Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
03ZAGREB1709
2003-07-30 15:05:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Zagreb
Cable title:  

CROATIA SEEKS BILATERAL MEETING WITH SECRETARY

Tags:  PREL HR UNGA 
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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 ZAGREB 001709 

SIPDIS


DEPARTMENT FOR EUR/SCE AND IO/UNP

E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/29/2008
TAGS: PREL HR UNGA
SUBJECT: CROATIA SEEKS BILATERAL MEETING WITH SECRETARY
POWELL DURING UNGA

CLASSIFIED BY: DCM PATRICK S. MOON FOR REASONS 1.5 (B) AND (D)

C O N F I D E N T I A L ZAGREB 001709

SIPDIS


DEPARTMENT FOR EUR/SCE AND IO/UNP

E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/29/2008
TAGS: PREL HR UNGA
SUBJECT: CROATIA SEEKS BILATERAL MEETING WITH SECRETARY
POWELL DURING UNGA

CLASSIFIED BY: DCM PATRICK S. MOON FOR REASONS 1.5 (B) AND (D)


1. (SBU) ON JULY 29, DCM MET WITH VICE SKRACIC, HEAD OF THE
MFA'S UN DEPARTMENT. SKRACIC PRESENTED THE GOC'S FORMAL
REQUEST FOR A BILATERAL MEETING WITH SECRETARY POWELL FOR
CROATIAN FOREIGN MINISTER TONINO PICULA DURING THIS YEAR'S
UNGA. SKRACIC SAID THAT THE GOC UNDERSTANDS HOW BUSY THE
SECRETARY WILL BE AND THAT IF A MEETING ON THE MARGINS OF

SIPDIS
UNGA IS NOT POSSIBLE, PICULA IS READY TO TRAVEL TO WASHINGTON
EITHER IMMEDIATELY BEFORE OR AFTER THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY.
PICULA NOW PLANS TO BE IN NEW YORK FROM SEPTEMBER 22 - 26,
BUT WOULD BE READY TO TRAVEL TO WASHINGTON EITHER ON
SEPTEMBER 18 - 19 OR SEPTEMBER 29 - 30 FOR A MEETING WITH THE
SECRETARY. SKRACIC UNDERSTOOD THAT SCHEDULES WILL TAKE TIME

SIPDIS
TO FORMULATE, BUT ASKED FOR AN EARLY RESPONSE SO CROATIA'S
EMBASSY IN WASHINGTON CAN BEGIN WORK ON A PROGRAM OF OTHER
SUBSTANTIVE MEETINGS FOR THE MINISTER.


2. (SBU) SKRACIC SAID THAT THE MAIN SUBJECTS OF DISCUSSION
WOULD BE CROATIA'S CONTRIBUTION OF TROOPS TO IRAQ, A POSSIBLE
COMPROMISE FORMULA ON ARTICLE 98/ICC AND COUNTERTERRORISM.
THE DCM TOLD SKRACIC THAT WE WOULD FORWARD THE GOC REQUEST.
HE NOTED THAT DURING A BUSY TIME LIKE THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY,
SENIOR U.S. OFFICIALS OFTEN HELD THEMATIC MEETINGS WITH
GROUPINGS OF REGIONAL LEADERS. IN THIS REGARD, HE ASKED
WHETHER CROATIA'S PARLIAMENT WOU.LD APPROVE BEFORE PICULA'S
TRIP A PLANNED DEPLOYMENT OF TROOPS TO IRAQ. SKRACIC SAID HE
WAS CONFIDENT THAT THE PARLIAMENT WOULD APPROVE THE
DEPLOYMENT IN ADVANCE OF THE MINISTER'S TRIP.


3. (SBU) SKRACIC ASKED THAT WE EXPLORE THE POSSIBILITY OF A
PHOTO OPPORTUNITY FOR CROATIAN PRESIDENT MESIC WITH PRESIDENT
BUSH. MESIC NOW PLANS TO ARRIVE IN NEW YORK ON SEPTEMBER 21
AND INTENDS TO DEPART BY THE END OF THE WEEK.

POST RECOMMENDATION
--------------


4. (C) WE DO NOT SEE JUSTIFICATION FOR A PHOTO OPPORTUNITY
FOR PRESIDENT MESIC, EXCEPT PERHAPS AS PART OF A GROUP
PHOTOGRAPH (PERHAPS OF ADRIATIC CHARTER COUNTRIES OR OF
COUNTRIES WHICH ARE PROVIDING TROOPS TO IRAQ). LIKEWISE WE
DO SEE ENOUGH JUSTIFICATION FOR A PRIVATE BILATERAL MEETING
WITH FM PICULA, ALTHOUGH WE WOULD SUPPORT HIS PARTICIPATION
IN A MEETING OF REGIONAL LEADERS WITH SENIOR USG OFFICIALS.
FRANK

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