Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06ZAGREB1484
2006-12-14 14:30:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Zagreb
Cable title:  

AMBASSADOR PRESSES CROATIAN FOREIGN MINISTER ON

Tags:  ETRD PREL PGOV HR BK SY 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXRO5321
PP RUEHDBU RUEHFL RUEHKW RUEHLA RUEHROV RUEHSR
DE RUEHVB #1484 3481430
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
P 141430Z DEC 06
FM AMEMBASSY ZAGREB
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 7050
INFO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE
C O N F I D E N T I A L ZAGREB 001484 

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

FOR EUR/SCE HOH/SAINZ/BALIAN

E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/14/2016
TAGS: ETRD PREL PGOV HR BK SY
SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR PRESSES CROATIAN FOREIGN MINISTER ON
BOSNIA IN CEFTA

REF: A. ZAGREB 1467


B. ZAGREB 1400

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 001484

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

FOR EUR/SCE HOH/SAINZ/BALIAN

E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/14/2016
TAGS: ETRD PREL PGOV HR BK SY
SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR PRESSES CROATIAN FOREIGN MINISTER ON
BOSNIA IN CEFTA

REF: A. ZAGREB 1467


B. ZAGREB 1400

Classified By: Ambassador Robert A. Bradtke for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)
.


1. (C) The Ambassador told FM Kolinda Grabar-Kitarovic
December 14 that there is a lot of concern in Washington
about the negotiations between Croatia and Bosnia on the
Central European Free Trade Area. The USG hopes the GOC will
find some way to reach a compromise that will allow BiH to
sign CEFTA by the December 19 deadline, he added; it is
important to consider not just the economic implications of
the deal, but the political ones as well: a successful CEFTA
including BiH will make an important contribution to that
country's stability and integration with its neighbors.


2. (C) Grabar-Kitarovic replied that the GOC does really want
to see BiH included in CEFTA; after all, PM Sanader was the
regional politician who pushed hardest for the expansion of
CEFTA in the fall of 2005. That said, there are two key
difficulties facing the GOC vis a vis the Bosnia
negotiations: 1) the GOC does not want to reach an agreement
that abandons free trade principles and imposes a more
restrictive regime than the existing Crotia-BiH Free Trade
Agreement; and 2) during an election year the GOC cannot be
seen sacrificing Croatia's interests by giving in to foreign
pressure from Brussels or elsewhere on this issue.


3. (C) The GOC is still seized with the importance of
including Bosnia in CEFTA, Grabar-Kitarovic said; she met
with PM Sanader yesterday to discuss the issue. The PM is in
Brussels today and will discuss CEFTA again with EU
Commissioner Mandelson, she noted.
BRADTKE