PM ASSURES SOFA APPROVAL AT END OF AUGUST

C O N F I D E N T I A L ZAGREB 000736 SIPDIS SIPDIS STATE FOR EUR, EUR/SCE, PM, PM/SNA, L/PM DEFENSE FOR OSD:WINTERNITZ AND MITCHELL E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/07/2017 TAGS: PREL MARR HR DEFENSE REFORM SUBJECT: PM ASSURES SOFA APPROVAL AT END OF AUGUST Classified By: Ambassador Robert A. Bradtke for reasons 1.4(b) and (d). ¶1. (C) Following the failure of the Croatian cabinet to provide final approval of the text of the Status of Forces Agremeent at its last session before a two week summer break, the Ambassador spoke August 3 with Ministry of Foreign Affairs State Secretary Biscevic to express his disappointment and urge that approval of the SOFA not slide into the fall and the Croatian electoral campaign season. The Ambassador also stressed that much good work had been done on both sides to reach this point, and it was important to bring the process to closure. ¶2. (C) The next day, August 4, Biscevic called the Ambassador to report that he had conveyed the Ambassador,s concerns to Prime Minister Sanader. The Prime Minister had instructed him to inform the Ambassador that the SOFA would be approved by the cabinet &as soon as8 the Government returned from its two week summer break at the end of August. ¶3. (C) Comment. Whatever the reasons for the delay, we believe that the Prime Minister,s assurances put us on track for cabinet approval by the end of this month. BRADTKE