IRAQ APPROVES CROATIAN SPECIAL MISSION IN BAGHDAD

UNCLAS ZAGREB 001342 SIPDIS DEPT FOR EUR/SCE (ENGLISH, SAINZ, BELL),NEA/I E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL IZ HR SUBJECT: IRAQ APPROVES CROATIAN SPECIAL MISSION IN BAGHDAD ¶1. Vesna Klaic, director of the MFA's Eurasia Office, confirmed on August 12 that the Government of Iraq has approved the GoC's request to open a special mission in Baghdad. This will be the first time Croatia has established a special mission, she told PolOff, so it is unclear how long it will take to set up or who will staff it. The Croatian Parliament, which is in recess until September 15, must still approve creation of the special mission before concrete steps can be taken toward opening it, according to Klaic. ¶2. COMMENT: The GoC has been interested in opening a mission in Baghdad for several months, both to demonstrate its support for stability in Iraq and to provide consular services to a significant number of Croatian truck drivers employed by coalition forces. END COMMENT. MINIMIZE CONSIDERED DELAWIE