Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06ZAGREB527
2006-04-26 11:17:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Zagreb
Cable title:  

MESIC DECLINES IRANIAN INVITATION

Tags:  PREL PGOV XF IR HR 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXRO5117
PP RUEHFL RUEHKW RUEHLA RUEHROV RUEHSR
DE RUEHVB #0527 1161117
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
P 261117Z APR 06
FM AMEMBASSY ZAGREB
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 6059
RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE
RHEHAAA/WHITE HOUSE WASHINGTON DC
C O N F I D E N T I A L ZAGREB 000527 

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR EUR/SCE - ENGLISH, BELL
DEPT FOR NEA
WHITE HOUSE FOR OVP - JOSEPH WOOD

E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/23/2016
TAGS: PREL PGOV XF IR HR
SUBJECT: MESIC DECLINES IRANIAN INVITATION

REF: 05 ZAGREB AND PREVIOUS

Classified By: Deputy Chief of Mission Greg Delawie for reasons 1.5 (b)
& (d)

C O N F I D E N T I A L ZAGREB 000527

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR EUR/SCE - ENGLISH, BELL
DEPT FOR NEA
WHITE HOUSE FOR OVP - JOSEPH WOOD

E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/23/2016
TAGS: PREL PGOV XF IR HR
SUBJECT: MESIC DECLINES IRANIAN INVITATION

REF: 05 ZAGREB AND PREVIOUS

Classified By: Deputy Chief of Mission Greg Delawie for reasons 1.5 (b)
& (d)


1. (C) SUMMARY AND COMMENT: President Stjepan Mesic declined
an invitation last week from Iranian President Mahmoud
Ahmadi-Nejad to visit Tehran, special presidential advisor
for international relations Budimir Loncar told Ambassador
Frank on April 21. When the Iranian Ambassador to Croatia
presented the invitation, Mesic replied that his crowded
schedule would not allow a visit this year, which Loncar
described as a polite refusal.


2. (C) This decision marks a hiatus in the exchange of
presidential visits after Mesic hosted President Mohammad
Khatami in March 2005 (reftels). Local press interpreted the
refusal as a nod to U.S. interests in advance of the VPOTUS
visit next month. END SUMMARY AND COMMENT.


3. (C) Vesna Klaic, head of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs'
Eurasia division, told PolOff April 24 that Croatia has
recently become more cautious in its relations with Iran,
postponing regularly scheduled bilateral meetings after
inflammatory statements from President Ahmadi-Nejad. Croatia
will follow the European Union's lead when it comes to
Iran-related decisions in the U.N., Klaic said.


4. (C) According to Klaic, Croatia would be unhappy to see
the U.N. Security Council impose economic sanctions on Iran,
as potential trade remains Zagreb's main interest in ties
with Tehran. While bilateral trade remains relatively
insignificant at approximately $7 million annually, the GoC
perceives Iran as a lucrative market for Croatian products
such as pharmaceuticals, machinery, ships, and consumer goods.
FRANK