Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08ZAGREB828
2008-12-04 16:06:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Zagreb
Cable title:  

IRANIAN DEPUTY FOREIGN MINISTER TO VISIT CROATIA

Tags:  PGOV PREL HR IR IS 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXRO8603
PP RUEHBC RUEHDE RUEHDIR RUEHKUK
DE RUEHVB #0828 3391606
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
P 041606Z DEC 08
FM AMEMBASSY ZAGREB
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 8822
INFO RUCNIRA/IRAN COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RUEHTV/AMEMBASSY TEL AVIV PRIORITY 0254
RUEHUNV/USMISSION UNVIE VIENNA AU PRIORITY 0009
C O N F I D E N T I A L ZAGREB 000828 

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/04/2018
TAGS: PGOV PREL HR IR IS
SUBJECT: IRANIAN DEPUTY FOREIGN MINISTER TO VISIT CROATIA

Classified By: Peter D'Amico, Pol Off, Reasons 1.4 (B/D)

C O N F I D E N T I A L ZAGREB 000828

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/04/2018
TAGS: PGOV PREL HR IR IS
SUBJECT: IRANIAN DEPUTY FOREIGN MINISTER TO VISIT CROATIA

Classified By: Peter D'Amico, Pol Off, Reasons 1.4 (B/D)


1. (C) Petar Mihatov, MFA State Secretary Bozinovic's Chief
of Staff, informed Pol Off on November 27 that Iranian Deputy
Foreign Minister (DFM) for European Affairs Mahdi Safari was
scheduled to visit Zagreb on December 15 and 16. DFM Safari
had meetings set up with President Mesic and State Secretary
Bozinovic. Pol Off urged the GoC not to see the DFM.
Mihatov replied that the MFA had already reached a decision
to go ahead with the meetings. He added that the MFA would
raise concerns about Iran's nuclear program and the GoI's
anti-Semitic statements, particularly on the holocaust. Pol
Off also highlighted that Iran was on the USG list of states
that sponsor terrorism. In response, the Mihatov said the
MFA would also consider mentioning its objections to the
GoI's role in sponsoring terrorism as well.


2. (SBU) In a conversation on December 3 the Ambassador
raised his concerns about the visit of the Iranian DFM with
Mesic Foreign Policy Advisor Budimir Loncar. In response,
Loncar said that Croatia believes in being open to dialogue
with all countries, including Iran. However, he acknowledged
that it would be important for President Mesic to make clear
in the meeting with the DFM that Iran needed to cooperate
fully with the IAEA and carry out its obligations under UN
Security Council resolutions. Loncar also said Mesic would
reiterate Croatia's position that threats to the existence of
a UN member state, such as Israel, were unacceptable, and
that the problems of the Middle East and Iraq could only be
resolved through peaceful means.

Comment
--------------


3. (C) We have discussed the Iranian visit with the Israeli
ambassador here, who has also raised the issue with Mesic's
staff. The Israeli Ambassador's view, which we share, is
that there is no prospect of convincing the Croatians to
cancel the visit. Our combined diplomatic efforts should
instead focus, as they already have, on stiffening the
message that the Croatians will send to the Iranians.
BRADTKE