DECIDING ITF DIRECTOR CIMPERSEK'S FUTURE

C O N F I D E N T I A L ZAGREB 001936

SIPDIS


E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/05/2013
TAGS: PREL PGOV PBTS KHDP HR
SUBJECT: DECIDING ITF DIRECTOR CIMPERSEK'S FUTURE

REF: A. STATE 24003


B. LJUBLJANA 853

C. ZAGREB 1719

D. LJUBLJANA 0749

CLASSIFIED BY: POLOFF DARREN TAYLOR: REASON: 1.5 (B) AND (D)


1. (C) PER REFTEL A, WE HAVE PREPARED A LIST OF SPECIFIC
INCIDENTS HIGHLIGHTING OUR CONCERNS (REF C) ABOUT ITF
DIRECTOR JERNEJ CIMPERSEK,S SUITABILITY TO CONTINUE IN HIS
CURRENT POSITION:

-- LAST OCTOBER, CIMPERSEK DISPLAYED UNPROFESSIONAL AND
UNACCEPTABLE BEHAVIOR DURING A/S BLOOMFIELD'S VISIT TO
CROATIA TO ATTEND A DEMINING CONFERENCE IN DUBROVNIK. DURING
MEETINGS WITH GOC OFFICIALS AND IN PRIVATE MEETINGS WITH U.S.
OFFICIALS, CIMPERSEK HAD TO BE REPEATEDLY TOLD THAT HIS
TEMPERAMENTAL AND OPENLY HOSTILE BEHAVIOR WAS NOT HELPFUL IN
RESOLVING DISPUTES WITH SENIOR GOC OFFICIALS. CIMPERSEK
RESPONDED BY SIMPLY DECLARING HIS DISDAIN FOR THE GOC
OFFICIALS INVOLVED.

-- LAST NOVEMBER, WHEN POLOFF VISITED LJUBLJANA TO MEET WITH
ITF AND PM/HDP OFFICIALS FROM WASHINGTON, WHO WERE IN TOWN TO
ATTEND THE NIGHT OF A THOUSAND DINNERS EVENT, CIMPERSEK
LAUNCHED AN EXPLETIVE-FILLED SCREED AT POLOFF. HE COMPLAINED
BITTERLY ABOUT MANY OF THE KEY DEMINING PLAYERS IN CROATIA
AND LAUNCHED SIMILAR CRITICISMS AGAINST EMBASSY ZAGREB AND
SENIOR USG OFFICIALS IN WASHINGTON. PM/HDP OFFICIALS WHO
HEARD CIMPERSEK, INCLUDING THE THEN REGIONAL MANAGER FOR THE
BALKANS WHO WAS CO-LOCATED AT ITF HEADQUARTERS, WERE SHOCKED.


-- DURING POLOFF,S VISIT TO ITF HEADQUARTERS EARLIER THIS
YEAR TO MEET WITH THE FORMER PM/HDP BALKANS REGIONAL MANAGER,
CIMPERCEK AGAIN LAUNCHED INTO A TIRADE ABOUT HIS DISPLEASURE
WITH CROATIANS AND USED EXPLETIVES TO VOICE DISGUST WITH U.S.
OFFICIALS WHO DEMANDED THAT HE PLAY A CONSTRUCTIVE ROLE IN
DEALING WITH CROATIAN AND OTHER OFFICIALS IN THE DEMINING
COMMUNITY IN THE REGION. HIS ACTIONS PROVOKED A STRONG
RESPONSE FROM THE THEN REGIONAL MANAGER WHO SUGGESTED TO
CIMPERSEK THAT HE RESIGN IF HE NO LONGER WANTED TO PERFORM
THE DUTIES OF THE JOB.

-- DURING POLOFF,S OTHER VISITS TO ITF HEADQUARTERS AND
DURING MEETINGS IN OTHER LOCATIONS WITH CIMPERSEK, CIMPERSEK
WOULD OPENLY STATE HIS EFFORTS TO DEFLECT ATTENTION AWAY FROM
DEMINING PROJECTS IN CROATIA AND HIS UNWILLINGNESS TO PROVIDE
SUPPORT TO CROATIA. WHEN POLOFF TRIED TO CONVEY TO CIMPERSEK
THAT THE USG MUST ENGAGE THE GOC IN A PROFESSIONAL AND
DIPLOMATIC MANNER, CIMPERSEK RESPONDED THAT HE WAS SLOVENIAN
AND DID NOT SHARE THE USG,S VIEW. THIS WAS ALSO HIS
ATTITUDE TOWARD OTHER COUNTRIES IN THE REGION, PARTICULARLY
BIH AND SERBIA MONTENEGRO.

-- SLOVENIAN OFFICIALS WORKING AT THE ITF HAVE CONFIDED TO
US THAT CIMPERSEK IS UNABLE TO CONTROL HIS TEMPER AND
OFTENTIMES THEY ARE THE VICTIMS OF HIS RAGE. THEY HAVE
OFFERED APOLOGIES ON HIS BEHALF. CIMPERSEK, HOWEVER, HAS
NEVER APOLOGIZED FOR ANY INCIDENTS AND MADE COMMITMENTS TO
TAKE CORRECTIVE ACTIONS.

FRANK

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