NEW GOC AND NATO: REFERENDUM OUT, ENGAGEMENT IN

UNCLAS ZAGREB 000022 SIPDIS SIPDIS DEPARTMENT FOR EUR, EUR/SCE USNATO FOR UNDERWOOD, JONES E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL PGOV KPAO MOPS MARR NATO HR DEFENSE REFORM SUBJECT: NEW GOC AND NATO: REFERENDUM OUT, ENGAGEMENT IN REF: A. ZAGREB 10 ¶B. 05 ZAGREB 1048 ¶1. During approval of his new cabinet January 12 (septel),PM Sanader stressed his government's commitment to achieving NATO membership during this mandate. In the agreement between his Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ) and the Peasant Party (HSS) and the Social Liberals (HSLS),the new ruling coalition committed to continued engagement in international peacekeeping operations, further contributions to NATO peace-building missions, and sustained public outreach on the advantages of alliance membership to strengthen citizens' support. What the agreement does not mention is a NATO referendum, something the HSS favored during the electoral campaign but abandoned during coalition negotiations (reftels). Post continues to actively support government efforts in public education regarding membership and will press the new cabinet to intensify efforts prior to the Bucharest Summit. PEASANTS ABANDON REFERENDUM, STRESS NATO SUPPORT -------------- --- ¶2. After signing of the coalition agreement last week, HSS leader Josip Friscic explained his party's abandonment of the referendum issue by arguing that the party always supported NATO membership and only believed that a referendum would be necessary in the case of widespread public opposition to membership. Recent poll numbers from various sources, showing support hovering around 50 percent, have convinced him that Croatians are in favor of NATO, he said. The continued public education promised in the coalition agreement will push that number higher. ¶3. The new cabinet will face its first NATO test this week as PM Sanader heads to Brussels for a January 16 meeting with the North Atlantic Council to conclude Croatia's sixth and potentially final Membership Action Plan cycle. He will be accompanied by his new FM Gordan Jandrokovic and new DefMin Branko Vukelic. BRADTKE