Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
05ZAGREB204
2005-02-10 06:34:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Zagreb
Cable title:
MOD REPLACES ASSISTANT MINISTER WHO SIGNED EUCOM
how-toThis record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.
UNCLAS ZAGREB 000204
SIPDIS
DEPARTMENT FOR EUR/SCE, EUR/RPM, INR
DEFENSE FOR OSD/POLICY
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL MARR MASS MOPS HR NATO
SUBJECT: MOD REPLACES ASSISTANT MINISTER WHO SIGNED EUCOM
MOU
REF: A. 04 ZAGREB 2059
B. 04 ZAGREB 2002
UNCLAS ZAGREB 000204
SIPDIS
DEPARTMENT FOR EUR/SCE, EUR/RPM, INR
DEFENSE FOR OSD/POLICY
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL MARR MASS MOPS HR NATO
SUBJECT: MOD REPLACES ASSISTANT MINISTER WHO SIGNED EUCOM
MOU
REF: A. 04 ZAGREB 2059
B. 04 ZAGREB 2002
1. SUMMARY AND COMMENT: The Ministry of Defense (MOD) has
relieved Dr. Jelena Grcic-Polic from her duties as Assistant
Minister of Defense for Defense Policy. She has been
replaced by Igor Pokaz, the head of international defense
cooperation under Grcic-Polic. While the MOD has reported
the move as a routine rotation, the press has characterized
Grcic-Polic as the first casualty of the conflict between
Minister of Defense Berislav Roncevic and President Stjepan
Mesic over the GOC-EUCOM MOU on military exercises (reftels).
Her departure has been rumored for several months. It
appears the MOU, which Grcic-Polic signed last summer on
behalf of the GoC, is simply a convenient justification.
Post had an excellent working relationship with Pokaz in his
previous position and will work closely with him on key
defense reform issues. END SUMMARY AND COMMENT.
2. During her two-year tenure, Grcic-Polic is widely
credited with speeding up necessary reforms within the
Croatian Armed Forces to prepare for NATO integration. A
career diplomat, she had previously served as Croatia's
deputy permanent representative to the UN and as Assistant
Minister of Foreign Affairs. She is expected to return to
the MFA.
3. Igor Pokaz is also a career diplomat and has served in
Croatia's observer mission to the EU and in the permanent
mission to the UN. He holds a degree in economics and
graduate degrees in international relations from Tufts and
Oxford. Pokaz's reputation during his MOD assignment, which
began in 2003, has been outstanding and his military pedigree
is solid - his father was a career JNA officer who was
promoted to general in the Croatian Armed Forces after
independence and served as one of country's first military
attaches.
FRANK
NNNN
SIPDIS
DEPARTMENT FOR EUR/SCE, EUR/RPM, INR
DEFENSE FOR OSD/POLICY
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL MARR MASS MOPS HR NATO
SUBJECT: MOD REPLACES ASSISTANT MINISTER WHO SIGNED EUCOM
MOU
REF: A. 04 ZAGREB 2059
B. 04 ZAGREB 2002
1. SUMMARY AND COMMENT: The Ministry of Defense (MOD) has
relieved Dr. Jelena Grcic-Polic from her duties as Assistant
Minister of Defense for Defense Policy. She has been
replaced by Igor Pokaz, the head of international defense
cooperation under Grcic-Polic. While the MOD has reported
the move as a routine rotation, the press has characterized
Grcic-Polic as the first casualty of the conflict between
Minister of Defense Berislav Roncevic and President Stjepan
Mesic over the GOC-EUCOM MOU on military exercises (reftels).
Her departure has been rumored for several months. It
appears the MOU, which Grcic-Polic signed last summer on
behalf of the GoC, is simply a convenient justification.
Post had an excellent working relationship with Pokaz in his
previous position and will work closely with him on key
defense reform issues. END SUMMARY AND COMMENT.
2. During her two-year tenure, Grcic-Polic is widely
credited with speeding up necessary reforms within the
Croatian Armed Forces to prepare for NATO integration. A
career diplomat, she had previously served as Croatia's
deputy permanent representative to the UN and as Assistant
Minister of Foreign Affairs. She is expected to return to
the MFA.
3. Igor Pokaz is also a career diplomat and has served in
Croatia's observer mission to the EU and in the permanent
mission to the UN. He holds a degree in economics and
graduate degrees in international relations from Tufts and
Oxford. Pokaz's reputation during his MOD assignment, which
began in 2003, has been outstanding and his military pedigree
is solid - his father was a career JNA officer who was
promoted to general in the Croatian Armed Forces after
independence and served as one of country's first military
attaches.
FRANK
NNNN