Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
04ZAGREB817
2004-05-07 14:25:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Zagreb
Cable title:  

FM ZUZUL SEEKS UNDERSTANDING ON GOTOVINA

Tags:  PREL KAWC HR 
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This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.
C O N F I D E N T I A L ZAGREB 000817 

SIPDIS


DEPARTMENT FOR EUR/SCE:KABUMOTO AND S/WCI:PROSPER

E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/07/2014
TAGS: PREL KAWC HR
SUBJECT: FM ZUZUL SEEKS UNDERSTANDING ON GOTOVINA

REF: A. SECRETARY 6 OF 29 APRIL 04


B. USNATO 429

CLASSIFIED BY: AMBASSADOR RALPH FRANK, REASON: 1.5 (B) & (D)

SUMMARY
-------

C O N F I D E N T I A L ZAGREB 000817

SIPDIS


DEPARTMENT FOR EUR/SCE:KABUMOTO AND S/WCI:PROSPER

E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/07/2014
TAGS: PREL KAWC HR
SUBJECT: FM ZUZUL SEEKS UNDERSTANDING ON GOTOVINA

REF: A. SECRETARY 6 OF 29 APRIL 04


B. USNATO 429

CLASSIFIED BY: AMBASSADOR RALPH FRANK, REASON: 1.5 (B) & (D)

SUMMARY
--------------


1. (C) FOREIGN MINISTER MIOMIR ZUZUL SOUGHT A MEETING WITH
AMBASSADOR FRANK TO EXPRESS HIS DISAPPOINTMENT AT THE U.S.
POSITION CONDITIONING SUPPORT FOR CROATIA'S NATO ENTRY ON THE
ARREST OF ICTY FUGITIVE ANTE GOTOVINA (REFTELS). AMBASSADOR
FRANK RESPONDED THAT THIS SHOULD NOT HAVE BEEN A SURPRISE AS
THE U.S. HAS LONG STATED THAT FULL COOPERATION WITH THE ICTY
MEANS THAT GOTOVINA IS ARRESTED AND IN THE HAGUE. THE
AMBASSADOR CAUTIONED THAT CROATIA CANNOT ABSOLVE ITSELF OF
ITS RESPONSIBILITY TO LOCATE AND APPREHEND GOTOVINA BY
ATTEMPTING TO SHOW THAT GOTOVINA IS NOT IN CROATIA. FM ZUZUL
PLANS A PRIVATE VISIT TO THE U.S. MAY 16-18 AND ASKED IF HE
SHOULD TRY TO SEE THE SECRETARY ONCE AGAIN. AMBASSADOR
SUGGESTED THAT WHILE FM ZUZUL COULD USEFULLY MEET WITH
AMBASSADOR PROSPER, ZUZUL SHOULD NOT WEAR OUT THE WELCOME MAT
IN WASHINGTON BY SEEKING ADDITIONAL HIGH LEVEL MEETINGS. END
SUMMARY.

SHOCKED, JUST SHOCKED
--------------


2. (C) ON MAY 4, AMBASSADOR FRANK MET WITH FOREIGN MINISTER
MIOMIR ZUZUL TO REINFORCE THE U.S. POSITION ON ICTY FUGITIVE
ANTE GOTOVINA. MINISTER ZUZUL EXPRESSED HIS SURPRISE AT THE
U.S. POSITION THAT CROATIA'S ENTRY INTO NATO WAS CONDITIONED
ON THE ARREST AND DELIVERY TO THE HAGUE OF ICTY FUGITIVE ANTE
GOTOVINA. ZUZUL SAID HE WAS DISAPPOINTED WITH WHAT HE
DESCRIBED AS AN UNHELPFUL APRIL 30 NATO MAP REVIEW IN
BRUSSELS (REF B),PARTICULARLY AFTER THE POSITIVE EU AVIS,
WHICH HE THOUGHT HAD ALSO REFLECTED U.S. VIEWS.


3. (C) AMBASSADOR FRANK RESPONDED THAT THE U.S. POSITION
SHOULD NOT HAVE BEEN A SURPRISE AS IT WAS NOT NEW. THE U.S.
HAS ALWAYS BEEN CLEAR THAT FULL COOPERATION WITH THE ICTY
MEANT THAT GOTOVINA WAS ARRESTED AND DELIVERED TO THE HAGUE.
ON APRIL 15, ZUZUL HAD BEEN TOLD DIRECTLY BY AMBASSADOR
PROSPER THAT THE U.S. DID NOT AGREE WITH ICTY CHIEF
PROSECUTOR DEL PONTE'S ASSESSMENT THAT CROATIA WAS FULLY
COOPERATIVE WITH ICTY. ZUZUL HAD HEARD THE SAME MESSAGE FROM
THE SECRETARY TWICE ) DURING THEIR PHONE CALL APRIL 16 AND
IN PERSON IN BERLIN ON APRIL 28 (REF A).

HELP US FIND GOTOVINA
--------------


4. (C) ZUZUL SAID HE WAS NOT HAPPY WITH THE CURRENT
SITUATION, AS THE GOC WAS CONVINCED THAT GOTOVINA WAS NOT IN
CROATIA. THE GOC WAS NOT AFRAID OF THE POLITICAL
CONSEQUENCES OF ARRESTING GOTOVINA. HIS ARREST WOULD PROVIDE
RELIEF FROM THE CURRENT DEPRESSING POSITION THE GOC WAS IN.
ZUZUL THEN ASKED FOR U.S. ASSISTANCE IN FINDING GOTOVINA.


5. (C) AMBASSADOR FRANK REMINDED ZUZUL THAT IT WAS INCUMBENT
ON THE GOC TO FIND GOTOVINA. IT WAS NOT ENOUGH TO ASSERT
THAT GOTOVINA WAS NOT IN CROATIA. THE INTERNATIONAL
COMMUNITY WAS CONCERNED THAT SOME IN CROATIA BELIEVED THEY
COULD "GAME" THE ISSUE BY WAITING OUT THE ICTY'S COMPLETION
STRATEGY. CROATIA'S PAST BEHAVIOR -- ON BOBETKO AND GOTOVINA
) HAD PUT THE BURDEN ON CROATIA TO MATCH ITS WORDS WITH
ACTIONS. THE U.S. HAD GONE VERY FAR IN SUPPORTING CROATIA'S
NATO ASPIRATIONS. HOWEVER, GOTOVINA IS AND WOULD REMAIN A
MAJOR OBSTACLE TO FURTHER U.S. SUPPORT FOR CROATIA'S NATO
CANDIDACY. THE GOC SHOULD TAKE THE LEAD IN THE SEARCH, AS NO
OTHER COUNTRY COULD HAVE ACCESS TO THE CONTACTS AND LEADS
THAT COULD LEAD TO GOTOVINA'S CAPTURE.

ZUZUL'S PRIVATE TRIP TO U.S.
--------------


6. (C) FM ZUZUL SAID HE WAS PLANNING A PRIVATE VISIT TO
BOSTON AND NEW YORK FROM MAY 13 AND WOULD BE IN WASHINGTON
MAY 16-18 TO DEAL WITH PERSONAL ISSUES. ZUZUL ASKED WHETHER
HE SHOULD TRY TO SEE THE SECRETARY AGAIN. THE AMBASSADOR
SAID THAT, HAVING JUST SEEN THE SECRETARY, ZUZUL SHOULD NOT
SEEK ANOTHER MEETING TO GO OVER THE SAME GROUND. AMBASSADOR
FRANK SUGGESTED THAT ZUZUL COULD USEFULLY MEET WITH
AMBASSADOR PROSPER, IN ADVANCE OF PROSPER'S POSSIBLE NEXT
VISIT TO CROATIA, IF ZUZUL HAD SOMETHING NEW TO SAY ON
GOTOVINA.

FRANK

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