(S) PM SANADER ASKS AMBASSADOR TO INTERVENE WITH

1. (S) Summary: PM Sanader and FM Zuzul asked Ambassador
Frank and UK Ambassador Ramsden December 1 for assistance in
persuading President Mesic to suspend seeking the dismissal
of head of the Croatian Counter-Intelligence Agency
Podbevsek, stating that his work was critical to the hunt for
PIFWC Ante Gotovina. End Summary.



2. (S) PM Sanader and FM Zuzul invited Ambassador Frank and
UK Ambassador John Ramsden to meet December 1 to discuss
issues related to the capture of PIFWC Ante Gotovina.



3. (S) Sanader and Zuzul told the Ambassadors that President
Mesic's effort to dismiss Josko Podbevsek, new head of the
counter-intelligence agency POA, was interfering in the
effort to capture Gotovina. Although President Mesic is
trying to portray the Puljiz/Podbevsek case (ref) as being
directed against him for political reasons, the investigation
is really all about tracking down Gotovina. The GOC has
indicted Franjo Turek, a Mesic associate and former head of
the POA, because it is convinced he is a valid target who has
had telephone conversations with Gotovina. Podbevsek is a
critical player in the hunt for Gotovina; Mesic's effort to
fire Podbevsek is a blow against that hunt.



4. (S) Sanader asked the Ambassadors to intervene with Mesic
on behalf of Podbevsek. Ambassador Frank and UK Ambassador
Ramsden said they could not do so, because it would be
directly interfering in Croatia's internal affairs.



5. (S) Ambassador Frank suggested an alternate approach to
the PM: that the PM propose that he and the President make a
joint public statement in support of apprehension of
Gotovina, and the dedication of all elements of the
Government of Croatia to that end. Then it would be up to
the PM to make the case to the President that Podbevsek
remaining in place would be the key element of that effort.



6. (S) Comment: Podbevsek, while young (38) and
inexperienced, has the PM's confidence on the Gotovina issue,
and under his leadership, cooperation with the U.S. and the
UK has greatly increased. However, the full range of the
PM's persuasive powers will be needed to convince the
President of the merit of retaining Podbevsek.
FRANK


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