Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08ZAGREB15
2008-01-11 12:58:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Zagreb
Cable title:
LEAHY VETTING OF DRAGO MATANOVIC
how-toVZCZCXRO9849 PP RUEHFL RUEHKW RUEHLA RUEHROV RUEHSR DE RUEHVB #0015 0111258 ZNY CCCCC ZZH P 111258Z JAN 08 FM AMEMBASSY ZAGREB TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 8465 INFO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC PRIORITY RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L ZAGREB 000015
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
FOR EUR/SCE (BALIAN) AND DRL (HARVEY)
OSD FOR WINTERNITZ
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/01/2018
TAGS: PREL PHUM KJUS HR
SUBJECT: LEAHY VETTING OF DRAGO MATANOVIC
REF: A. ZAGREB 942
B. STATE 169780
C. MCCLUNG-MCCABE 12/19/2007 EMAIL
Classified By: Rick Holtzapple, POL/ECON, Reasons 1.4 B/D
(C) To follow up on REF B, Post's further investigation of
Drago MATANOVIC, DOB 13 Sep 1964, confirmed that Drago
Matanovic was a Battalion commander in the 2nd Guards Brigade
from 1991-1992 and was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel in May
1992. Therefore we think that this could be the Drago
Matanovic mentioned in the ICTY transcript as a group
commander in Dubrovnik whose name appears on an exhibited
map. We have, however, reviewed the relevant portions of the
ICTY transcript, which were forwarded in REF C. In that
testimony, no allegations were made that Matanovic had
committed any acts that would pose concerns regarding Leahy
vetting. The testimony made no serious allegations of human
rights abuses by Croatian forces in Dubrovnik during the
August-October 1991 period that was discussed; the line of
questioning pursued was an attempt by Slobodan Milosevic to
prove that Croat forces had fired first and provoked the
shelling of Dubrovnik. Based on other post inquiries, we
have no evidence of any allegations regarding Matanovic that
would pose Leahy concerns. Post sees no reason for Matanovic
not to be receiving the referenced training. (NOTE: This
training, while being received at the Defense Language
Institute in San Antonio, is not USG-funded; it is being paid
for by the Croatian government. END NOTE.)
BRADTKE
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
FOR EUR/SCE (BALIAN) AND DRL (HARVEY)
OSD FOR WINTERNITZ
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/01/2018
TAGS: PREL PHUM KJUS HR
SUBJECT: LEAHY VETTING OF DRAGO MATANOVIC
REF: A. ZAGREB 942
B. STATE 169780
C. MCCLUNG-MCCABE 12/19/2007 EMAIL
Classified By: Rick Holtzapple, POL/ECON, Reasons 1.4 B/D
(C) To follow up on REF B, Post's further investigation of
Drago MATANOVIC, DOB 13 Sep 1964, confirmed that Drago
Matanovic was a Battalion commander in the 2nd Guards Brigade
from 1991-1992 and was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel in May
1992. Therefore we think that this could be the Drago
Matanovic mentioned in the ICTY transcript as a group
commander in Dubrovnik whose name appears on an exhibited
map. We have, however, reviewed the relevant portions of the
ICTY transcript, which were forwarded in REF C. In that
testimony, no allegations were made that Matanovic had
committed any acts that would pose concerns regarding Leahy
vetting. The testimony made no serious allegations of human
rights abuses by Croatian forces in Dubrovnik during the
August-October 1991 period that was discussed; the line of
questioning pursued was an attempt by Slobodan Milosevic to
prove that Croat forces had fired first and provoked the
shelling of Dubrovnik. Based on other post inquiries, we
have no evidence of any allegations regarding Matanovic that
would pose Leahy concerns. Post sees no reason for Matanovic
not to be receiving the referenced training. (NOTE: This
training, while being received at the Defense Language
Institute in San Antonio, is not USG-funded; it is being paid
for by the Croatian government. END NOTE.)
BRADTKE