Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06ZAGREB415
2006-03-28 14:04:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Zagreb
Cable title:  

CA A/S MAURA HARTY MEETS WITH CROATIAN OFFICIALS

Tags:  CMGT CVIS CASC CJAN HR 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXYZ0012
RR RUEHWEB

DE RUEHVB #0415/01 0871404
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 281404Z MAR 06
FM AMEMBASSY ZAGREB
TO SECSTATE WASHDC 5936
UNCLAS ZAGREB 000415 

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

FOR CA, EUR/SCE FOR ENGLISH/BELL

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: CMGT CVIS CASC CJAN HR
SUBJECT: CA A/S MAURA HARTY MEETS WITH CROATIAN OFFICIALS

REF: ZAGREB 0057

UNCLAS ZAGREB 000415

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

FOR CA, EUR/SCE FOR ENGLISH/BELL

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: CMGT CVIS CASC CJAN HR
SUBJECT: CA A/S MAURA HARTY MEETS WITH CROATIAN OFFICIALS

REF: ZAGREB 0057


1. Summary: Property restitution, student exchanges,
biometric developments for Croatian passports, and
extradition processes were some of the issues discussed by
Assistant Secretary (A/S) for Consular Affairs (CA)
Ambassador Maura Harty in a bilateral meeting with Croatian
Ministry of Foreign Affairs State Secretary (S/S) for
Organization, Development and Management Vera Varga and
other MFA officials on March 8, 2006 in Zagreb. Also in
attendance were Ambassador Frank and Consul Carolyn Gorman.
End Summary.


2. A/S Harty thanked S/S Vera Varga for the close
cooperation enjoyed by the U.S. and Croatia. A/S Harty
noted U.S. Embassy Zagreb was hosting a conference for
Consular Officers from around Europe and offered a follow-
up visit at FSI for Croatian diplomats who had been hosted
there previously for a site visit.


3. Property restitution: When A/S Harty raised the issue of
property restitution and the lack of American citizen
access to the current property restitution law, S/S Varga
said negative public opinion at the end of 2005 had
derailed plans to begin negotiations on bilateral
agreements that would grant access to foreign citizens.
However, she said that the government had subsequently
created working groups for the purpose of drafting an
amendment to the current law. The amendment would allow
foreigners access to the law without the need for a
bilateral agreement governing such access. S/S Varga said
it was anticipated the amendment would be adopted in the
summer of 2006. In response to A/S Harty's question as to
how the amendment would be publicized to those affected,
S/S Varga said the amendment's adoption would trigger media
coverage and agreed the Croatian Embassy in D.C. could
highlight developments on its website. She also agreed the
process should be as transparent as possible to allow for
final resolution of the issue.


4. Student Exchanges: In response to A/S Harty's comment
that student exchange programs remain a U.S. priority, S/S
Varga noted all present from the Ministry at the table had
attended school in the U.S. and almost "everyone in the
Ministry" had done so.



5. Biometric Passports: Ms. Maja Tajder, Head of the
Department for Citizenship and Travel Documents, said new
biometric passport developments would be unveiled in a
pilot program in early 2007, beginning with diplomatic and
other official passports, which would include facial
imaging and fingerprints with microchip storage capability.
In response to A/S Harty's question as to whether Croatia
intended to make the stored information available to other
countries via readers at Ports of Entry, Ms. Tajder
responded the decision had not been made but would be
raised, especially with European Union member states. When
asked how the public would greet biometric passports, S/S
Varga said biometric identity cards had not been an issue
when rolled out and therefore the GOC did not anticipate
problems related to passports with similar capabilities.


6. Extradition: Ms. Andreja Metelko-Zgombic, Head of the
International Law Department, thanked Ambassador Harty for
U.S. cooperation in the Mitar Arambasic extradition case
(ref) and noted it was an important sign of trust and
rising confidence in the Government of Croatia's ability to
prosecute war crimes. Consul Carolyn Gorman noted the
collaborative nature of the process and the importance of
Croatia's follow-through on its guarantee for a second
trial. Ms. Metelko-Zgombic said the Croatian Embassy in
Washington, D.C. was grateful for the assistance rendered
by the Department of Justice. Mr. Zoran Bradic, Department
Head for International Legal Assistance, said he hoped the
eleven remaining cases would also be resolved soon.


7. Croatian Embassy in Baghdad: Mr. Bradic thanked
Ambassador Frank and the Consul for assistance rendered
when Croatian truck drivers were killed and missing in
Iraq. Ambassador Frank asked when Croatia planned to send
its diplomatic representative to Baghdad and S/S Varga
responded that the matter was under discussion, that
Croatia wants to do it, but "small matters" needed to be
worked out.


8. Visa Waiver Program: S/S Varga asked what data was
available regarding the rate of returns/overstays with
respect to Croatian visitors to the U.S. Consul Gorman
replied that a recent study showed an overstay rate of
around one percent. S/S Varga asked whether that
information along with the future biometric Croatian
passports would assist with Croatia's entrance into the

Visa Waiver Program. A/S Harty replied that while
countries are encouraged to build good passports and strong
border facilities, September 11, 2001 put a damper on
expansion of the program and realistically, the admission
of any new countries to the VWP was a long way down the
road. Consul noted that the U.S. Embassy in Zagreb was one
of few embassies without a waiting period for visa
appointments. S/S Varga said she had heard no complaints
regarding the U.S. visa process.


9. Crisis Management Training: S/S Varga was intrigued by
A/S Harty's description of her participation in a crisis
management exercise with Canada, Australia, New Zealand and
the UK during the recent Consular Colloque. S/S Varga
agreed that a similar exercise set in Dubrovnik would be
beneficial. Mr. Bradic noted that the MFA had established
a special MFA Crisis Coordination and Management Department
after the South Asia Tsunami and problems with Croatian
truck drivers in Iraq. Ambassador Frank and S/S Varga
agreed to discuss possible crisis management training in
the future.


10. Andrea Bekic, Head of the North America Office, and
Betty Pavelich Sirois, Advisor to the Minister, and
Consular Affairs Special Assistant Lynne Skeirik also
attended the meeting.
FRANK