORTS TO EDUCATE POTENTIAL VOTERS. OTHER ETHNIC
LEADERS HAVE OPENLY SPECULATED THAT RADIN'S OPPOSITION TO
THESE ELECTIONS HAS BEEN MOTIVATED IN PART BY HIS CONCERN
THAT THE NEW COUNCILS COULD DISPLACE WELL-ESTABLISHED

CONFIDENTIAL

CONFIDENTIAL PTQ5738

PAGE 01 ZAGREB 01164 02 OF 03 231100Z
ACTION EUR-00

INFO LOG-00 NP-00 AID-00 AMAD-00 CIAE-00 INL-00 DODE-00
DOTE-00 PERC-00 SRPP-00 DS-00 EB-00 FAAE-00 FBIE-00
VC-00 TEDE-00 INR-00 IO-00 LAB-01 L-00 VCE-00
AC-01 NSAE-00 NSCE-00 OIC-02 OMB-01 DHS-00 OPIC-01
PA-00 PM-00 PRS-00 ACE-00 P-00 SCT-00 SP-00
IRM-00 STR-00 TRSE-00 USIE-00 IIP-00 PMB-00 DSCC-00
PRM-00 DRL-01 G-00 NFAT-00 SAS-00 SWCI-00 /007W
-------------- 6A0199 231100Z /38
R 231042Z MAY 03
FM AMEMBASSY ZAGREB
TO SECSTATE WASHDC 0290
INFO EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 02 OF 03 ZAGREB 001164

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/22/2008
TAGS: PGOV PHUM PHUM PHUM HR HRPGOV OSCE
SUBJECT: CROATIA: ELECTIONS FOR LOCAL MINORITY COUNCILS
FAIL -- PLENTY OF BLAME TO GO AROUND

ORGANIZATIONS OF CROATIA'S ETHNIC ITALIANS.

NGO: POLLING PROPER, BUT VOTER REGISTERS A "DISASTER"
-------------- --------------


6. (C) GONG, THE HIGHLY-REGARDED CROATIAN NGO WITH LONG
EXPERIENCE IN MONITORING ELECTIONS IN THE REGION, SENT OUT
CONFIDENTIAL

PAGE 02 ZAGREB 01164 02 OF 03 231100Z
TEAMS OF OBSERVERS TO 48 POLLING PLACES. WE MET WITH VLATKA
SVEDRUZIC, WHO COORDINATED GONG'S EFFORTS AND ALSO EXECUTED A
MODEST VOTER-INFORMATION CAMPAIGN SPONSORED BY THE OSCE
MISSION IN CROATIA. SVEDRUZIC SAID THAT THE CONDUCT OF THE
POLL WAS PROPER IN ALL RESPECTS, BUT NOT ALL POLLING PLACES
WERE OPEN. LOCAL OFFICIALS MADE TIMELY ANNOUNCEMENTS ABOUT
WHICH POLLS WOULD BE OPEN, BUT THERE WAS CONFUSION AMONG
VOTERS NONETHELESS. CENTRAL GOVERNMENT SUPPORT TO POLLING
PLACES WAS APPROPRIATE, AND ADEQUATE RESOURCES WERE DISBURSED
TO COVER THE COSTS OF THE POLL. THE BIGGEST TECHNICAL
PROBLEM WAS OUTDATED VOTER REGISTERS WHICH SVEDRUZIC TERMED A
"DISASTER." DECISIONS ABOUT WHICH DISTRICTS HAD A
SIGNIFICANT ENOUGH MINORITY COMMUNITY TO WARRANT A LOCAL
COUNCIL WERE MADE BASED ON THE 2001 CENSUS. BUT THIS
INFORMATION DID NOT MATCH VOTER ROLLS, SINCE INFORMATION IN
THE CENSUS ABOUT ETHNICITY IS CONSIDERED CONFIDENTIAL. VOTER
ROLLS ARE ONLY UPDATED BEFORE A MAJOR ELECTION, SVEDRUZIC
EXPLAINED, AND THE CURRENT LISTS DATE FROM PARLIAMENTARY
ELECTIONS IN JANUARY 2000, AND THEREFORE DO NOT INCLUDE MANY
FORMER REFUGEES WHO HAVE RETURNED TO THEIR HOMES IN CROATIA.


7. (C) SVEDRUZIC DESCRIBED THE GOVERNMENT'S EFFORTS TO
EDUCATE VOTERS AS "MINIMAL." CANDIDATE LISTS WERE PUBLISHED
IN THE LOCAL NEWSPAPERS, AND ANNOUNCEMENTS ABOUT THE
ELECTIONS WERE MADE ON THE RADIO. GONG RAN A MODEST
GET-OUT-THE-VOTE CAMPAIGN WITH FINANCIAL SUPPORT FROM THE
OSCE MISSION IN CROATIA. SVEDRUZIC SAID THAT THERE WERE
NEARLY AS MANY REASONS FOR LOW TURNOUT THERE ARE DISTINCT
ETHNIC COMMUNITIES IN CROATIA. SOME SERB POLITICIANS SAW THE
ELECTION AS A CHANCE TO SCORE POINTS AGAINST THEIR RIVALS.
CZECHS AND HUNGARIANS HAVE NO ORGANIZATION WITHIN THEIR
CONFIDENTIAL

PAGE 03 ZAGREB 01164 02 OF 03 231100Z
ETHNIC COMMUNITIES. ITALIANS CHOSE TO BOYCOTT. BOSNIAKS ARE
WELL-ORGANIZED, BUT SINCE THEY WERE ONLY DESIGNATED AS AN
OFFICIAL "NATIONAL ETHNIC MINORITY" WITH THE PASSAGE OF THE
CLNM IN DECEMBER, THEY HAD TO CHANGE THEIR ETHNICITY STATUS
AT THE POLLING PLACE. (NOTE: BOSNIAK TURNOUT WAS STRONGER
THAN ANY OTHER MINORITY GROUP, BUT WAS STILL RELATIVELY LOW.)
SVEDRUZIC SAID THEY MET WITH ROMA REPRESENTATIVES, BUT
BECAUSE SO MANY OF CROATIA'S ROMA ARE ILLITERATE, THE
INFORMATION HANDOUTS DISTRIBUTED WOULD BE OF LIMITED USE.

EXPLAINING LOW TURNOUT
--------------


8. (C) ROMAN MESTROVIC, AN SDP MEMBER OF THE PARLIAMENT'S
HUMAN RIGHTS COMMITTEE, TOLD US THAT HE EXPECTED THE
GOVERNMENT WOULD TAKE THE LION'S SHARE OF THE BLAME FOR THE
"TOTAL FAILURE" OF THE ELECTION, BUT THERE IS "PLENTY OF
BLAME FOR ALL." MESTROVIC BELIEVES IT WOULD BE BEST TO THROW
OUT ALL OF THE ELECTION RESULTS. THE MAY 18 EXERCISE SHOULD
SERVE AS AN "EDUCATION" AND, WITH TECHNICAL CHANGES TO THE
LAW, THE PARLIAMENT SHOULD SCHEDULE NEW ELECTIONS TO TAKE
PLACE CONCURRENTLY WITH EITHER PARLIAMENTARY OR LOCAL
ELECTIONS. MATO ARLOVIC, SDP VICE PRESIDENT AND CHAIR OF THE
PARLIAMENT'S CONSTITUTION, RULES AND POLITICAL SYSTEM
COMMITTEE, TOLD THE PRESS THAT THE LOW TURNOUT IS ACTUALLY A
"GOOD RESULT" FOR CROATIA, SINCE IT MEANS MANY MINORITIES ARE
CHOOSING THE "CIVIC OPTION" OF IDENTIFYING THEMSELVES AS
CROATIAN CITIZENS BROADLY AND NOT AS MEMBERS OF INDIVIDUAL
ETHNIC COMMUNITIES.

DEPUTY PM: POLL WAS LEGAL
CONFIDENTIAL

PAGE 04 ZAGREB 01164 02 OF 03 231100Z
--------------


9. (C) IN A MAY 21 MEETING WITH THE AMBASSADOR, DEPUTY PRIME
MINISTER ANTE SIMONIC AGREED THAT LOW TURNOUT WAS A PROBLEM
AND AGREED THAT THE GOVERNMENT, IN HINDSIGHT, SHOULD HAVE
PICKED THE LONGER TIMELINE. HE DEFENDED THE LEGALITY OF THE
SHORT DEADLINE, AND SAID THAT MINORITIES SHOULD SHOULDER SOME
OF THE BLAME FOR THE ELECTIONS' FAILURE. MINOR GOVERNMENT
SHORTCOMINGS IN PREPARING THE POLL HAD NO EFFECT ON VOTER
TURNOUT, ASSERTED SIMONIC, WHICH WAS MAINLY DUE TO
OBSTRUCTION BY OR DISORGANIZATION AMONG CROATIA'S MINOIRTY
ASSOCIATIONS. HE SAID HIS PERSONAL VIEW IS THAT PART OF THE
REASON FOR THE LOW TURNOUT WAS A "GENTLEMAN'S CONSPIRACY" BY
MINORITY ORGANIZATIONS WHICH BELIEVE THEY STAND TO LOSE
SIGNIFICANT FINANCIAL SUPPORT, BOTH FROM THE STATE BUDGET
AND, IN THE CASE OF ITALIANS, FROM ABROAD WHEN THE NEW
COUNCILS ARE FORMED. PM RACAN'S CABINET WOULD MEET SOON TO
DISCUSS A WAY FORWARD ON THE ISSUE, AND HE SPECULATED THAT
CHANGES TO THE LAW ON LOCAL ELECTIONS COULD BE PUSHED THROUGH
TO MAKE POSSIBLE REPEAT ELECTIONS IN THOSE DISTRICTS WHERE
THEY DID NOT TAKE PLACE. HOWEVER, A MAY 22 GOC PRESS
STATEMENT INSISTED THAT THE POLL WAS LEGAL, THE TURNOUT WAS
IN THE RANGE OF WHAT IT EXPECTED, AND THAT THE RESULTS WOULD
STAND.

CONFIDENTIAL

CONFIDENTIAL PTQ5739

PAGE 01 ZAGREB 01164 03 OF 03 231100Z
ACTION EUR-00

INFO LOG-00 NP-00 AID-00 AMAD-00 CIAE-00 INL-00 DODE-00
DOTE-00 PERC-00 SRPP-00 DS-00 EB-00 FAAE-00 FBIE-00
VC-00 TEDE-00 INR-00 IO-00 LAB-01 L-00 VCE-00
AC-01 NSAE-00 NSCE-00 OIC-02 OMB-01 DHS-00 OPIC-01
PA-00 PM-00 PRS-00 ACE-00 P-00 SCT-00 SP-00
IRM-00 STR-00 TRSE-00 USIE-00 IIP-00 PMB-00 DSCC-00
PRM-00 DRL-01 G-00 NFAT-00 SAS-00 SWCI-00 /007W
-------------- 6A019B 231100Z /38
R 231042Z MAY 03
FM AMEMBASSY ZAGREB
TO SECSTATE WASHDC 0291
INFO EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 03 OF 03 ZAGREB 001164

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/22/2008
TAGS: PGOV PHUM PHUM PHUM HR HRPGOV OSCE
SUBJECT: CROATIA: ELECTIONS FOR LOCAL MINORITY COUNCILS
FAIL -- PLENTY OF BLAME TO GO AROUND

AMBASSADOR: YOU NEED TO DO BETTER
--------------


10. (C) THE AMBASSADOR TOLD SIMONIC HE AGREED THAT MINORITY
LEADERS WERE FOREWARNED ABOUT THE UPCOMING ELECTIONS AND
SHOULD HAVE DONE MORE TO PREPARE. BUT THE GOVERNMENT COULD
HAVE AND SHOULD HAVE SHOWN MORE GOOD WILL BY SETTING A MORE
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PAGE 02 ZAGREB 01164 03 OF 03 231100Z
REALISTIC ELECTION DATE. THE AMBASSADOR URGED SIMONIC TO
REACH OUT DIRECTLY TO MINORITIES RATHER THAN RELY ON THEIR
CENTRAL ORGANIZATIONS TO RELAY INFORMATION FAITHFULLY.
MINORITIES SHOULD BE EDUCATED INDIVIDUALLY ABOUT THE
POTENTIAL BENEFITS CREATED BY THE NEW CLNM, URGED THE
AMBASSADOR.
MOON

CONFIDENTIAL

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