CROATIAN PRESIDENT MESIC ACCEPTS INVITATION TO

C O N F I D E N T I A L ZAGREB 000850 SIPDIS SIPDIS DEPARTMENT FOR NEA AND EUR/SCE E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/14/2017 TAGS: PREL KNNP HR IR SUBJECT: CROATIAN PRESIDENT MESIC ACCEPTS INVITATION TO MEET IRANIAN PRESIDENT AHMEDINEJAD REF: ZAGREB 827 Classified By: Rick Holtzapple, POL/ECON, Reasons 1.4 B/D ¶1. (C) This is an action request - see para 4. Presidential Counselor Budimir Loncar told the Ambassador and DCM September 12 that President Mesic had received an invitation to meet with Iranian President Ahmedinejad during their mutual visits to the UNGA in New York, and that Mesic had accepted the invitation. (NOTE: Loncar was not specific about the date, but Mesic is planning to be in NY from September 23 to 28.) ¶2. (C) The Ambassador stressed to Loncar that such a meeting was poorly timed, given continued Iranian defiance of international pressure to end its nuclear weapons programs. He also noted that such a meeting may have a negative impact on Croatia's campaign for a UN Security Council seat. Loncar gave no indication that Mesic could be dissuaded from the meeting. He did say he would welcome US points on specific issues Mesic could raise with Ahmedinejad, but added "just please do not give me slogans." ¶3. (C) In a separate conversation with the DCM and POLCOUNS on September 13, Presidential Foreign Policy Advisor Jakic added that Mesic believed it was better to talk to everyone to try and find a solution, rather than close off the possibility of dialogue. He stressed that Mesic's message to Iran would be clear, and consistent with what he had told the recent Iranian envoy Boroujerdi, and the Croatian position at this week's IAEA meeting (REFTEL): that Iran had to meet its international obligations and any weapons-related programs if it wanted normal relations with Croatia or the rest of the world. Jakic did admit, however, that Croatia was interested in possible economic cooperation with Iran even in the current situation, citing Germany as an example of a country that has taken a central role on Iran's nuclear negotiations while continuing it business ties. ¶4. (C) COMMENT AND ACTION REQUEST: It is unlikely Mesic can be convinced to cancel the meeting. It may be that this meeting is even part of a strategy by Mesic (not necessarily supported by PM Sanader's government) to seek votes among the "non-aligned" for Croatia's UNSC candidacy. If Washington would like to provide points for Mesic to consider for his meeting with Ahmedinejad, Post stands ready to deliver them. END COMMENT AND ACTION REQUEST. BRADTKE