ZAGREB WEEKLY ACTIVITY REPORT - FEBRUARY 27, 2008

UNCLAS ZAGREB 000157 SIPDIS SIPDIS FOR EUR/SCE, EUR/PPD, EUR/RPM AND EUR/ERA OSD FOR WINTERNITZ E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL PGOV HR SUBJECT: ZAGREB WEEKLY ACTIVITY REPORT - FEBRUARY 27, 2008 ¶1. (U) GoC's MESSAGE TO CODEL TANNER: CROATIA FIRMLY COMMITTED TO SEEKING NATO MEMBERSHIP: Representative John Tanner and five other House members from the U.S. delegation to the NATO Parliamentary Assembly had a successful visit to Croatia from Feb. 21 to 24. The CODEL met with both Prime Minister Ivo Sanader and President Stjepan Mesic on Feb. 21. Key topics were Croatia's NATO membership, ISAF deployments, Kosovo, and efforts to combat corruption. Both Sanader and Mesic told the CODEL Croatia is firmly committed to seeking NATO membership and expressed confidence that public opinion in favor of NATO would remain above 50 percent. In Dubrovnik on Feb. 23, a former mayor, Nikola Obuljen, briefed the delegation on post-war reconstruction efforts. (See also ZAGREB 128) (SLitke) ¶2. (U) EMBASSY ZAGREB HOSTS BELGRADE EVACUEES: Embassy Zagreb dusted off our contingency plan and took in over 65 employees and family members from Embassy Belgrade over the weekend. Thanks to excellent cooperation with counterparts in Belgrade, post had hotel reservations, security and vehicle support lined up and mission staff worked over the weekend to prepare office space, telephones and computers for the arriving group. The 31-car convoy departed Belgrade at 1:20 p.m. Upon reaching the border, they were met by the A/RSO and a delegation from Zagreb. A smaller group of AID staff diverted up to Budapest. Post received outstanding assistance from the Croatian police, who provided an escort for the convoy from the border to their hotel in Zagreb, where the police also deployed additional security to ensure the group's safety. At the hotel, Belgrade families were greeted by Embassy Zagreb employees and families, who welcomed their colleagues, disbursed local funds, handed out welcome kits and snacks, and made plans for weekend events. What made a difficult situation better was absolutely gorgeous weather for zoo and castle visits the following day. By Monday, Feb. 25, 18 children were enrolled in the American school, a computer room was set up and 11 employees were at work in Zagreb's chancery. (TFavret) ¶3. (U) CAPSTONE FELLOWS VISIT ZAGREB: U.S. National Defense University's Capstone fellows visited Zagreb. The Defense Attache Office coordinated the visit for this Capstone delegation led by Admiral Harold Gehman, (U.S. Navy retired),and including fifteen active duty flag officers from all the military branches and the Coast Guard, plus one SES. Ambassador Bradtke hosted the delegation at dinner on 24 February. 25 February was devoted to official meetings including the U.S. embassy country team, Croatian Minister of Defense Branko Vukelic, Acting Chief of the General Staff LTG Slavko Baric, and a round table discussion of Croatian military transformation and regional security issues at Croatia's War College. (BMosenfelder) ¶4. (U) ZAGREB CELEBRATES BLACK HISTORY MONTH WITH DIGITAL VIDEO CONFERENCES IN ZAGREB AND ZADAR: In observation of Black History Month, the U.S. Embassy in Zagreb organized digital video conferences on February 13 at the American Corners in Zagreb and Zadar with Ms. Yvonne R. Davis, the President of a public relations and training firm and a distinguished journalist and businessperson. Incorporating hip hop music and short video clips on poetry slams and civil rights history, the digital videoconference enabled secondary school students in both Croatian cities to discuss African American culture and heritage. Students asked numerous questions on education, politics, music, and everyday life in the United States. Local press in Zadar covered the event. (KWetzel) Bradtke