AMBASSADOR AND CROATIAN PRESIDENT DISCUSS

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 ZAGREB 001035

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

FOR EUR/SCE, WHA/CCA

E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/30/2016
TAGS: PREL PHUM NAMSA HR CU HUMAN RIGHTS
SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR AND CROATIAN PRESIDENT DISCUSS
ATTENDANCE AT THE NON-ALIGNED MOVEMENT SUMMIT IN HAVANA

REF: ZAGREB 1017

Classified By: DCM Greg Delawie for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)


1. (C) Summary: The Ambassador urged President Mesic to
consider a gesture in support of democratic change in Cuba
during his September visit to Havana for the Non-Aligned
Movement (NAM) Summit. Mesic emphasized his purpose was a
visit to the NAM meeting, not to Cuba itself. He will make
general reference to democracy in his NAM statement, but
would not single out Cuba for criticism. Mesic explained
that his attendance as an observer at the meeting was
motivated by historical ties (via Yugoslavia) with the NAM,
promoting commercial links with NAM attendees, and lobbying
for a non-permanent seat on the UNSC. Mesic also emphasized
that his interest in the NAM did not signal an interest in
NAM membership, and he restated the priority of Croatia's
Euro-Atlantic integration.


2. (C) Ambassador and DCM met with Croatian President Stjepan
Mesic August 29 to discuss the president's upcoming visit to
Havana for the NAM Summit. Mesic was accompanied by
Presidential foreign policy advisor Budimir Loncar.


3. (C) In relaying USG concerns about Mesic's attendance at
the NAM Summit, the Ambassador clarified that the US was not
engaged in a campaign against the NAM; the USG has excellent
relations with many leading NAM countries. However, this
time the NAM Summit is taking place in Cuba, and that is a
problem. Cuba is not a democracy, has no free press or
elections, and holds political prisoners. It is hard for the
USG to understand how a distinguished human rights and
democracy advocate such as Mesic could visit Cuba under these
circumstances. That said, it was Mesic's right to determine
how he should promote Croatia's interests, and where he
should travel.


4. (C) The Ambassador asked Mesic to consider seriously how
to use his visit to promote democracy and a peaceful
transition in Cuba. He asked that the president speak out on
behalf of democratic change while there, or meet with Cuban
human rights groups that have met in the past with former
Czech President Havel.


5. (C) Mesic responded that he understood US views on his
Cuba trip. He explained that via its Yugoslav heritage
Croatia has a long and valued history with the NAM, which, in
his view, served as a sort of a buffer between the West and
the East during the Cold War: this year is the 40th
anniversary of the "three-way meeting" (i.e., Tito, Nasser,
Nehru) at Tito's Adriatic resort on Brijuni; it is the 45th
anniversary of establishment of the NAM in Belgrade. The NAM
has been closely linked to Croatia since the beginning, so
the NAM remains important to Croatia.


6. (C) Mesic said he recognizes that the NAM is a
"heterogeneous group," with participants ranging from
democrats to dictators. It has no serious ideology any more,
but participants do share a common interest in opening
markets for trade. Croatian firms' technology has a hard
time competing in European markets, but they have found many
good markets among NAM countries, so it is important to
reinforce trade relationships. He added that Croatia has
attended all NAM Summits to date as an observer at the
ministerial level; this year the only change is that the head
of state would go instead. Croatia will remain an observer
at the NAM and has no intention of becoming a member.


7. (C) Mesic emphasized that Croatia's strategic goal remains
EU and NATO membership; he discusses this publicly
constantly. Croatia will implement all the reforms necessary
to achieve these goals. Croatia wants good relations with
NAM countries that may not share these goals, Mesic
continued, but that do share a commitment to peace.


8. (C) There are NAM member states where a large number of
terrorists are mobilized, Mesic said. During his remarks at
the NAM, he plans to emphasize the importance of poverty
alleviation as one way of getting at the terrorism problem;
dealing with poverty is impossible without the engagement of
the democratic part of the world.


9. (C) Mesic said he also hopes to lobby NAM member states in
favor of Croatia's effort to win a non-permanent seat on the
UNSC.


10. (C) Mesic noted that he understood the USG's concerns
regarding Castro. He was confident that when Castro goes he

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will be replaced by someone else without so much charisma;
democracy will be unavoidable without Castro. The next
president of Cuba will have a lot of work to do, he noted;
while universal education and health care are laudable, the
economy there is a disaster.


11. (C) Mesic said he does not plan to see Castro while in
Havana. He will attend the summit and send out a message of
democracy and cooperation. He will avoid meetings with
more-radical governments among the attendees. Mesic promised
to extend support for democracy in Cuba on another occasion;
at the Summit he will speak in favor of democracy and human
rights in general, but will not specifically mention Cuba in
his remarks. He concluded by assuring the Ambassador that
his visit to the NAM would neither hurt the US nor help
Castro.


12. (C) The Ambassador welcomed Mesic's statement that
Croatia had no intention of changing its status at the NAM
from that of observer, and that this visit signaled no change
in Croatia's Euro-Atlantic orientation. He emphasized that
this is an important time of transition for Cuba; we all have
an interest in a peaceful transition to democracy on the
island, and again urged the president to do whatever he could
to help achieve that goal.


13. (C) Comment: While the President cites three major
motivations for his NAM plans, nostalgia for the Yugoslav
glory days in the NAM is clearly predominant. As much as we
wish he would not go down this path, this visit is a somewhat
quixotic personal choice that represents no change in
Croatia's strategic direction of ever-closer integration with
the US and Europe, a direction strongly supported by Prime
Minister Sanader. The Ambassador will follow up with
presidential advisors Budimir Loncar and Tomislav Jakic prior
to the visit to continue to press our points regarding
support for Cuban democratic reforms.
BRADTKE