Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07ZAGREB218
2007-03-05 15:03:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Zagreb
Cable title:
CROATIAN PM NOT OPTIMISTIC ABOUT USG HOPES FOR
how-toVZCZCXRO5650 PP RUEHDBU RUEHFL RUEHKW RUEHLA RUEHROV RUEHSR DE RUEHVB #0218 0641503 ZNY CCCCC ZZH P 051503Z MAR 07 FM AMEMBASSY ZAGREB TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 7374 INFO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE
C O N F I D E N T I A L ZAGREB 000218
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
FOR EUR, EUR/SCE
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/05/2017
TAGS: PREL PGOV PARM PINR BK EUN HR REGIONAL ISSUES
SUBJECT: CROATIAN PM NOT OPTIMISTIC ABOUT USG HOPES FOR
BOSNIAN CONSTITUTIONAL REFORM
REF: A. STATE 22980
B. 06 ZAGREB 1423
C. 06 ZAGREB 1439
Classified By: CDA Greg Delawie for reasons 1.4(b) and (d).
C O N F I D E N T I A L ZAGREB 000218
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
FOR EUR, EUR/SCE
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/05/2017
TAGS: PREL PGOV PARM PINR BK EUN HR REGIONAL ISSUES
SUBJECT: CROATIAN PM NOT OPTIMISTIC ABOUT USG HOPES FOR
BOSNIAN CONSTITUTIONAL REFORM
REF: A. STATE 22980
B. 06 ZAGREB 1423
C. 06 ZAGREB 1439
Classified By: CDA Greg Delawie for reasons 1.4(b) and (d).
1. (C) Ambassador and DCM met March 2 with PM Ivo Sanader to
discuss the way ahead on Bosnian constitutional reform,
promoting the existing package of US-brokered reform measures
as laid out in ref A.
2. (C) Sanader said the USG-supported revisions would not
succeed and would be a divisive element in BiH. They were a
mistake for both strategic and tactical reasons. On the
strategic level, if the position of Croats in Bosnia is
weakened, the influence of the international community is
weakened as well. He noted negatively the growing influence
of Russia in BiH, especially in the RS, which has recently
sold the Bosanski Brod refinery, a motor oil plant, and a
telecommunications company to Russian interests.
3. (C) BiH Croats are essential to preserving BiH as a
multi-ethnic state, he continued. If they feel their
influence slipping further they will abandon BiH and move to
Croatia (Note: where they can claim citizenship),leaving
behind only Serbs and Bosniaks. There will be no way to keep
the BiH as a unitary state if the BiH Croats forsake the
country; another mass influx of BiH Croats to Croatia would
be very destabilizing for Croatia as well.
4. (C) On a tactical level, Sanader said, the Catholic church
and the HDZ 1990 faction clearly oppose the existing reform
package, giving it no chance of succeeding. He said he could
try to argue with them but it would be pointless since their
minds are made up and his pushing would be ineffective on
this issue.
5. (C) Finally, engaging the BiH Croats on a losing issue
like this, Sanader said, would reduce his influence in the
region, and thus his ability to help encourage positive
change not just in BiH but in the region as a whole. Sanader
asked again that we consider the two changes to the package
proposed by the HDZ 1990, reported in refs B and C.
6. (C) Comment: We continue to believe that, despite such
disagreements, engaging with the GOC on Bosnia reform issues
will serve our interests.
DELAWIE
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
FOR EUR, EUR/SCE
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/05/2017
TAGS: PREL PGOV PARM PINR BK EUN HR REGIONAL ISSUES
SUBJECT: CROATIAN PM NOT OPTIMISTIC ABOUT USG HOPES FOR
BOSNIAN CONSTITUTIONAL REFORM
REF: A. STATE 22980
B. 06 ZAGREB 1423
C. 06 ZAGREB 1439
Classified By: CDA Greg Delawie for reasons 1.4(b) and (d).
1. (C) Ambassador and DCM met March 2 with PM Ivo Sanader to
discuss the way ahead on Bosnian constitutional reform,
promoting the existing package of US-brokered reform measures
as laid out in ref A.
2. (C) Sanader said the USG-supported revisions would not
succeed and would be a divisive element in BiH. They were a
mistake for both strategic and tactical reasons. On the
strategic level, if the position of Croats in Bosnia is
weakened, the influence of the international community is
weakened as well. He noted negatively the growing influence
of Russia in BiH, especially in the RS, which has recently
sold the Bosanski Brod refinery, a motor oil plant, and a
telecommunications company to Russian interests.
3. (C) BiH Croats are essential to preserving BiH as a
multi-ethnic state, he continued. If they feel their
influence slipping further they will abandon BiH and move to
Croatia (Note: where they can claim citizenship),leaving
behind only Serbs and Bosniaks. There will be no way to keep
the BiH as a unitary state if the BiH Croats forsake the
country; another mass influx of BiH Croats to Croatia would
be very destabilizing for Croatia as well.
4. (C) On a tactical level, Sanader said, the Catholic church
and the HDZ 1990 faction clearly oppose the existing reform
package, giving it no chance of succeeding. He said he could
try to argue with them but it would be pointless since their
minds are made up and his pushing would be ineffective on
this issue.
5. (C) Finally, engaging the BiH Croats on a losing issue
like this, Sanader said, would reduce his influence in the
region, and thus his ability to help encourage positive
change not just in BiH but in the region as a whole. Sanader
asked again that we consider the two changes to the package
proposed by the HDZ 1990, reported in refs B and C.
6. (C) Comment: We continue to believe that, despite such
disagreements, engaging with the GOC on Bosnia reform issues
will serve our interests.
DELAWIE