CROATIAN FM DOWNPLAYS SECRETARY'S MESSAGE ON

C O N F I D E N T I A L ZAGREB 000781

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THE HAGUE FOR JOHNSON AND KAYE
BERLIN FOR GERLISZY
DEPARTMENT FOR EUR/RPM (SHINAGLE) AND EUR/SCE (KABUMOTO)

E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/30/2014
TAGS: PREL KAWC KPAO HR NATO
SUBJECT: CROATIAN FM DOWNPLAYS SECRETARY'S MESSAGE ON
GOTOVINA FOR THE PRESS

REF: SECRETARY 006

CLASSIFIED BY: ADCM NICHOLAS M. HILL FOR REASONS 1.5 (B,D)


1. (U) THE SECRETARY'S BRIEF MEETING WITH FOREIGN MINISTER
ZUZUL ON THE MARGINS OF THE BERLIN CONFERENCE ON
ANTI-SEMITISM RECEIVED VERY LITTLE COVERAGE IN THE CROATIAN
PRESS. ACCORDING TO VECERNJI LIST, CROATIA'S TOP-CIRCULATION
MASS-MARKET DAILY, SECRETARY POWELL TOLD THE FOREIGN MINISTER
THAT "CROATIA CAN CONTINUE TO COUNT ON THE SUPPORT OF THE
U.S., ADDING THAT CROATIA MUST CONTINUE TO CARRY OUT ITS
OBLIGATIONS REGARDING COOPERATION WITH THE HAGUE COURT."


2. (C) IN HIS CHARACTERIZATION OF THE MEETING WITH THE
SECRETARY, ZUZUL DID NOT CONVEY THE SECRETARY'S POINT THAT,

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FOR US, GOTOVINA WILL CONTINUE TO BE AN OBSTACLE TO CROATIA'S
FORWARD PROGRESS TOWARD NATO MEMBERSHIP. THIS MESSAGE WILL
LIKELY BECOME PUBLIC AFTER CROATIA'S APRIL 30 "26 PLUS ONE"
MEMBERSHIP ACTION PLAN PROGRESS REVIEW IN BRUSSELS.
FRANK

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