Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06ZAGREB1334
2006-11-06 11:48:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Zagreb
Cable title:
MAINTAINING BILATERAL MOMENTUM AFTER PM'S WHITE
VZCZCXYZ0001 RR RUEHWEB DE RUEHVB #1334/01 3101148 ZNY CCCCC ZZH R 061148Z NOV 06 FM AMEMBASSY ZAGREB TO SECSTATE WASHDC 6879
C O N F I D E N T I A L ZAGREB 001334
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
FOR EUR/SCE
E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/02/2016
TAGS: PREL PGOV EAIR ETRD PHUM KJUS HR
SUBJECT: MAINTAINING BILATERAL MOMENTUM AFTER PM'S WHITE
HOUSE VISIT
Classified By: Ambassador Robert A. Bradtke for reasons 1.4(b) and (d).
C O N F I D E N T I A L ZAGREB 001334
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
FOR EUR/SCE
E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/02/2016
TAGS: PREL PGOV EAIR ETRD PHUM KJUS HR
SUBJECT: MAINTAINING BILATERAL MOMENTUM AFTER PM'S WHITE
HOUSE VISIT
Classified By: Ambassador Robert A. Bradtke for reasons 1.4(b) and (d).
1. (C) SUMMARY: As discussed at PM Sanader's October 18 lunch
with the Vice-President, the Ambassador and FM Kolinda
Grabar-Kitarovic began a series of regular reviews of
outstanding bilateral issues October 27. State Secretary
Hidajet Biscevic and DCM also attended. Embassy provides
this overview as an initial list of issues key to further
improving bilateral relations and on which progress can
potentially be made. We will follow up with individual
requests for action and guidance as appropriate. END SUMMARY
Croatian Role in Kosovo Status process
2. (C) Ambassador thanked Grabar-Kitarovic and Biscevic for
their interest in seeing Special Envoy for Kosovo Frank
Wisner on October 30 (see septel). He noted the importance
of our countries remaining in close touch to ensure a
favorable outcome of the Kosovo status process.
Supplemental SOFA Talks
3. (C) Biscevic noted that we had made a little progress on
the SOFA talks, but that the judicial aspect (detainees) was
still a problem. The Ambassador noted that both sides should
work to bridge differences on this issue so we could sign by
the end of the year. (NOTE: Further progress was made during
a DVC round of talks on October 25, leaving only two
difficult issues for further discussion: the custody/detainee
issue, and the issue of payment of landing fees.)
Open Skies
4. (C) Grabar-Kitarovic said that the Ministries of Transport
and Economy were very interested in the Open Skies agreement.
However, the MFA was concerned about the reaction of the
European Union if Croatia, as a candidate country, negotiated
such an agreement bilaterally. She asked about the EU
Commission's lawsuit against Germany and other member states
that had concluded Open Skies agreements with the US, and
what the current status of that case was. Ambassador assured
Grabar-Kitarovic that we had numerous such agreements with EU
member states. He promised additional guidance on addressing
the EU issue in the next few days, pending receipt of
instructions expected from Washington.
Shipboarding Agreement
5. (U) Biscevic said that the U.S.-Croatian shipboarding
agreement was on the parliament's agenda for ratification in
the near future.
Extradition Treaty
6. (U) The Ambassador noted that we were gauging Washington
interest on updating the current extradition treaty, which
dates from 1901. Grabar-Kitarovic said she would discuss the
issue with Minister of Justice Lovrin.
Police cooperation Agreement
7. (U) The Ambassador noted Minister of Interior Kirin's
interest in concluding a bilateral Police Cooperation
Agreement, and undertook to raise the issue with Washington.
Double Taxation Agreement
8. (U) The Ambassador raised a double taxation agreement as
another issue we will explore with Washington agencies.
Security Cooperation Agreement
9. (C) The Ambassador updated the FM on our conversations
with the President's office on a draft Security Cooperation
Agreement. He said the draft is still under review in
Washington, but we are encouraged by President Mesic's
willingness to consider such an arrangement.
Grabar-Kitarovic said she was pleased we were discussing this
with the President. She reminded the Ambassador of demarches
the GOC had received from EU countries cautioning Croatia
against signing such a deal with the US. She agreed that we
should continue discussions on this issue.
Property Restitution
10. (SBU) The Ambassador brought up the problem of
restitution for U.S. citizens whose property had been
confiscated during or after WWII, and our impression that
this issue had not made much progress recently. He noted
that this issue would certainly come up when the U.S. Senate
considers Croatia's accession to NATO, so it was better to
deal with it now to get it off the table. Grabar-Kitarovic
said that Croatia was determined to deal with the issue, but
that it was politically very difficult, especially in a
pre-election context. The last time property restitution had
come up publicly, the opposition and President Mesic had
successfully persuaded the public that the government wanted
to give property back to Austrian Nazis, which was untrue.
Due to the Austria connection, this issue had to be handled
with political sensitivity. She promised to discuss it
further with the Ministry of Justice. She suggested that a
U.S. NGO might be helpful in persuading the opposition that
this issue needed to be addressed. The Ambassador suggested
that the Special Envoy for Anti-Semitism, who is currently
planning a trip to Zagreb, might be able to discuss this
issue further with the GOC. (NOTE: Special Envoy Gregg
Rickman will visit Zagreb November 17-18.)
Tax issues
11. (U) The Ambassador brought up several tax issues being
faced by U.S. companies operating in Croatia, noting that he
would be addressing these with Finance Minister Suker.
IPR
12. (SBU) The Ambassador stressed the importance of getting
Croatia off the Special 301 (Intellectual Property Rights)
Watch List by dealing with its pharmaceutical patents issue.
He stressed that the USG was not asking Croatia to do
anything on this issue that would be inconsistent with its
obligations to the EU - in fact, if Croatia fully implements
EU standards on patents, our problem will be taken care of
too.
American Studies
13. (U) The Foreign Minister said that she was in discussions
with the University of Zagreb about enhancing its American
Studies curriculum. The Ambassador said we would like to be
helpful in this area.
BRADTKE
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
FOR EUR/SCE
E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/02/2016
TAGS: PREL PGOV EAIR ETRD PHUM KJUS HR
SUBJECT: MAINTAINING BILATERAL MOMENTUM AFTER PM'S WHITE
HOUSE VISIT
Classified By: Ambassador Robert A. Bradtke for reasons 1.4(b) and (d).
1. (C) SUMMARY: As discussed at PM Sanader's October 18 lunch
with the Vice-President, the Ambassador and FM Kolinda
Grabar-Kitarovic began a series of regular reviews of
outstanding bilateral issues October 27. State Secretary
Hidajet Biscevic and DCM also attended. Embassy provides
this overview as an initial list of issues key to further
improving bilateral relations and on which progress can
potentially be made. We will follow up with individual
requests for action and guidance as appropriate. END SUMMARY
Croatian Role in Kosovo Status process
2. (C) Ambassador thanked Grabar-Kitarovic and Biscevic for
their interest in seeing Special Envoy for Kosovo Frank
Wisner on October 30 (see septel). He noted the importance
of our countries remaining in close touch to ensure a
favorable outcome of the Kosovo status process.
Supplemental SOFA Talks
3. (C) Biscevic noted that we had made a little progress on
the SOFA talks, but that the judicial aspect (detainees) was
still a problem. The Ambassador noted that both sides should
work to bridge differences on this issue so we could sign by
the end of the year. (NOTE: Further progress was made during
a DVC round of talks on October 25, leaving only two
difficult issues for further discussion: the custody/detainee
issue, and the issue of payment of landing fees.)
Open Skies
4. (C) Grabar-Kitarovic said that the Ministries of Transport
and Economy were very interested in the Open Skies agreement.
However, the MFA was concerned about the reaction of the
European Union if Croatia, as a candidate country, negotiated
such an agreement bilaterally. She asked about the EU
Commission's lawsuit against Germany and other member states
that had concluded Open Skies agreements with the US, and
what the current status of that case was. Ambassador assured
Grabar-Kitarovic that we had numerous such agreements with EU
member states. He promised additional guidance on addressing
the EU issue in the next few days, pending receipt of
instructions expected from Washington.
Shipboarding Agreement
5. (U) Biscevic said that the U.S.-Croatian shipboarding
agreement was on the parliament's agenda for ratification in
the near future.
Extradition Treaty
6. (U) The Ambassador noted that we were gauging Washington
interest on updating the current extradition treaty, which
dates from 1901. Grabar-Kitarovic said she would discuss the
issue with Minister of Justice Lovrin.
Police cooperation Agreement
7. (U) The Ambassador noted Minister of Interior Kirin's
interest in concluding a bilateral Police Cooperation
Agreement, and undertook to raise the issue with Washington.
Double Taxation Agreement
8. (U) The Ambassador raised a double taxation agreement as
another issue we will explore with Washington agencies.
Security Cooperation Agreement
9. (C) The Ambassador updated the FM on our conversations
with the President's office on a draft Security Cooperation
Agreement. He said the draft is still under review in
Washington, but we are encouraged by President Mesic's
willingness to consider such an arrangement.
Grabar-Kitarovic said she was pleased we were discussing this
with the President. She reminded the Ambassador of demarches
the GOC had received from EU countries cautioning Croatia
against signing such a deal with the US. She agreed that we
should continue discussions on this issue.
Property Restitution
10. (SBU) The Ambassador brought up the problem of
restitution for U.S. citizens whose property had been
confiscated during or after WWII, and our impression that
this issue had not made much progress recently. He noted
that this issue would certainly come up when the U.S. Senate
considers Croatia's accession to NATO, so it was better to
deal with it now to get it off the table. Grabar-Kitarovic
said that Croatia was determined to deal with the issue, but
that it was politically very difficult, especially in a
pre-election context. The last time property restitution had
come up publicly, the opposition and President Mesic had
successfully persuaded the public that the government wanted
to give property back to Austrian Nazis, which was untrue.
Due to the Austria connection, this issue had to be handled
with political sensitivity. She promised to discuss it
further with the Ministry of Justice. She suggested that a
U.S. NGO might be helpful in persuading the opposition that
this issue needed to be addressed. The Ambassador suggested
that the Special Envoy for Anti-Semitism, who is currently
planning a trip to Zagreb, might be able to discuss this
issue further with the GOC. (NOTE: Special Envoy Gregg
Rickman will visit Zagreb November 17-18.)
Tax issues
11. (U) The Ambassador brought up several tax issues being
faced by U.S. companies operating in Croatia, noting that he
would be addressing these with Finance Minister Suker.
IPR
12. (SBU) The Ambassador stressed the importance of getting
Croatia off the Special 301 (Intellectual Property Rights)
Watch List by dealing with its pharmaceutical patents issue.
He stressed that the USG was not asking Croatia to do
anything on this issue that would be inconsistent with its
obligations to the EU - in fact, if Croatia fully implements
EU standards on patents, our problem will be taken care of
too.
American Studies
13. (U) The Foreign Minister said that she was in discussions
with the University of Zagreb about enhancing its American
Studies curriculum. The Ambassador said we would like to be
helpful in this area.
BRADTKE