ZAGREB WEEKLY ACTIVITY REPORT - JUNE 26, 2008

UNCLAS ZAGREB 000481 SIPDIS FOR EUR/SCE, EUR/PPD, EUR/RPM AND EUR/ERA OSD FOR POPOVICH E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL PGOV HR SUBJECT: ZAGREB WEEKLY ACTIVITY REPORT - JUNE 26, 2008 ¶1. (U) FIVE OF CROATIA'S TOP TEN JUDGES ARE USG-TRAINED: Croatia's biggest newsweekly "Globus" highlighted in this week's issue the country's ten most respected judges -- individuals who have advanced the rule of law in Croatia by making groundbreaking rulings against war criminals, organized criminals, and violent criminals. The top five judges listed are all good Embassy contacts who received training through the INL-funded War Crimes Capacity Project. The project, now completed, was designed to improve the capacity of the judicial system to fairly try war crimes, including those transferred from the ICTY. The major program element was training for judges, prosecutors, police, and defense attorneys focused on witness protection, right to a fair trial, complex case management, and prosecuting and defending war crimes cases (including command responsibility). Several of the judges were highlighted for returning tough, and sometimes unpopular, verdicts against war criminals. (KSelinger) ¶2. (U) CROATIA STRENGTHENS COUNTERPROLIFERATION COMMITMENT: On 20 June 2008 members from the U.S. Department of Energy's Second Line of Defense (SLD) program met with GOC representatives to discuss potential counterproliferation cooperation. The SLD team outlined a tentative plan to provide Croatia both equipment and training to strengthen its ability to deter, detect, and interdict nuclear and radiological material entering and transiting the country. The plan would potentially provide fixed portal monitors, handheld radioisotopic identifiers and meters, and on-site alarm stations at 5 to 10 land, rail and sea border crossings. Croatia currently maintains portal monitoring equipment only at its "Bregana" border crossing with Slovenia. GOC representatives from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and European Integration, State Office for Nuclear Safety, State Office for Radiation Protection, Border Police and Customs enthusiastically accepted SLD's proposal. All parties will work to sign a Memorandum of Understanding over the coming months with site surveys and installation of equipment likely to begin in FY09. Croatia's meeting with SLD comes on the heels of Croatian Vice President Jadranka Kosor's 05 June 2008 signing into law of a government decision implementing UNSC Resolution 1803. This law closely follows the language of the resolution and specifically mentions 18 individuals associated with Iran's nuclear weapons program, forbidding their travel to or through the Republic of Croatia. The decision places similar restrictions on the transport of equipment and technology associated with Iran's weapons program. (CRhoton) ¶3. (U) DECLINING REVENUES FORCE CLOSURE OF SATIRICAL NEWSWEEKLY FERAL TRIBUNE: The satirical political weekly newspaper "Feral Tribune" published its final issue on Friday, June 20. The paper had been in serious financial difficulty for some time. During the 1990's, Feral Tribune received acclaim for its courageous and sometimes outrageous reporting on politically sensitive issues, despite repeatedly being sued for slander. In its final issue, the editorial board vowed to reinstate the paper, blaming advertisers for not supporting the controversial publication. In our view, however, the paper had been unable to keep pace with the times. Both the quality and relevance of its reporting had declined, with circulation diminishing accordingly. (KWetzel) Bradtke