NATO OUTREACH IN HIGH GEAR, CROATIAN PUBLIC

UNCLAS ZAGREB 000395

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

DEPARTMENT FOR EUR, EUR/SCE
USNATO FOR DJONES

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PGOV MOPS MARR NATO KPAO HR DEFENSE REFORM
SUBJECT: NATO OUTREACH IN HIGH GEAR, CROATIAN PUBLIC
SUPPORT CLIMBING

REF: A. ZAGREB 265

B. ZAGREB 193

C. ZAGREB 173

D. 06 ZAGREB 1462 AND PREVIOUS


1. SUMMARY AND COMMENT: After a slow start, the GoC's NATO
public education campaign is moving into high gear. Head of
MFA's NATO Office Neven Mikec highlighted the GoC's now
crowded public outreach calendar with Embassy PolOff, PAO,
and DATT at April 12 joint communications working group
session. Thanks in large part to the breadth and pace of GoC
outreach, Mikec was able to report March poll results
indicating that 43 percent of the Croatian public now support
NATO accession - up from 39 percent in December 2006. Post
is aggressively supporting GoC efforts through Democracy
Commission grants, speaker tours, our own public statements
and outreach, and engagement with the embassies of other
Allies. END SUMMARY AND COMMENT.

BOZINOVIC ROAD SHOW ATTRACTS CROWDS IN SMALL TOWNS
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2. Croatian Ambassador to NATO Davor Bozinovic and a number
of Croatian military officers were in the midst of their own
"NATO road show" which they completed this week, holding
public debates in six towns ranging from Vukovar to Gospic.
Partnering with local mayors and county prefects from all
parties to illustrate the political consensus in favor of
NATO membership, they attracted 100 to 200 community and
business leaders, and members of the local media at each
stop. Bozinovic has recently also made nearly daily
appearances in the media, ranging from newspaper commentaries
to political talk show appearances.


3. Other GoC officials are also participating in regular
public debates, with Mikec leaving the working group on April
12 to appear at a public roundtable organized by the Croatian
Atlantic Council that evening. In addition, the GoC will
participate in a NATO PDD-funded regional round table in June
in Opatija focused on a cost-benefit analysis of NATO
membership. While critics of NATO accession have become more
vocal, GoC now immediately responds with arguments in favor
of membership that have grown increasingly refined, concise,
and consistent. In addition, President Mesic has regularly
voiced his support for Croatia's membership.

NATO EXERCISES OFFER OUTREACH OPPORTUNITY
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4. The GoC continues with extensive planning for outreach
efforts linked to upcoming NATO exercises - IDASSA, a
civilian disaster response exercise in Zadar in May, and
NOBLE MIDAS, a naval exercise along the central coast in
October. Mikec has requested NATO IS support in pre-exercise
outreach to environmental and public safety NGOs. He hopes
NATO IS environmental representatives will visit Croatia soon
to share with NGOs and the media planned measures to mediate
environmental impacts from NATO exercises.


5. MOD spokeswoman Marijana Klanac also discussed military
outreach efforts, which included several media appearances of
Croatian naval officers conducted jointly with Embassy PA
office during the April 4-9 NATO Standing Maritime Group-2
visit to Split and a seminar planned for mid-June to train
officers in media relations.

NON-GOVERNMENT ACTORS STEPPING INTO THEIR ROLES
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6. The ruling party, the Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ),has
also engaged its youth wing in promoting NATO, with
roundtables involving students and retired military officers
scheduled in each county throughout the summer. NGOs are
also increasingly active, with the Atlantic Council planning
an event with Democracy Commission support in June to launch
a chapter in Dalmatia, where skepticism toward NATO
membership is relatively high. Post also recently recruited
the Croatian Officers Assembly, a member of the
NATO-affiliated Interallied Confederation of Reserve Officers
(CIOR),to develop a Democracy Commission proposal to educate
the public about the Alliance.
BRADTKE