Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
03ZAGREB393
2003-02-21 14:00:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Zagreb
Cable title:
IRAQ: JUST ANOTHER POLITICAL FOOTBALL FOR CROATIAN
how-toThis 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 02 ZAGREB 000393
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/21/2013
TAGS: PGOV PREL HR PREL HR IZ IZPGOV
SUBJECT: IRAQ: JUST ANOTHER POLITICAL FOOTBALL FOR CROATIAN
POLS
REF: ZAGREB 297 AND PREVIOUS
CONFIDENTIAL
PAGE 02 ZAGREB 00393 01 OF 02 211406Z
CLASSIFIED BY: POLOFF A.F.GODFREY FOR REASONS 1.5 (B,D)
SUMMARY
-------
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 ZAGREB 000393
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/21/2013
TAGS: PGOV PREL HR PREL HR IZ IZPGOV
SUBJECT: IRAQ: JUST ANOTHER POLITICAL FOOTBALL FOR CROATIAN
POLS
REF: ZAGREB 297 AND PREVIOUS
CONFIDENTIAL
PAGE 02 ZAGREB 00393 01 OF 02 211406Z
CLASSIFIED BY: POLOFF A.F.GODFREY FOR REASONS 1.5 (B,D)
SUMMARY
--------------
1. (C) A FEBRUARY 18 JOINT SESSION OF THE FOREIGN AFFAIRS
AND INTERNATIONAL SECURITY COMMITTEES OF THE CROATIAN
PARLIAMENT FAILED TO SUPPORT THE GOVERNMENT'S POLICY LINE ON
IRAQ. PREDICTABLY, THE FAILURE HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH IRAQ,
BUT WITH THE COALITION'S INCOMPETENCE AND THE OPPOSITION'S
OPPORTUNISM. SINCE THE SESSION PRODUCED NO CONCRETE RESULT,
PARLIAMENT SPEAKER ZLATKO TOMCIC WILL LIKELY CALL FOR A
BROADER DEBATE OF THE GOC IRAQ POLICY DURING THE NEXT PLENARY
SESSION OF THE SABOR, WHICH MAY TURN OUT TO BE EVEN MORE
DISRUPTIVE. WHILE PM RACAN AND SOME OTHERS (INCLUDING WE)
TRY TO STEER THE DEBATE IN CROATIA TO SADDAM AND IRAQ, MOST
OF THE POLITICAL CHATTERING CLASS HERE CONTINUES TO FOCUS ON
HOW THE GOC'S POLICY STATEMENTS ON IRAQ WILL AFFECT CROATIA'S
APPLICATION FOR EU MEMBERSHIP AND ON VARIOUS POLITICAL
PARTIES' FORTUNES IN AN ELECTION YEAR. END SUMMARY.
2. (C) THE GOC DECISION TO JOIN THE VILNIUS-10 DECLARATION
OF SUPPORT TO THE USG INTERPRETATION OF IRAQ'S NONCOMPLIANCE
WITH UNSCR 1441 TOOK MOST OF CROATIA'S POLITICAL LEADERS BY
SURPRISE. WHILE MESIC TOOK THE CABINET'S ABRUPT POLICY
CHOICE MORE OR LESS IN HIS STRIDE, THE PARLIAMENT (SABOR) GOT
ITS NOSE OUT OF JOINT. INSISTING ON ITS CONSTITUTIONAL
PREROGATIVE AS CROATIA'S SUPREME POLITICAL BODY, THE SABOR
SCHEDULED A JOINT SESSION OF THE COMMITTEES ON NATIONAL
SECURITY AND FOREIGN AFFAIRS (REFTEL). THE MEETING WAS
CONFIDENTIAL
PAGE 03 ZAGREB 00393 01 OF 02 211406Z
DELAYED A WEEK AS THE PM WAS BUSY ABROAD DRUMMING UP SUPPORT
FOR CROATIA'S EU BID, BUT IT FINALLY CONVENED IN CLOSED (BUT
VERY LEAKY) SESSION ON FEBRUARY 18. IN ADVANCE OF THE
MEETING, THE EMBASSY PROVIDED BOTH COMMITTEES TRANSLATIONS OF
SECRETARY POWELL'S FEBRUARY 5 INTERVENTION AT THE UN SECURITY
SIPDIS
COUNCIL AND SEVERAL OTHER SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS.
3. (C) AS THE COALITION HOLDS A SLIM MAJORITY IN BOTH
COMMITTEES, THE OUTCOME OF THE VOTE SHOULD HAVE BEEN A
FOREGONE CONCLUSION. ANTE MARKOV (HSS),CHAIRMAN OF THE
NATIONAL SECURITY COMMITTEE, MADE SURE OF ALL OF HIS VOTES
WELL IN ADVANCE OF THE MEETING (WE HAD ADMONISHED HIM NOT TO
PLAY POLITICS ON IRAQ - REFTEL).
4. (C) ZDRAVKO TOMAC, WHO CHAIRS THE FOREIGN AFFAIRS
COMMITTEE AND IS A MEMBER OF PM RACAN'S SDP, FAILED TO ENSURE
THAT ALL OF THE MEMBERS OF HIS COMMITTEE WHO ARE ON THE
COALITION WERE PRESENT AT THE MEETING. TOMAC HAS BEEN A
RIGHT-WING, KNOW-IT-ALL IRRITANT TO RACAN WITHIN THE SDP
SINCE THE COALITION CAME TO POWER IN 2000, BUT THE PM -- WHO
IS ALSO PRESIDENT OF THE SDP -- HAS NOT DONE ANYTHING TO
BRING HIM INTO LINE. IN THE RUNUP TO THIS JOINT COMMITTEE
SESSION, TOMAC THREATENED TO QUIT THE SDP (AFTER HIS SISTER
WAS FIRED FROM HER POSITION AS ASSISTANT MINISTER FOR
VETERANS AFFAIRS).
5. (C) THE OPPOSITION HDZ, WHICH REMAINS LARGELY
UNRECONSTRUCTED FROM THE CORRUPT, NATIONALIST DAYS OF
PRESIDENT TUDJMAN, HAS TAKEN A STRONG POSITION IN SUPPORT OF
USG EFFORTS ON IRAQ. BUT WITHOUT ALL OF THE COALITION
COMMITTEE MEMBERS PRESENT, THE OPPOSITION COULD NOT PASS UP
CONFIDENTIAL
PAGE 04 ZAGREB 00393 01 OF 02 211406Z
THE CHANCE TO DELIVER A POLITICAL DEFEAT TO PM RACAN. THE
OPPOSITION ABSTAINED FROM THE COMMITTEE VOTE, WHICH MEANT
THAT WITH TWO FRINGE-PARTY VOTES AGAINST AND TWO COALITION
VOTES PLAYING HOOKY, THE COMMITTEE DID NOT SUPPORT THE GOC
POSITION.
5. (C) IN A FEBRUARY 19 POST-MORTEM MEETING, OPPOSITION MP
AND FOREIGN AFFAIRS COMMITTEE MEMBER VESNA SKARE-OZBOLT
SHEEPISHLY ADMITTED TO US THAT THE ONLY REASON THE HDZ AND
HER PARTY, THE RIGHT-OF-CENTER DEMOCRATIC CENTER (DC),VOTED
AGAINST THE GOVERNMENT POSITION WAS ELECTION-YEAR POLITICS.
THE DECISION TO ABSTAIN WAS MADE ON THE DAY OF THE COMMITTEE
MEETING, WHEN HDZ PRESIDENT SANADER COUNTED NOSES AND SAW
THAT THE COALITION WOULD LOSE WITHOUT THEM. THE HDZ, WHICH
IS DESPERATE TO GET THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY (AND
ESPECIALLY THE USG) TO GIVE ITS SEAL OF APPROVAL TO ITS
FAR-FROM-COMPLETE INTERNAL REFORM PROCESS, PHONED POLOFF
AFTER THE VOTE TO TRY AND REASSURE US THAT THE HDZ POSITION
ON IRAQ REMAINS STAUNCHLY PRO-USG. THE HDZ ISSUED A PRESS
RELEASE THE FOLLOWING DAY WITH THE SAME MESSAGE, BUT ADDING A
LINE ESSENTIALLY SAYING THAT IT IS NOT THE OPPOSITION'S
RESPONSIBILITY TO DELIVER THE GOVERNMENT'S POLICY.
COMMENT
CONFIDENTIAL
CONFIDENTIAL PTQ4534
PAGE 01 ZAGREB 00393 02 OF 02 211406Z
ACTION EUR-00
INFO LOG-00 NP-00 AF-00 AID-00 AMAD-00 CIAE-00 INL-00
SRPP-00 DS-00 FBIE-00 VC-00 TEDE-00 INR-00 IO-00
LAB-01 L-00 VCE-00 AC-01 NEA-00 NRRC-00 NSAE-00
NSCE-00 OMB-01 OPIC-01 PA-00 PM-00 PRS-00 ACE-00
P-00 SCT-00 SP-00 SSO-00 TRSE-00 USIE-00 EPAE-00
PMB-00 DSCC-00 PRM-00 DRL-01 G-00 NFAT-00 SAS-00
SWCI-00 /005W
-------------- 3956CD 211406Z /38
O 211400Z FEB 03
FM AMEMBASSY ZAGREB
TO SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 9513
INFO AMEMBASSY BELGRADE PRIORITY
AMEMBASSY LJUBLJANA PRIORITY
AMEMBASSY SARAJEVO PRIORITY
AMEMBASSY SKOPJE PRIORITY
AMEMBASSY TIRANA PRIORITY
USMISSION USNATO PRIORITY
SECDEF WASHDC PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 02 OF 02 ZAGREB 000393
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/21/2013
TAGS: PGOV PREL HR PREL HR IZ IZPGOV
SUBJECT: IRAQ: JUST ANOTHER POLITICAL FOOTBALL FOR CROATIAN
POLS
--------------
CONFIDENTIAL
PAGE 02 ZAGREB 00393 02 OF 02 211406Z
6. (C) NO FOLLOW-UP MEETING TO THE JOINT SESSION HAS BEEN
SCHEDULED, BUT IT IS UNLIKELY THAT PARLIAMENT SPEAKER ZLATKO
TOMCIC (HSS) WILL LET THE GOVERNMENT'S POLICY CHOICE STAND
WITHOUT THE SABOR MARKING ITS TERRITORY. RIGHT NOW, THE
COALITION PARTIES HAVE SUSPENDED THEIR DIFFERENCES IN ORDER
TO PRESENT A UNITED FRONT AS CROATIA SUBMITS ITS APPLICATION
TO THE EUROPEAN UNION (SIGNED ON FEBRUARY 20 AND SCHEDULED
FOR DELIVERY IN ATHENS ON FEBRUARY 21). BUT IT WON'T BE LONG
BEFORE THE BELL RINGS TO SIGNAL THE BEGINNING OF THE NEXT
ROUND, AND IRAQ WILL CONTINUE TO BE THE HOTTEST POLITICAL
POTATO IN ZAGREB. DESPITE POSSIBLE REPERCUSSIONS OUTSIDE OF
CROATIA, POLITICIANS HERE WILL USE THIS ISSUE TO GAIN
ADVANTAGE OVER THEIR OPPONENTS IN THIS ELECTION YEAR.
ROSSIN
CONFIDENTIAL
>
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/21/2013
TAGS: PGOV PREL HR PREL HR IZ IZPGOV
SUBJECT: IRAQ: JUST ANOTHER POLITICAL FOOTBALL FOR CROATIAN
POLS
REF: ZAGREB 297 AND PREVIOUS
CONFIDENTIAL
PAGE 02 ZAGREB 00393 01 OF 02 211406Z
CLASSIFIED BY: POLOFF A.F.GODFREY FOR REASONS 1.5 (B,D)
SUMMARY
--------------
1. (C) A FEBRUARY 18 JOINT SESSION OF THE FOREIGN AFFAIRS
AND INTERNATIONAL SECURITY COMMITTEES OF THE CROATIAN
PARLIAMENT FAILED TO SUPPORT THE GOVERNMENT'S POLICY LINE ON
IRAQ. PREDICTABLY, THE FAILURE HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH IRAQ,
BUT WITH THE COALITION'S INCOMPETENCE AND THE OPPOSITION'S
OPPORTUNISM. SINCE THE SESSION PRODUCED NO CONCRETE RESULT,
PARLIAMENT SPEAKER ZLATKO TOMCIC WILL LIKELY CALL FOR A
BROADER DEBATE OF THE GOC IRAQ POLICY DURING THE NEXT PLENARY
SESSION OF THE SABOR, WHICH MAY TURN OUT TO BE EVEN MORE
DISRUPTIVE. WHILE PM RACAN AND SOME OTHERS (INCLUDING WE)
TRY TO STEER THE DEBATE IN CROATIA TO SADDAM AND IRAQ, MOST
OF THE POLITICAL CHATTERING CLASS HERE CONTINUES TO FOCUS ON
HOW THE GOC'S POLICY STATEMENTS ON IRAQ WILL AFFECT CROATIA'S
APPLICATION FOR EU MEMBERSHIP AND ON VARIOUS POLITICAL
PARTIES' FORTUNES IN AN ELECTION YEAR. END SUMMARY.
2. (C) THE GOC DECISION TO JOIN THE VILNIUS-10 DECLARATION
OF SUPPORT TO THE USG INTERPRETATION OF IRAQ'S NONCOMPLIANCE
WITH UNSCR 1441 TOOK MOST OF CROATIA'S POLITICAL LEADERS BY
SURPRISE. WHILE MESIC TOOK THE CABINET'S ABRUPT POLICY
CHOICE MORE OR LESS IN HIS STRIDE, THE PARLIAMENT (SABOR) GOT
ITS NOSE OUT OF JOINT. INSISTING ON ITS CONSTITUTIONAL
PREROGATIVE AS CROATIA'S SUPREME POLITICAL BODY, THE SABOR
SCHEDULED A JOINT SESSION OF THE COMMITTEES ON NATIONAL
SECURITY AND FOREIGN AFFAIRS (REFTEL). THE MEETING WAS
CONFIDENTIAL
PAGE 03 ZAGREB 00393 01 OF 02 211406Z
DELAYED A WEEK AS THE PM WAS BUSY ABROAD DRUMMING UP SUPPORT
FOR CROATIA'S EU BID, BUT IT FINALLY CONVENED IN CLOSED (BUT
VERY LEAKY) SESSION ON FEBRUARY 18. IN ADVANCE OF THE
MEETING, THE EMBASSY PROVIDED BOTH COMMITTEES TRANSLATIONS OF
SECRETARY POWELL'S FEBRUARY 5 INTERVENTION AT THE UN SECURITY
SIPDIS
COUNCIL AND SEVERAL OTHER SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS.
3. (C) AS THE COALITION HOLDS A SLIM MAJORITY IN BOTH
COMMITTEES, THE OUTCOME OF THE VOTE SHOULD HAVE BEEN A
FOREGONE CONCLUSION. ANTE MARKOV (HSS),CHAIRMAN OF THE
NATIONAL SECURITY COMMITTEE, MADE SURE OF ALL OF HIS VOTES
WELL IN ADVANCE OF THE MEETING (WE HAD ADMONISHED HIM NOT TO
PLAY POLITICS ON IRAQ - REFTEL).
4. (C) ZDRAVKO TOMAC, WHO CHAIRS THE FOREIGN AFFAIRS
COMMITTEE AND IS A MEMBER OF PM RACAN'S SDP, FAILED TO ENSURE
THAT ALL OF THE MEMBERS OF HIS COMMITTEE WHO ARE ON THE
COALITION WERE PRESENT AT THE MEETING. TOMAC HAS BEEN A
RIGHT-WING, KNOW-IT-ALL IRRITANT TO RACAN WITHIN THE SDP
SINCE THE COALITION CAME TO POWER IN 2000, BUT THE PM -- WHO
IS ALSO PRESIDENT OF THE SDP -- HAS NOT DONE ANYTHING TO
BRING HIM INTO LINE. IN THE RUNUP TO THIS JOINT COMMITTEE
SESSION, TOMAC THREATENED TO QUIT THE SDP (AFTER HIS SISTER
WAS FIRED FROM HER POSITION AS ASSISTANT MINISTER FOR
VETERANS AFFAIRS).
5. (C) THE OPPOSITION HDZ, WHICH REMAINS LARGELY
UNRECONSTRUCTED FROM THE CORRUPT, NATIONALIST DAYS OF
PRESIDENT TUDJMAN, HAS TAKEN A STRONG POSITION IN SUPPORT OF
USG EFFORTS ON IRAQ. BUT WITHOUT ALL OF THE COALITION
COMMITTEE MEMBERS PRESENT, THE OPPOSITION COULD NOT PASS UP
CONFIDENTIAL
PAGE 04 ZAGREB 00393 01 OF 02 211406Z
THE CHANCE TO DELIVER A POLITICAL DEFEAT TO PM RACAN. THE
OPPOSITION ABSTAINED FROM THE COMMITTEE VOTE, WHICH MEANT
THAT WITH TWO FRINGE-PARTY VOTES AGAINST AND TWO COALITION
VOTES PLAYING HOOKY, THE COMMITTEE DID NOT SUPPORT THE GOC
POSITION.
5. (C) IN A FEBRUARY 19 POST-MORTEM MEETING, OPPOSITION MP
AND FOREIGN AFFAIRS COMMITTEE MEMBER VESNA SKARE-OZBOLT
SHEEPISHLY ADMITTED TO US THAT THE ONLY REASON THE HDZ AND
HER PARTY, THE RIGHT-OF-CENTER DEMOCRATIC CENTER (DC),VOTED
AGAINST THE GOVERNMENT POSITION WAS ELECTION-YEAR POLITICS.
THE DECISION TO ABSTAIN WAS MADE ON THE DAY OF THE COMMITTEE
MEETING, WHEN HDZ PRESIDENT SANADER COUNTED NOSES AND SAW
THAT THE COALITION WOULD LOSE WITHOUT THEM. THE HDZ, WHICH
IS DESPERATE TO GET THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY (AND
ESPECIALLY THE USG) TO GIVE ITS SEAL OF APPROVAL TO ITS
FAR-FROM-COMPLETE INTERNAL REFORM PROCESS, PHONED POLOFF
AFTER THE VOTE TO TRY AND REASSURE US THAT THE HDZ POSITION
ON IRAQ REMAINS STAUNCHLY PRO-USG. THE HDZ ISSUED A PRESS
RELEASE THE FOLLOWING DAY WITH THE SAME MESSAGE, BUT ADDING A
LINE ESSENTIALLY SAYING THAT IT IS NOT THE OPPOSITION'S
RESPONSIBILITY TO DELIVER THE GOVERNMENT'S POLICY.
COMMENT
CONFIDENTIAL
CONFIDENTIAL PTQ4534
PAGE 01 ZAGREB 00393 02 OF 02 211406Z
ACTION EUR-00
INFO LOG-00 NP-00 AF-00 AID-00 AMAD-00 CIAE-00 INL-00
SRPP-00 DS-00 FBIE-00 VC-00 TEDE-00 INR-00 IO-00
LAB-01 L-00 VCE-00 AC-01 NEA-00 NRRC-00 NSAE-00
NSCE-00 OMB-01 OPIC-01 PA-00 PM-00 PRS-00 ACE-00
P-00 SCT-00 SP-00 SSO-00 TRSE-00 USIE-00 EPAE-00
PMB-00 DSCC-00 PRM-00 DRL-01 G-00 NFAT-00 SAS-00
SWCI-00 /005W
-------------- 3956CD 211406Z /38
O 211400Z FEB 03
FM AMEMBASSY ZAGREB
TO SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 9513
INFO AMEMBASSY BELGRADE PRIORITY
AMEMBASSY LJUBLJANA PRIORITY
AMEMBASSY SARAJEVO PRIORITY
AMEMBASSY SKOPJE PRIORITY
AMEMBASSY TIRANA PRIORITY
USMISSION USNATO PRIORITY
SECDEF WASHDC PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 02 OF 02 ZAGREB 000393
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/21/2013
TAGS: PGOV PREL HR PREL HR IZ IZPGOV
SUBJECT: IRAQ: JUST ANOTHER POLITICAL FOOTBALL FOR CROATIAN
POLS
--------------
CONFIDENTIAL
PAGE 02 ZAGREB 00393 02 OF 02 211406Z
6. (C) NO FOLLOW-UP MEETING TO THE JOINT SESSION HAS BEEN
SCHEDULED, BUT IT IS UNLIKELY THAT PARLIAMENT SPEAKER ZLATKO
TOMCIC (HSS) WILL LET THE GOVERNMENT'S POLICY CHOICE STAND
WITHOUT THE SABOR MARKING ITS TERRITORY. RIGHT NOW, THE
COALITION PARTIES HAVE SUSPENDED THEIR DIFFERENCES IN ORDER
TO PRESENT A UNITED FRONT AS CROATIA SUBMITS ITS APPLICATION
TO THE EUROPEAN UNION (SIGNED ON FEBRUARY 20 AND SCHEDULED
FOR DELIVERY IN ATHENS ON FEBRUARY 21). BUT IT WON'T BE LONG
BEFORE THE BELL RINGS TO SIGNAL THE BEGINNING OF THE NEXT
ROUND, AND IRAQ WILL CONTINUE TO BE THE HOTTEST POLITICAL
POTATO IN ZAGREB. DESPITE POSSIBLE REPERCUSSIONS OUTSIDE OF
CROATIA, POLITICIANS HERE WILL USE THIS ISSUE TO GAIN
ADVANTAGE OVER THEIR OPPONENTS IN THIS ELECTION YEAR.
ROSSIN
CONFIDENTIAL
>