Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06ZAGREB1483
2006-12-14 13:14:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Zagreb
Cable title:
U/S BURNS' LETTER TO PM SANADER ON BOSNIA
how-toVZCZCXRO5309 PP RUEHAG RUEHAST RUEHDA RUEHDBU RUEHDF RUEHFL RUEHIK RUEHKW RUEHLA RUEHLN RUEHLZ RUEHROV RUEHSR RUEHVK RUEHYG DE RUEHVB #1483 3481314 ZNR UUUUU ZZH P 141314Z DEC 06 FM AMEMBASSY ZAGREB TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 7049 INFO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE
UNCLAS ZAGREB 001483
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
FOR P, EUR/FO, EUR/SCE
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL OPDC HR BK
SUBJECT: U/S BURNS' LETTER TO PM SANADER ON BOSNIA
DELIVERED TO CROATIAN FOREIGN MINISTER
REF: A. STATE 197798
B. ZAGREB 1451
UNCLAS ZAGREB 001483
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
FOR P, EUR/FO, EUR/SCE
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL OPDC HR BK
SUBJECT: U/S BURNS' LETTER TO PM SANADER ON BOSNIA
DELIVERED TO CROATIAN FOREIGN MINISTER
REF: A. STATE 197798
B. ZAGREB 1451
1. (SBU) Ambassador delivered U/S Burns' letter to PM Sanader
on the Bosnian constitutional reform package (reftel A) to FM
Kolinda Grabar-Kitarovic December 14. He noted that while
there was as yet no official reaction to the proposals
conveyed by State Secretary Biscevic (reftel B),it was his
personal sense, based upon conversations with Washington and
Embassy Sarajevo, that there were two significant issues that
needed to be weighed along with the Biscevic proposals: 1)
the risk that opening the package on behalf of one entity
might cause others to demand changes that would torpedo the
whole package; and 2) that the focus right now should be on
putting together a new government in Bosnia rather than
deconstructing the reform package.
2. (SBU) In response to the FM's question, the Ambassador
said the USG was not saying "no" to the GOC's proposals at
this point; as the letter from U/S Burns states we are
interested in hearing Croatia's ideas. However, the USG
needs to review the proposals more carefully and discuss them
with the Council of Europe to consider their full
implications. The Ambassador noted that he expected further
reaction to the Croatian proposals shortly. All this said,
the USG preference for now is to continue to move forward
with the existing reform package.
3. (SBU) Grabar-Kitarovic noted that the GOC wants to
continue working closely with the USG on the future of
Bosnia. Protection of the vital national interests of the
Bosnian Croats remains a significant concern, since their
political power is limited; they are "outnumbered" at the
national level and are a minority in the Federation; it is
also important to have a face-saving outcome for the Bosnian
Croats. She noted that the GOC had discussed its proposals
with the Bosniaks, who had said they were willing to accept
them if the USG was.
4. (SBU) The Ambassador noted his concern that our evaluation
of the lay of the land in Bosnia appeared to be somewhat
different from the GOC's, particularly regarding the
acceptability to various groups of the package changes that
the GOC is promoting.
BRADTKE
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
FOR P, EUR/FO, EUR/SCE
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL OPDC HR BK
SUBJECT: U/S BURNS' LETTER TO PM SANADER ON BOSNIA
DELIVERED TO CROATIAN FOREIGN MINISTER
REF: A. STATE 197798
B. ZAGREB 1451
1. (SBU) Ambassador delivered U/S Burns' letter to PM Sanader
on the Bosnian constitutional reform package (reftel A) to FM
Kolinda Grabar-Kitarovic December 14. He noted that while
there was as yet no official reaction to the proposals
conveyed by State Secretary Biscevic (reftel B),it was his
personal sense, based upon conversations with Washington and
Embassy Sarajevo, that there were two significant issues that
needed to be weighed along with the Biscevic proposals: 1)
the risk that opening the package on behalf of one entity
might cause others to demand changes that would torpedo the
whole package; and 2) that the focus right now should be on
putting together a new government in Bosnia rather than
deconstructing the reform package.
2. (SBU) In response to the FM's question, the Ambassador
said the USG was not saying "no" to the GOC's proposals at
this point; as the letter from U/S Burns states we are
interested in hearing Croatia's ideas. However, the USG
needs to review the proposals more carefully and discuss them
with the Council of Europe to consider their full
implications. The Ambassador noted that he expected further
reaction to the Croatian proposals shortly. All this said,
the USG preference for now is to continue to move forward
with the existing reform package.
3. (SBU) Grabar-Kitarovic noted that the GOC wants to
continue working closely with the USG on the future of
Bosnia. Protection of the vital national interests of the
Bosnian Croats remains a significant concern, since their
political power is limited; they are "outnumbered" at the
national level and are a minority in the Federation; it is
also important to have a face-saving outcome for the Bosnian
Croats. She noted that the GOC had discussed its proposals
with the Bosniaks, who had said they were willing to accept
them if the USG was.
4. (SBU) The Ambassador noted his concern that our evaluation
of the lay of the land in Bosnia appeared to be somewhat
different from the GOC's, particularly regarding the
acceptability to various groups of the package changes that
the GOC is promoting.
BRADTKE