(C) EU TRIOKA DEMARCHES CROATIAN MFA REGARDING

C O N F I D E N T I A L ZAGREB 000697

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 6/9/2016
TAGS: PREL MARR HR EUN REGIONAL ISSUES
SUBJECT: (C) EU TRIOKA DEMARCHES CROATIAN MFA REGARDING
ARTICLE 98

REF: STATE 65956

Classified By: DCM G. T. DELAWIE FOR REASONS 1.4 (B) AND (D)


1. (C) European Union troika ambassadors told the MFA last
week that signing an article 98 agreement with the United
States would jeopardize Croatia's accession to the EU, an MFA
official (protect) told the DCM June 7. The EU ambassadors
told Assistant Minister for the European Union and European
Cooperation Damir Kusen that concluding an article 98
agreement with the US would jeopardize closing the Justice
and Home Affairs chapter of the EU aquis.


2. (C) The MFA official characterized the demarche as
"rather over the top," and said it was not clear whether it
was on instructions from Brussels or national capitals, or
was a purely locally-driven effort.


3. (C) In the run-up to the May visit to Croatia of VP
Cheney, there was considerable newspaper speculation that the
US and Croatia would sign an article 98 agreement during the
visit. This coverage may have led to or contributed to the
demarche. The draft Defense Cooperation Agreement (reftel)
has not yet appeared in the press.
FRANK