US CARDINAL REACHES OUT TO CROATS

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 ZAGREB 000766

SIPDIS

EUR/SCE FOR HOH AND BALIAN

E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/17/2017
TAGS: HR CROATIA PGOV PHUM PREL
SUBJECT: US CARDINAL REACHES OUT TO CROATS

REF: ZAGREB 763

Classified By: Kirsten Selinger for reasons 1.5 (B) and (D)


1. (C) Summary and Comment. The August 12-14 visit of
Theodore McCarrick, Emeritus Cardinal of Washington, to
Croatia reassured Croatian leaders that the U.S. is engaged
in Bosnia and Herzegovina and interested in the situation of
Croats there. McCarrick heard from Croatian leaders that
Bosnia is a largely non-functional state still plagued by
ethnic tensions, and that the fractious Croat contingent is
preventing constructive dialogue on constitutional reforms.
MFA State Secretary Hido Biscevic told McCarrick that Bosnian
Croats feel abandoned, outnumbered, and marginalized in BiH,
and that Zagreb will continue to send them the message that
they need to be active participants in determining the
country's future. The interethnic character of the country
is an essential component to its stability, which is in turn
critical for the entire region, he stated. One of the PM's
closest advisors, Biscevic is likely Croatia's most
knowledgeable expert on BiH, and his view was clear about the
need to stabilize the three-pronged administration from both
inside and outside the country and foster new leadership
there. As Croatians are well aware, instability next door
would have a significant impact on the country, immigration,
and its economy. McCarrick left Croatia determined to
convey the message to Bosnian Croats that their concerns were
being taken into account, particularly by the US, and of the
need for them to further engage in BiH's future. End Summary
and Comment.

Message of Concern and Confidence to Bosnian Croats
-------------- --------------


2. (SBU) As part of a regional trip, McCarrick visited
Croatia and met with Biscevic, Deputy Prime Minister Jadranka
Kosor, Special Advisor to the President Budimir Loncar, and
Cardinal Josip Bozanic. The meeting with Biscevic, who is
one of the PM's closest advisors, went into the greatest
detail. Biscevic discussed both problems within the Bosnian
Croat community and Bosnia's future with McCarrick. His
expertise on this issue, combined with his Bosniak
background, gave a realistic if somewhat discouraging picture
from Zagreb. (NOTE: Biscevic was recently elected as
Secretary General of the Regional Cooperation Council of the

SIPDIS
SEECP and will be relocating to Sarajevo at the end of the
year. END NOTE.) Biscevic explained the fractious nature of
the Croat community in BiH, split between nine political
parties. They have been dragged down by internal bickering,
personality politics, and egos, he said, and as a result
Croats feel marginalized and abandoned. The only leader who
speaks for the Croat community as whole is Cardinal Puljic,
Biscevic observed. Puljic's role is critical, according to
Biscevic, and his thoughts on the future of BiH are important
to regional stability.


3. (SBU) When the PM recently met with Bosnian Croat
political leaders in Mostar, Biscevic said that the PM told
them to get involved, not to sit on the sidelines while their
future was being determined, and to work together towards a
future in BiH. They must be pragmatic and talk to Serbs and
Bosniaks about a shared future, he said. Reiterating the
PM's message (who called McCarrick by phone during lunch),
Biscevic asked McCarrick to convey to Bosnian Croats a
message of cooperation, concern, and self-confidence.

The Challenges of Leadership
--------------


4. (C) Referring to BiH Presidency Chairman Zeljko Komsic,
Biscevic argued he didn't truly represent the Croats as he
was elected by the entire populace, not only by Croats.
Aligned neither with Dragan Covic (HDZ) or Bozo Ljubic
(HDZ-1990),he has been less than effective in his position.
President Mesic's Advisor Loncar told McCarrick he did
believe Komsic was capable of being a voice for the
Croatians, but agreed that the other leaders were indeed
mired in personality politics. Speaking of other BiH
leaders, Biscevic commended Suljeman Tihic's dedication to
keeping the state together. He recognizes the need to
include Croats, Biscevic believes, and approaches obstacles
realistically. For example, Tihic has focused on the
substantive issue of police integration, rather than honing
in on the inflammatory problem of their arm patches.
Biscevic contrasted Tihic's approach to that of Haris
Silajdic, calling the latter leader "the biggest danger for
BiH". His quasi-nationalism and cheap populism may have
resonated during the war, but serve to deepen the divisions
and are only to the detriment of the country, he warned. In
this vein, Biscevic continued, Silajdic has instigated
troubles with Serbs and also Croats in order to exacerbate
the rifts.

Bosnia: A "Three-Legged Stool"
--------------


5. (SBU) Keeping Bosnia's interethnic character is key,
Biscevic stressed. He compared the country to a three-legged
stool, which was finely balanced but which could not stand
without the participation of all. Without such balance and
assurances, he warned, ethnic Croats have the option of
leaving for Croatia as they all are eligible for Croatian
citizenship. Many parents will certainly choose to send
their children across the border to a wealthier Croatia bound
for NATO and the EU if BiH doesn't hold a future for them, he
reasoned.


6. (C) "We need to have a frank discussion on the shape of
BiH that includes Serbs, Croats, and Bosniaks; we need new,
young, non-wartime leaders for the country, and we need the
international community to induce this new generation of
leadership", Biscevic continued. The country needs to find a
balance between national pluralism and democratic
representation: the "second string" of leaders of all
ethnicities are hard-liners in favor of splitting the
country. For the first time in history, he explained, BiH is
wrestling with the reality of statehood and independence, and
international engagement and integration into Euro-Atlantic
structures are all the more important to its success.
Biscevic told McCarrick that he recently met with Bosniak
leaders and conveyed the need to reach out to Croats, not
just to Serbs. The leaders responded that they (Bosniaks)
largely look to Zagreb, to the US, and to the Vatican for
guidance.


7. (C) Biscevic reiterated Puljic's role in BiH's future. He
relayed Puljic's ideas on a future BiH structure that unites
the country by encompassing essential state functions,
decentralizes government through five to seven component
parts without regard to national majority divisions, and ends
Republika Srpska's status. Biscevic agreed that without such
changes, BiH will look like Syria's Lebanon: always hostage
to Belgrade's wishes. Without more stability, BiH will be
destined to be a "sunflower", turning either to Zagreb or
Belgrade for guidance. Loncar told McCarrick that the best
structure for B-H would be a strengthening of the central
government effectiveness and also local government authority.
Bosnian Croats need to look to Sarajevo, not Zagreb, he
stated, and praised PM Sanader for endorsing this view.
While Biscevic did not share his own view on the shape of a
future BiH, he agreed that the current status of RS is
untenable. The status of RS, he said, is putting the brakes
on further integration into Euro-Atlantic structures and
keeping the country closer to Serbia's integration timeline.
In fact, he commented, the current RS-Belgrade relationship
is a type of self-preservation for Belgrade within BiH.

Caution on the Kosovo Effect
--------------


8. (SBU) Despite the need for change, Biscevic remained
cautious about the pace of constitutional reforms. The
impact of Kosovo's future status on Belgrade will be a great
shock, he warned, and needs to be considered when reviewing
reforms in BiH. As a Kosovo resolution is fast approaching,
we must remember that Belgrade is facing the loss of the
province and will be unsteady. At the same time, we must
reassure Belgrade of the integrity and stability of BiH and
support BiH institutions. Loncar conveyed a similar message
to McCarrick, warning about possible spillover effects of
Kosovo independence in BiH and that reported comments about a
partition of Kosovo by EU representative Ischinger would only
raise more questions about redrawing other lines in the
former Yugoslavia.

McCarrick: Ensure Bosnian Croats Voices Are Heard
-------------- --------------


9. (SBU) At all his meetings, Cardinal McCarrick offered a
view of his upcoming trip to BiH. His visit, he hoped, would
help give the Bosnian Croats assurances that their views were
being heard in Sarajevo and taken into account by the US.
They want to know there is a place for them in the country,
McCarrick repeated, and suggested several confidence-building
steps. Puljic, whom McCarrick knows well, has complained
that the permitting process to build a new church has been
stalled, and hopes to build a hospital and nursing facility
too. Movement on these projects, McCarrick suggested, would
be tangible evidence that there is a good faith effort in
Sarajevo to reach out to Croats. McCarrick also confided
that Puljic has felt sidelined by the US. Efforts to reach
out to him even further would be greatly welcomed, McCarrick
suggested.
BRADTKE