DEMARCHE DELIVERED - MESIC-AHMADINEJAD MEETING

C O N F I D E N T I A L ZAGREB 000876 SIPDIS SIPDIS DEPT FOR ISN, T, EUR AND NEA PLEASE PASS TREASURY E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/21/2017 TAGS: PREL KNNP IR HR SUBJECT: DEMARCHE DELIVERED - MESIC-AHMADINEJAD MEETING REF: A. STATE 132302 ¶B. ZAGREB 850 Classified By: Charge d'Affaires Vivian S. Walker for reasons 1.5(b) an d (d). ¶1. (C) Prior to departing for EUR Energy Conference in Istanbul on September 20, Ambassador telephoned President Mesic,s Foreign Policy Advisor Loncar to carry out demarche (ref A) on the planned meeting between Mesic and Iranian President Ahmadinejad Drawing on points in para two of reftel, Ambassador urged that Mesic reconsider the meeting. ¶2. (C) Loncar responded that President Mesic was determined to proceed with the meeting. Mesic believed that given the tensions in the Middle East, it was important to engage all parties. On the issue of Iran,s nuclear program, Mesic intended to use the meeting to urge the Iranians to comply with the UN Security Council resolutions and work with the IAEA. Loncar stressed that Mesic would be careful to avoid giving the Iranians the impression that the meeting was any kind of direct or indirect expression of support. The Ambassador noted that whatever Croatia might intend, the reality would be that the Iranians would use the fact of the meeting both domestically and internationally as evidence that they were not isolated. ¶3. (C) Following up on the Ambassador,s demarche, Charge met with Loncar September 21 to present U.S. points in greater detail. Loncar reiterated Mesic's intention to press Ahmadinejad for compliance with UNSC resolution 1747 and added that Mesic would also express concern about Iran's hard-line rhetoric on Israel, which is "unacceptable" to the Croatians. Loncar also indicated support for the strong European position on Iran and said that Croatia had no plans to expand economic cooperation; however, his government wants to maintain a "dialogue" and "keep opportunities open" with Iran. WALKER