Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07ZAGREB820
2007-09-06 14:03:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Zagreb
Cable title:
GOC TO APPROVE SOFA IN SEPTEMBER, BUT ASKS TO SIGN
how-toVZCZCXYZ0000 PP RUEHWEB DE RUEHVB #0820 2491403 ZNY CCCCC ZZH P 061403Z SEP 07 FM AMEMBASSY ZAGREB TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 8095 INFO RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC PRIORITY RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHDC PRIORITY RUEHNO/USMISSION USNATO PRIORITY 3455
C O N F I D E N T I A L ZAGREB 000820
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
STATE FOR EUR, EUR/SCE, PM, PM/SNA, L/PM
DEFENSE FOR OSD:WINTERNITZ AND MITCHELL
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/06/2017
TAGS: PREL MARR HR NATO
SUBJECT: GOC TO APPROVE SOFA IN SEPTEMBER, BUT ASKS TO SIGN
AGREEMENT AFTER NOVEMBER ELECTIONS
REF: ZAGREB 736
Classified By: Rick Holtzapple, POL/ECON Chief, Reasons 1.4 (b and d)
C O N F I D E N T I A L ZAGREB 000820
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
STATE FOR EUR, EUR/SCE, PM, PM/SNA, L/PM
DEFENSE FOR OSD:WINTERNITZ AND MITCHELL
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/06/2017
TAGS: PREL MARR HR NATO
SUBJECT: GOC TO APPROVE SOFA IN SEPTEMBER, BUT ASKS TO SIGN
AGREEMENT AFTER NOVEMBER ELECTIONS
REF: ZAGREB 736
Classified By: Rick Holtzapple, POL/ECON Chief, Reasons 1.4 (b and d)
1. (C) The Ambassador spoke on September 6 with Hido
Biscevic, State Secretary at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs
and a close advisor to PM Sanader. Biscevic said that
Sanader had told him on September 5 that the Government would
give final approval to the proposed Status of Forces
Agreement (SOFA) with the United States at the regular weekly
cabinet meeting either the week of September 10 or September
17. Biscevic added that Sanader, however, had "a personal
request" for the Ambassador: that the signature of the
agreement only be scheduled for after parliamentary elections
that will be held in late November.
2. (C) COMMENT: The PM's commitment to secure final approval
of the SOFA in the next two weeks, even though a slippage
from Biscevic's earlier promise (reftel) that this agreement
would be completed by the end of August, indicates we are
still on track to get this agreement done. Sanader's desire
to postpone signature, and any accompanying public ceremony,
until after the elections, is consistent with the
HDZ-government's publicly expressed desire to keep NATO and
other foreign policy issues out of the election campaign.
While it does raise the question of what would happen if the
HDZ does not get re-elected, it is better to get government
approval of the SOFA now, even if we must wait a couple more
months for signature. END COMMENT
BRADTKE
BRADTKE
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
STATE FOR EUR, EUR/SCE, PM, PM/SNA, L/PM
DEFENSE FOR OSD:WINTERNITZ AND MITCHELL
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/06/2017
TAGS: PREL MARR HR NATO
SUBJECT: GOC TO APPROVE SOFA IN SEPTEMBER, BUT ASKS TO SIGN
AGREEMENT AFTER NOVEMBER ELECTIONS
REF: ZAGREB 736
Classified By: Rick Holtzapple, POL/ECON Chief, Reasons 1.4 (b and d)
1. (C) The Ambassador spoke on September 6 with Hido
Biscevic, State Secretary at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs
and a close advisor to PM Sanader. Biscevic said that
Sanader had told him on September 5 that the Government would
give final approval to the proposed Status of Forces
Agreement (SOFA) with the United States at the regular weekly
cabinet meeting either the week of September 10 or September
17. Biscevic added that Sanader, however, had "a personal
request" for the Ambassador: that the signature of the
agreement only be scheduled for after parliamentary elections
that will be held in late November.
2. (C) COMMENT: The PM's commitment to secure final approval
of the SOFA in the next two weeks, even though a slippage
from Biscevic's earlier promise (reftel) that this agreement
would be completed by the end of August, indicates we are
still on track to get this agreement done. Sanader's desire
to postpone signature, and any accompanying public ceremony,
until after the elections, is consistent with the
HDZ-government's publicly expressed desire to keep NATO and
other foreign policy issues out of the election campaign.
While it does raise the question of what would happen if the
HDZ does not get re-elected, it is better to get government
approval of the SOFA now, even if we must wait a couple more
months for signature. END COMMENT
BRADTKE
BRADTKE