Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
03ZAGREB2646
2003-12-18 13:30:00
SECRET
Embassy Zagreb
Cable title:  

CROATIA DEFERS DECISION TO REFIT LIBYAN NAVAL VESSEL "AL MUNYED"

Tags:  PARM PREL ETTC PINR LY HR PASS 
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S E C R E T ZAGREB 002646 

SIPDIS


DEPARTMENT FOR EUR/PRA (CORDOVA) AND EUR/SCE (KABUMOTO)

E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/18/2013
TAGS: PARM PREL ETTC PINR LY HR PASS
SUBJECT: CROATIA DEFERS DECISION TO REFIT LIBYAN NAVAL VESSEL "AL MUNYED"

REF: A. ZAGREB 2504


B. STATE 331261 (NOTAL)

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

S E C R E T ZAGREB 002646

SIPDIS


DEPARTMENT FOR EUR/PRA (CORDOVA) AND EUR/SCE (KABUMOTO)

E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/18/2013
TAGS: PARM PREL ETTC PINR LY HR PASS
SUBJECT: CROATIA DEFERS DECISION TO REFIT LIBYAN NAVAL VESSEL "AL MUNYED"

REF: A. ZAGREB 2504


B. STATE 331261 (NOTAL)

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


1. (S) ON DECEMBER 4, WE DELIVERED REF B POINTS TO SENIOR
OFFICIALS AT CROATIA'S DEFENSE AND FOREIGN MINISTRIES AND TO
ADVISERS IN PRESIDENT MESIC'S OFFICE, UNDERSCORING THAT
REFITTING THE DIVER SUPPORT VESSEL WOULD ADD TO LIBYA'S
MILITARY CAPABILITIES AND COULD INCREASE LIBYA'S ABILITY TO
SUPPORT TERRORIST ACTIVITIES. ON DECEMBER 16 -- AFTER
SEVERAL FOLLOW-UP DISCUSSIONS WITH APPROPRIATE SENIOR GOC
OFFICIALS -- WE LEARNED THAT OUTGOING DEFENSE MINISTER ZELJKA
ANTUNOVIC WOULD INSTEAD STICK TO HER DECISION LAST YEAR NOT
TO PERMIT THE "AL MUNYED" ENTRY INTO CROATIAN WATERS.


2. (S) ON DECEMBER 17, DCM FOLLOWED UP AGAIN WITH IVICA
MASTRUKO, MESIC'S SENIOR FOREIGN POLICY ADVISER. MASTRUKO
CONFIRMED THAT HE HAD REPORTED OUR CONCERNS TO THE PRESIDENT
AND WARNED THAT A DECISION TO MOVE AHEAD WITH THE REFIT OF
THE "AL MUNYED" COULD HAVE NEGATIVE CONSEQUENCES FOR
CROATIA'S BILATERAL RELATIONSHIP WITH THE U.S. ALTHOUGH
NON-COMMITAL ON MESIC'S POSITION, MASTRUKO SAID THAT THE
PRESIDENT WOULD SEEK A MEETING EARLY IN THE NEW YEAR WITH THE
NEW HDZ GOVERNMENT (ONCE IT TAKES OFFICE) TO DISCUSS A NUMBER
OF CRITICAL FOREIGN POLICY ISSUES, INCLUDING RELATIONS WITH
LIBYA.
FRANK


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