PLANS MOVING AHEAD FOR CROATIAN RECOGNITION OF

C O N F I D E N T I A L ZAGREB 000262 SIPDIS SIPDIS DEPT FOR EUR/SCE E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/17/2018 TAGS: PREL PGOV HR KO SUBJECT: PLANS MOVING AHEAD FOR CROATIAN RECOGNITION OF KOSOVO REF: ZAGREB 171 Classified By: Ambassador Robert A. Bradtke for reasons 1.4 (b/d) ¶1. (C) In a March 18 conversation with the Ambassador, Prime Minister Sanader said that plans were moving ahead for recognition of Kosovo on March 19. The formal decision would be taken at the government session scheduled to take place that day. Sanader said that he had informed Serbia Prime Minister Kostunica by phone on March 17 of Croatia's intentions. Kostunica's reaction, Sanader said, had been "surprisingly moderate." ¶2. (C) Sanader also said that Croatia, Hungary, and Bulgaria had agreed on a joint statement on recognition, which would be issued on March 19. He expected Hungary to recognize together with Croatia on March 19, and that Bulgaria would formally recognize next week. ¶3. (C) Recalling an earlier conversation with Ambassador on possible Serbia threats to Croatia in the aftermath of a recognition decision (REFTEL),Sanader again expressed the hope that if Belgrade issued such threat, there would be a strong statement from Washington supporting Croatia's territorial integrity. Bradtke