HUNGARY TAKES OVER AS CROATIA'S NATO CONTACT

UNCLAS ZAGREB 001759 SIPDIS DEPARTMENT FOR EUR/SCE - KABUMOTO, EUR/RPM E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL HR NATO SUBJECT: HUNGARY TAKES OVER AS CROATIA'S NATO CONTACT The French and Hungarian Ambassadors called together all NATO-country Ambassadors on October 6 to pass the NATO point-of-contact baton to Hungary. There was broad consensus that the GoC needed to begin to develop a strategic public affairs plan to address declining public support for NATO membership. Charge pointed out that Croatia was starting just such an effort under the Adriatic Charter banner and had invited a Slovenian expert to participate in an A3 planning workshop later this month. The Hungarian Embassy plans to hold a technical level discussion on Croatia's new Annual National Plan before the October 21 ANP review in Brussels. We will report if this meeting generates any significant comments. DELAWIE NNNN