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


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