IRAQ: CROATIA AIMING FOR PERMANENT PRESENCE AFTER

C O N F I D E N T I A L ZAGREB 000983 SIPDIS SIPDIS DEPARTMENT FOR EUR/SCE HOH, SAINZ, BALIAN BAGHDAD FOR EXEC OFFICE, POL, RSO E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/16/2007 TAGS: PREL PGOV MARR ASEC IZ HR SUBJECT: IRAQ: CROATIA AIMING FOR PERMANENT PRESENCE AFTER SUCCESSFUL BAGHDAD VISIT REF: A. BAGHDAD 2851 ¶B. ZAGREB 904 ¶C. ZAGREB 897 Classified By: Political Officer Tom Selinger for reasons 1.4 (b) & (d) . ¶1. (C) SUMMARY AND COMMENT : Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs Pjer Simunovic thanked Charge August 8 for Embassy Baghdad's assistance to his delegation during an August 1-3 visit to Iraq (reftels). Simunovic characterized the visit as extremely positive and noted that Zagreb's new Ambassador to Iraq Jerko Vukas presented his credentials to President Talibani, opening direct diplomatic contact. The GoC is now focused on establishing a permanent presence in Baghdad. Simunovic believes an office in the Donor Village is Croatia's most realistic option. Despite concerns about security, the GOC has at last fulfilled a longstanding commitment to establish relations with Iraq; although we see no weakening of the GOC,s position on sending troops, the relationship could build on other non-military assistance such as the Croatian police trainers already working in Jordan. END SUMMARY AND COMMENT. FIRST DIRECT CONTACT, MUTED MEDIA REACTION -------------- ¶2. (C) Simunovic said he left Baghdad with the impression that the Iraqi government appreciated the delegation's visit and Croatia's efforts to advance diplomatic relations. He was somewhat puzzled by the nearly silent reaction of the Croatian media, saying he expected at least some journalists to use the event to criticize GoC foreign policy. COMMENT: While Post would like to attribute the lack of media criticism as a gradual softening of public opposition to GoC engagement in Iraq, it is just as likely due to the media simply not paying attention during the summer vacation lull. END COMMENT. ¶3. (C) According to Simunovic, the MFA now has a much better understanding of what it needs to do to open a permanent mission, particularly regarding security concerns. With private security prohibitively expensive, Simunovic stressed that the Donor Village in the Green Zone is the location that the GoC is most likely to pursue. VISIT TO POLICE TRAINERS -------------- ¶4. (C) During the Baghdad visit, the delegation met with local representatives of Ingra, a Croatian construction company that has been active in Iraq since the 1980s. Ingra offices were destroyed by a rocket attack just two days before the visit. Simunovic's delegation also stopped in Amman where they met with three Croatian police trainers at the International Police Academy in Amman. DELAWIE