LEAHY VETTING OF DRAGO MATANOVIC

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