ARMY TO DROP ICTY FUGITIVE'S WIFE FROM PAYROLL

C O N F I D E N T I A L ZAGREB 001661 SIPDIS DEPT FOR S/WCI - PROSPER, EUR/SCE - KABUMOTO E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/16/2014 TAGS: KAWC PREL KJUS PHUM HR SUBJECT: ARMY TO DROP ICTY FUGITIVE'S WIFE FROM PAYROLL Classified By: Ambassador Ralph Frank for reasons 1.4 (b) & (d). ¶1. (C) Clearly surprised and embarrassed by press revelations that fugitive war crimes indictee Ante Gotovina's wife had been granted a new position within the Croatian Armed Forces Joint Staff, Foreign Minister Miomir Zuzul told the Ambassador on September 16 that the Ministry of Defense will "solve this problem today." Dunja Zloic Gotovina, herself a former soldier and the Croatian Army's first female colonel, was reportedly assigned to the office for international military cooperation after a seven-year paid absence from service as an "unassigned officer," but will apparently soon be retired. ¶2. (U) Dunja Gotovina's assignment had reportedly been a political problem the MOD had tried to avoid as long as possible, repeatedly delaying resolution of her ambiguous status and encouraging her to accept a private sector job. She refused to leave the service, according to the press, insisting that she not be held responsible for her husband's actions and that she receive a position in line with her rank. ¶3. (C) COMMENT: The MFA's rapid reaction to public revelations about Gotovina's wife indicate the GOC's increasing sensitivity to events that could leave the international community with the impression that it supports accused war criminals. As soon as the issue appeared in the press (Zuzul said the political leadership had no advance warning),the government took action. END COMMENT. FRANK NNNN