AMBASSADOR REVIEWS PRIORITY ISSUES WITH NEW DEPUTY

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 ZAGREB 000489 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/03/2008 TAGS: PREL PINR PREF PINR PREF PINR PREF HR HRPREL NATO NATO SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR REVIEWS PRIORITY ISSUES WITH NEW DEPUTY FOREIGN MINISTER CLASSIFIED BY: DCM PATRICK MOON FOR REASONS 1.5 (B) AND (D). SUMMARY -------------- ¶1. (C) IN A MARCH 3 INTRODUCTORY CALL ON NEW DEPUTY FOREIGN MINISTER SIMONOVIC, THE AMBASSADOR REVIEWED THE U.S. APPROACH CONFIDENTIAL PAGE 02 ZAGREB 00489 01 OF 03 061511Z ON IRAQ, STEPS TOWARD CROATIA,S CANDIDACY FOR NATO MEMBERSHIP, THE SFRY ASSETS SUCCESSION ISSUES, OUR REQUEST FOR AN ARTICLE 98 AGREEMENT WITH CROATIA, ICTY COMPLIANCE, REFUGEE RETURNS AND THE UPCOMING UNCHR SESSION. SIMONOVIC CONFIRMED THAT CROATIA DOES NOT SEE A MAJOR ROLE FOR ITSELF ON IRAQ, BUT STILL WANTED TO BE SUPPORTIVE. CROATIA WOULD READILY PURSUE REGIONAL INITIATIVES (INCLUDING THE ADRIATIC CHARTER) BUT DID NOT WANT TO ENDANGER CLOSE TIES TO WESTERN EUROPEAN COUNTRIES. SIMONOVIC SAID CROATIA DID NOT WANT TO BE AN OBSTACLE TO THE UNFREEZING OF SFRY ASSETS AND WANTED A QUICK RESOLUTION TO THE PROBLEMS WITH THE AGREEMENT ON SUCCESSION ISSUES. HE SAID THAT THE GOC MUST DO A BETTER JOB ON ICTY AND REFUGEE RETURNS. ACCORDING TO THE NEW DEPUTY FOREIGN MINISTER, CROATIA HAS A BRIEF WINDOW REMAINING FOR TOUGH DECISIONS; THE UPCOMING ELECTION SEASON WOULD SOON CLOSE THE DOOR ON UNPOPULAR ACTIONS BY THE GOC COALITION. END SUMMARY. IRAQ -------------- ¶2. (C) IN HIS INTRODUCTORY CALL ON NEWLY ARRIVED DEPUTY FOREIGN MINISTER IVAN SIMONOVIC (UNTIL RECENTLY CROATIA,S UN PERMREP) ON MARCH 3, AMBASSADOR ROSSIN ASKED FOR CROATIA'S SUPPORT AT THE UN FOR U.S. OBJECTIVES ON IRAQ. SIMONOVIC SAID HE DID NOT FORESEE A MAJOR ROLE FOR CROATIA AND INDICATED HIS BELIEF THAT THE UNSC WOULD APPROVE A SECOND RESOLUTION, WHICH WAS ALSO IMPORTANT FOR PRESERVING THE RELEVANCE AND CREDIBILITY OF THE UN. HE SPECULATED THAT IT WOULD TAKE A LONG TIME TO INSTALL TRUE DEMOCRACY IN IRAQ GIVEN THE ETHNIC AND RELIGIOUS TENSIONS. THE AMBASSADOR CONFIDENTIAL PAGE 03 ZAGREB 00489 01 OF 03 061511Z THANKED CROATIA FOR ITS RECENT DECISION TO PERMIT FLOW THROUGH OF COMMERCIAL AIRCRAFT CARRYING U.S. TROOPS TO THE REGION. WHILE WE DID NOT NEED ADDITIONAL SUPPORT AT THIS TIME, IT WAS POSSIBLE THE U.S. WOULD SEEK ADDITIONAL COOPERATION IN THE FUTURE TO SUPPORT OUR MILITARY OPERATIONS. THE U.S. SOUGHT A CLOSE DIALOGUE WITH THE GOC ON THE IRAQ SITUATION. NATO AND CROATIA -------------- ¶3. (C) THE AMBASSADOR NOTED PROGRESS ON THE ADRIATIC CHARTER TEXT AND RECONFIRMED HIS ATTENDANCE AT THE MEETING OF THE THREE FOREIGN MINISTERS IN DUBROVNIK ON MARCH 7. HE PRESSED FOR A STRONG STATEMENT ON IRAQ IN THE PLANNED DUBROVNIK DECLARATION. REFERRING TO THE CROATIAN LANGUAGE ON INDIVIDUAL TRACKS INSERTED INTO THE DRAFT CHARTER, SIMONOVIC ADMITTED THAT CROATIA HAD BEEN RELUCTANT TO PURSUE REGIONAL COOPERATION FOR FEAR OF CUTTING INCREASINGLY CLOSE RELATIONS WITH WESTERN EUROPEAN STATES. HOWEVER, HE ASSURED THE AMBASSADOR, WITH UNSUAL ANIMATION, THAT CROATIA WAS FULLY COMMITTED TO CLOSE COOPERATION WITH REGIONAL PARTNERS AND WOULD SEEK TO PROMOTE THE CANDIDACIES OF OTHER MAP COUNTRIES. CROATIA WOULD PLAY A POSITIVE ROLE AT THE EU SUMMIT IN THESSALONIKI. ¶4. (C) THE AMBASSADOR OBSERVED THAT SINCE CROATIA HAD A REPUTATION FOR WANTING TO GO ITS OWN WAY, GOC REPRESENTATIVES MUST SAY EXPLICITLY AND OFTEN THAT CROATIA SUPPORTS REGIONAL COOPERATION. A COMPETITIVE APPROACH DENIGRATING OTHER ASPIRANTS AND INVITEES DOES NOT HELP CROATIA. THE AMBASSADOR CONFIDENTIAL PAGE 04 ZAGREB 00489 01 OF 03 061511Z STRESSED THAT THE U.S. STRONGLY SUPPORTED CROATIA'S NATO ASPIRATIONS AND WOULD CONTINUE TO PROVIDE ASSISTANCE. HOWEVER, CROATIA NEEDED TO DO MORE ON DEFENSE REFORMS, ICTY COOPERATION, REFUGEE RETURNS, AND JUDICIAL REFORM. CROATIA NEEDED TO PUT OUT A POSITIVE MESSAGE OF PROGRESS ON THESE ISSUES AND NOT BE SEEN AS COMBATIVE OR "WHINING" IN RESPONSE TO INTERNATIONAL CRITICISM. ICC ) ARTICLE 98 AGREEMENT -------------- ¶5. (C) THE AMBASSADOR NOTED OUR UNDERSTANDING THAT CROATIA WAS WAITING FOR AN EU MEMBER STATE MODEL ARTICLE 98 AGREEMENT BEFORE MOVING AHEAD WITH NEGOTIATIONS WITH THE U.S. SIMONOVIC CONFIRMED THIS BUT ALSO ASKED THAT THE U.S. NOT PRESS TOO HARD FOR AN AGREEMENT, REFERRING TO THE SENSITIVITY OF AN ARTICLE 98 AGREEMENT DUE TO PERCEIVED INEQUITIES IN THE PUBLIC,S MIND BETWEEN U.S. OBJECTIVES AND CROATIA,S ICTY OBLIGATIONS. HOWEVER, HE CONFIRMED THAT CROATIA WOULD BE READY TO MOVE AHEAD ONCE THERE IS AN EU STATE MODEL AGREEMENT. IN THAT REGARD, HE HOPED THE U.S. WOULD BE ABLE TO MAKE TIMELY PROGRESS ON SUCH A MODEL AGREEMENT. THE AMBASSADOR POINTED OUT TO THE DEPUTY MINISTER THE PROVISIONS AND DEADLINE OF THE ASPA. WE COULD NOT PREDICT HOW IT WOULD BE IMPLEMENTED BUT WAIVERS COULD NOT BE PRESUMED. CROATIA CONFIDENTIAL CONFIDENTIAL PTQ8005 PAGE 01 ZAGREB 00489 02 OF 03 061511Z ACTION EUR-00 INFO LOG-00 NP-00 AID-00 ACQ-00 CIAE-00 DINT-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 NRRC-00 NSAE-00 NSCE-00 OIC-02 PA-00 PM-00 PRS-00 ACE-00 P-00 SP-00 IRM-00 SS-00 TRSE-00 T-00 USIE-00 EPAE-00 SSD-00 PMB-00 DSCC-00 PRM-00 DRL-01 G-00 SSR-00 NFAT-00 SAS-00 SWCI-00 /005W -------------- 4028B8 061511Z /38 R 061459Z MAR 03 FM AMEMBASSY ZAGREB TO SECSTATE WASHDC 9610 INFO EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 02 OF 03 ZAGREB 000489 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/03/2008 TAGS: PREL PINR PREF PINR PREF PINR PREF HR HRPREL NATO NATO SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR REVIEWS PRIORITY ISSUES WITH NEW DEPUTY FOREIGN MINISTER MIGHT NEED TO CONSIDER ITS OWN INTERESTS IN THE COMING MONTHS. ICTY ISSUES -------------- ¶6. (C) SIMONOVIC ADMITTED THAT THE GOC HAD HANDLED THE CONFIDENTIAL PAGE 02 ZAGREB 00489 02 OF 03 061511Z BOBETKO CASE BADLY, AT LEAST INITIALLY. THE HAPHAZARDLY LAUNCED LEGAL APPROACH HAD BEEN SUCCESSFUL, BUT LUCK (E.G., WITH THE CONSTITUTIONAL COURT) HAD PLAYED TOO LARGE A ROLE. BUT THAT CASE WAS NOW "MORE OR LESS" RESOLVED. IT WAS CLEAR THAT CROATIA NEEDED A "SUCCESSFUL CASE" TO DEMONSTRATE ITS FULL COMMITMENT TO ITS ICTY OBLIGATIONS. HE ADDED THAT INDICTMENTS AND THE POTENTIAL TRANSFER OF CROATIAN OFFICERS FOR COMMAND RESPONSIBILITY CHARGES DO NOT SIT WELL WITH THE CROATIAN PUBLIC. HE HAD HEARD THAT THERE MAY BE UP TO FIVE ADDITIONAL INDICTMENTS OF CROATIAN CITIZENS BEING STUDIED BY THE ICTY. ¶7. (C) THE AMBASSADOR AGREED THAT THE BOBETKO CASE WAS NOW BEHIND US, BUT WARNED THAT BECAUSE OF GOC SHORTCOMINGS IN THE HANDLING OF THE BOBETKO INDICTMENT, THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY WOULD BE LOOKING VERY CLOSELY AT THE GOC,S PERFORMANCE ON ANY NEW INDICTMENTS. THEY MUST BE HANDLED QUICKLY AND QUIETLY TO ENSURE SUCCESSFUL COMPLIANCE. IN ADDITION, THE U.S. AND OTHER MEMBERS OF THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY ARE LOOKING FOR MORE ACTIVE AND VIGOROUS GOC ACTIONS TO LOCATE AND CAPTURE ICTY INDICTEE GOTOVINA. WE KNEW SPECIFICALLY OF THINGS THE GOC CLAIMED IT WAS DOING TO FIND GOTOVINA THAT, IN FACT, IT WAS NOT DOING. ¶8. (C) THE AMBASSADOR ADVISED SIMONOVIC THAT THE U.S. WAS PREPARING TO RE-LAUNCH ITS INITIATIVE TO ASSIST THE GOC WITH LOCAL WAR CRIMES PROSECUTIONS. HE ANTICIPATED A U.S. PROPOSAL SOON FOR A U.S. TEAM TO VISIT IN APRIL OR MAY. SIMONOVIC WELCOMED THIS, REFERRING TO PROPOSED REFORMS IN THE JUDICIAL SECTOR AND PLANS TO ESTABLISH FOUR REGIONAL COURTS TO TRY WAR CRIMES CASES. CONFIDENTIAL PAGE 03 ZAGREB 00489 02 OF 03 061511Z UNCHR SESSION -------------- 9 (C) THE AMBASSADOR REMINDED SIMONOVIC THAT THE LINE UP IN THIS YEAR,S UNCHR SESSION WAS BAD, STARTING WITH LIBYA,S INSTALLATION AS CHAIRMAN. THE U.S. WANTED TO WORK CLOSELY WITH CROATIA TO PROMOTE A PRODUCTIVE SESSION. SIMONOVIC FULLY AGREED WITH THE AMBASSADOR,S POINTS, NOTING CROATIA'S BOARD PARTICIPATION THIS YEAR. HE LAMENTED EXCESSIVE POLITIZATION IN THE FORUM. SFRY -- SUCCESSION ASSETS -------------- ¶10. (C) THE AMBASSADOR RAISED THE U.S. INTENTION TO UNBLOCK SFRY NBY ASSETS LOCATED IN THE U.S. HE NOTED THAT THE U.S. WAS STILL SEEKING A HOLD HARMLESS STATEMENT FROM THE GOC AND HOPED THAT THE GOVERNMENT WOULD REVERSE ITS OPPOSITION. HE WOULD RAISE THIS ISSUE WITH FM PICULA IN AN UPCOMING MEETING. SIMONOVIC RESPONDED THAT CROATIA DID NOT WANT TO BE AN OBSTACLE TO THE U.S. INITIATIVE AND URGED THAT BOTH SIDES SEEK A SOLUTION SOONER RATHER THAN LATER. HE POINTED OUT THAT A GOC DECISION TO ACCEDE TO THE U.S. REQUEST ON THIS ISSUE ) LIKE A NUMBER OF OTHER DIFFICULT ISSUES BEFORE THE GOC ) WOULD NOT SIT WELL WITH THE PUBLIC. WITH ELECTIONS EXPECTED EITHER THIS FALL OR PERHAPS EARLY NEXT YEAR, THE GOC WOULD WANT TO MAKE THE UNPLEASANT DECISIONS BEFORE THE PRE-ELECTION WINDOW CLOSED IN ABOUT TWO MONTHS. THE AMBASSADOR AGREED AND ADDED HIS HOPE THAT A GOC DECISION TO FOREGO $50 MILLION PLUS FROM THE NBY DISTRIBUTION WOULD NOT CONFIDENTIAL PAGE 04 ZAGREB 00489 02 OF 03 061511Z BE USED IN THE CAMPAIGN AGAINST THE COALITION. REFUGEE RETURNS -------------- ¶11. (C) THE AMBASSADOR NOTED OUR CONCERNS REGARDING REFUGEE RETURNS ARE ASSUMING STEADILY MORE PROMINENCE IN CROATIA'S INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS. SIMONOVIC SAID THAT CROATIA MUST BE MUCH MORE PROACTIVE ON THIS ISSUE, ALTHOUGH THERE WERE REAL PROBLEMS, ESPECIALLY WITH ADDRESSING THE TENANCY RIGHTS ISSUE. ON THE TENANCY RIGHTS ISSUE, THE AMBASSADOR URGED THAT THE GOC PRIORITIZE ITS ACTIONS AND PUT PRIMARY FOCUS ON CASES WHERE ACTUAL REFORMS HINGE ON PROVIDING FARMER TENANTS A HOUSING OPTION. UNFORTUNATELY, THE U.S. AND EU STATES HAD NOT SEEN MUCH MOVEMENT ON THIS FROM THE GOC SIDE. RECONSTRUCTION MINISTER CACIC HAD BEEN ENCOURAGING BUT VAGUE ON AN ISSUE WHERE CONCRETE STEPS ARE HUGELY OVERDUE. PM RACAN HAD BEEN DISAPPOINTING ON THIS ISSUE. ¶12. (C) SIMONOVIC AGREED THAT THE GOC NEEDS TO ACT BUT THAT THE UPCOMING ELECTIONS WOULD LIMIT THE GOC'S MANEUVERING ROOM. IN ANY EVENT, HE CLAIMED THAT CROATIAN PUBLIC OPINION IS NOW MUCH MORE FAVORABLE TOWARD THE RETURN OF CROATIAN SERBS. IN FACT, HE ASSERTED, THE GOC HAS DONE FAR MORE THAN WAS THOUGHT POSSIBLE FIVE YEARS AGO. CONFIDENTIAL CONFIDENTIAL PTQ8006 PAGE 01 ZAGREB 00489 03 OF 03 061511Z ACTION EUR-00 INFO LOG-00 NP-00 AID-00 ACQ-00 CIAE-00 DINT-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 NRRC-00 NSAE-00 NSCE-00 OIC-02 PA-00 PM-00 PRS-00 ACE-00 P-00 SP-00 IRM-00 SS-00 TRSE-00 T-00 USIE-00 EPAE-00 SSD-00 PMB-00 DSCC-00 PRM-00 DRL-01 G-00 SSR-00 NFAT-00 SAS-00 SWCI-00 /005W -------------- 4028C2 061512Z /38 R 061459Z MAR 03 FM AMEMBASSY ZAGREB TO SECSTATE WASHDC 9611 INFO EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 03 OF 03 ZAGREB 000489 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/03/2008 TAGS: PREL PINR PREF PINR PREF PINR PREF HR HRPREL NATO NATO SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR REVIEWS PRIORITY ISSUES WITH NEW DEPUTY FOREIGN MINISTER COMMENT -------------- ¶13. (C) SIMONOVIC IMPRESSED US AS A BUSINESSLIKE PROFESSIONAL WITH WHOM WE CAN DO BUSINESS. PRIOR BILLINGS FROM USUN OF A VERY LAWYERLIKE APPROACH WERE AMPLY BORNE OUT. CONFIDENTIAL PAGE 02 ZAGREB 00489 03 OF 03 061511Z HE MAY WELL PROVE TO BE MORE EFFECTIVE IN FORCING THE LEADEN MFA BUREAUCRACY TOWARD TIMELY ACTION AND REASONABLE POSITIONS THAT RESPOND TO CONCERNS COMING FROM THE U.S. AND OTHERS IN THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY. ¶14. (C) HOWEVER, WE ARE CONCIOUS THAT HIS BACKGROUND AND PAST USG INTERACTIONS HAVE SUGGESTED A STRONG NATIONALIST STREAK UNDER THE URBANE SURFACE. CERTAINLY, IN THE MEETING SIMONOVIC PUT THE MOST FAVORABLE SPIN ON EACH RESPONSE, HIGHLIGHTING CROATIA'S HANDICAPS AND "NEED FOR UNDERSTANDING" WHILE SEEKING TO PORTRAY HIMSELF AS A SYMPATHETIC FRIEND TO THE U.S. IN A SOMETIMES UNFRIENDLY COURT. HIS OBSERVATIONS ABOUT THE VERY SHORT WINDOW AVAILABLE FOR THE GOC TO TAKE UNPOPULAR DECISIONS RANG TRUE, ALTHOUGH THIS COALITION GOVERNMENT, WHICH IS LED BY A PRIME MINISTER WHO SEEKS CONSENSUS AT ALL COSTS, HAS SHOWN LITTLE INCLINATION TO TAKE UNPOPULAR (EVEN IF NECESSARY) DECISIONS REGARDLESS OF THE TIMING. ROSSIN CONFIDENTIAL >