ADRIATIC CHARTER LEADERS SEEK PRESIDENT BUSH'S

C O N F I D E N T I A L ZAGREB 001022 SIPDIS DEPARTMENT FOR EUR/RPM (RUSSELL) AND EUR/SCE (ENGLISH) USNATO FOR BRUCE ROGERS AND JIM DEHART E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/01/2004 TAGS: PREL HR NATO SUBJECT: ADRIATIC CHARTER LEADERS SEEK PRESIDENT BUSH'S PARTICIPATION IN ISTANBUL MEETING CLASSIFIED BY: DCM PATRICK S. MOON FOR REASONS 1.5 (B) ¶1. (C) AT A JUNE 4 MEETING WITH THE DCM, PRESIDENT MESIC'S CHIEF OF STAFF DAVOR BOZINOVIC INFORMED US THAT MESIC PLANS TO ATTEND A MEETING OF LEADERS OF THE ADRIATIC CHARTER ON THE MARGINS OF NATO'S ISTANBUL SUMMIT. BOZINOVIC SAID THAT THE "ADRIATIC THREE" LEADERS HAVE ASKED IF IT WOULD BE POSSIBLE FOR PRESIDENT BUSH TO ATTEND PART OF SUCH A MEETING; BOZINOVIC SAID THAT THIS REQUEST WAS CONVEYED TO USNATO, BUT HAD NO DETAILS ABOUT HOW IT WAS DELIVERED. ¶2. (C) ON JUNE 5, PJER SIMUNOVIC, CROATIA'S MAP COORDINATOR CONFIRMED THAT A MEETING OF THE ADRIATIC THREE WOULD TAKE PLACE. THE DECISION TO SEEK PRESIDENT BUSH'S PARTICIPATION WAS AGREED BY THE ALBANIAN, CROATIAN AND MACEDONIAN FOREIGN MINISTERS DURING THE MAY 19 - 20 ADRIATIC PARTNERSHIP COMMISSION MEETING IN SKOPJE. SIMUNOVIC UNDERSCORED MESIC'S REQUEST FOR PRESIDENT BUSH'S INVOLVEMENT. IN ADDITION TO THE SUBSTANTIVE VALUE OF A MEETING, PRESIDENT BUSH'S PRESTIGE WOULD HELP BOOST PUBLIC SUPPORT FOR NATO IN CROATIA, SIMUNOVIC SAID. COMMENT -------------- ¶3. (C) WHILE WE RECOGNIZE THE EXTRAORDINARY DEMANDS ON THE PRESIDENT'S TIME, SUCH A SIGNAL OF SUPPORT FOR NATO'S THREE "CONTINUING ASPIRANTS" WOULD BE VERY HELPFUL, PARTICULARLY IN MAINTAINING PUBLIC SUPPORT FOR THE TOUGH REFORMS NEEDED TO QUALIFY FOR AN INVITATION TO JOIN THE ALLIANCE. IT WOULD ALSO UNDERSCORE U.S. SUPPORT FOR THE ADRIATIC CHARTER. FRANK NNNN