IRANIAN PRESIDENT TO MAKE LONG-EXPECTED VISIT

UNCLAS ZAGREB 000298

SIPDIS


SENSITIVE

DEPT FOR NEA
NEA PASS TO NEA COLLECTIVES AND NPT COLLECTIVES

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PGOV XF IR HR
SUBJECT: IRANIAN PRESIDENT TO MAKE LONG-EXPECTED VISIT

REF: A. ZAGREB 273


B. ZAGREB 262


1. (SBU) SUMMARY AND COMMENT: Iranian President Mohammad
Khatami is expected to visit Croatia on March 17 as part of a
multi-nation tour. He is returning a visit President Stjepan
Mesic made to Tehran in 2001 before he leaves office.
Mesic,s office and GoC contacts have told Post that the
timing of the visit, which will include a meeting with PM Ivo
Sanader, is completely unrelated to current discussions
regarding Iran,s nuclear program and have assured us that
Croatia supports the EU-Iran negotiations, unobstructed IAEA
inspections, and calls for Iran to end its support for
terrorism. Contacts within the GoC, which to date has been
unable to coordinate foreign policy with the President,s
office, are visibly nervous about the visit, afraid of
offending western powers.


2. (SBU) Mesic has asked Ambassador Frank for points he can
raise with Khatami to address international concerns
regarding Iran. New presidential foreign policy advisor
Budimir Loncar told the Ambassador this was Mesic,s way of
showing his commitment to improving US-Croatia relations.
Post will advise Mesic to encourage Iran to completely
cooperate with IAEA inspectors, make its current suspension
of enrichment and reprocessing agreed with the EU-3
permanent, and end its support of terrorism and its violent
opposition to the Middle East peace process. We will share
the same points with the PM,s office. END SUMMARY AND
COMMENT.

MESIC AND IRAN: A SYMBOL OF TITO,S NON-ALIGNED LEGACY
-------------- --------------


3. (SBU) Mesic sees Croatia as the heir to Tito,s founding
role in the non-aligned movement, as demonstrated in remarks
from his recent inauguration speech (reftels). Carrying on
this tradition as a way of increasing Croatia,s
international stature appears to have been his motivation in
fostering relations with nations such as Iran, Libya, and
Syria during his first five-year term. Initiatives, however,
have been primarily cultural or economic. We know of no new
initiatives planned for the Khatami visit and expect meetings
to focus on possibilities for economic cooperation.


4. (U) Croatia,s relations with Iran date back to 1992, when
the new republic was happy to meet with any country that
would recognize it. Bilateral agreements and MOUs range from
abolishing visa requirements for holders of official and
diplomatic passports to cooperation in economics,
transportation, culture, medicine and technology. Activities
under these agreements are relatively insignificant.

FRANK


NNNN