POST RECOMMENDS HIGH LEVEL USG REPS TO DUBROVNIK

UNCLAS ZAGREB 000147 SIPDIS SENSITIVE DEPARTMENT FOR EUR/SCE DEFENSE FOR OSD/POLICY:WINTERNITZ E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL HR SUBJECT: POST RECOMMENDS HIGH LEVEL USG REPS TO DUBROVNIK CONFERENCE REF: BAEZ-FRIEDMAN E-MAIL OF 30 JANUARY ¶1. (SBU) The GoC will host a high level conference July 9-10 in Dubrovnik. Titled "Completing Europe's Southern Dimension: The Values that Bind Us Together," the GoC will invite Prime Minister-level participation from NATO and EU member-states and candidates. Prime Minister Sanader used his January 30 visit to NATO to invite Secretary General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer and U.S. Ambassador Toria Nuland (ref), among others. The GoC's Amcit conference organizer, Paige Reffe, has informed post that he already has commitments for prime minister-level participation from at least one Central European country. ¶2. (SBU) Although it is too early to gauge participation from other invitees, post expects that the location and timing (the day before the opening of the Dubrovnik Summer Festival) will attract considerable high-level participation. Post recommends that the Department seriously consider using this opportunity to advance our bilateral and regional interests through high-level attendance. FRANK