Identifier | Created | Classification | Origin |
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06ZAGREB1114 | 2006-09-15 11:10:00 | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | Embassy Zagreb |
VZCZCXRO4388 RR RUEHAST DE RUEHVB #1114 2581110 ZNR UUUUU ZZH R 151110Z SEP 06 FM AMEMBASSY ZAGREB TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 6655 INFO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE |
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UNCLAS ZAGREB 001114
SIPDIS SIPDIS SENSITIVE DEPT FOR EUR/SCE RBALIAN, EB/TRA/AN COLEMAN E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: EAIR ETRD ECON HR SUBJECT: Transport Minister Promises Action on Open Skies Sensitive but Unclassified; please handle accordingly. (SBU) Ambassador used the occasion of a September 19 introductory call on Croatian Minister of Sea, Tourism, Transport and Development, Bozidar Kalmeta, to raise the issue of Open Skies. Noting that we were yet to receive the GOC's comments on our draft text, he emphasized that the timing was right for a U.S.-Croatia agreement, as it would not only facilitate trade and travel, but could also be an important deliverable should PM Sanader travel to Washington in the future. Kalmeta said that the MFA had been holding up a response, concerned about the compatibility of a bilateral agreement with Croatia's EU commitments, but that the issue was now back in his ministry and he would speed up the process us much as possible. Ambassador pointed out that, while he understood Croatia's concerns, the US and the EU are close to finalizing an agreement that Croatia would eventually become party to anyway and that many current EU members have long-standing aviation agreements with the U.S. that are fully compatible with their EU commitments. BRADTKE |