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