CROATIAN MUFTI SHARES PRESIDENT BUSH'S EID MESSAGE WITH

UNCLAS ZAGREB 001293 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL SCUL KISL KPAO HR SUBJECT: CROATIAN MUFTI SHARES PRESIDENT BUSH'S EID MESSAGE WITH ISLAMIC COMMUNITY AT BAJRAM CELEBRATION The Croatian Islamic community demonstrated its long-standing warm and positive relations with the Embassy at an October 24 lunch celebrating the end of Ramadan "Bajram". While welcoming representatives of the government and President Mesic's office, religious figures, local politicians and several diplomats (including the Iranian Ambassador),Croatian Mufti Sefko Omerbasic graciously read aloud the Embassy-provided courtesy translation of President Bush's Eid message. The Zagreb community's imam also told Embassy officers he would publish the message in the group's monthly bulletin. COMMENT: Embassy Zagreb has successfully cultivated strong ties with Omerbasic and his moderate Croatian Islamic community of 60,000 by PD and other outreach programs, small assistance projects through USAID, State/PRM and DOD, and promotion of tolerance, ethnic reconciliation and rule of law at the national level. END COMMENT BRADTKE