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