Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09ZAGREB109
2009-02-27 14:37:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Zagreb
Cable title:  

ZAGREB WEEKLY ACTIVITY REPORT - FEBRUARY 27, 2009

Tags:  PREL PGOV HR ECON 
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DE RUEHVB #0109/01 0581437
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 271437Z FEB 09
FM AMEMBASSY ZAGREB
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 9036
INFO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
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UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ZAGREB 000109 

SIPDIS

FOR EUR/SCE, EUR/PPD, EUR/RPM AND EUR/ERA
OSD FOR POPOVICH

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PGOV HR ECON
SUBJECT: ZAGREB WEEKLY ACTIVITY REPORT - FEBRUARY 27, 2009

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ZAGREB 000109

SIPDIS

FOR EUR/SCE, EUR/PPD, EUR/RPM AND EUR/ERA
OSD FOR POPOVICH

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PGOV HR ECON
SUBJECT: ZAGREB WEEKLY ACTIVITY REPORT - FEBRUARY 27, 2009


1. AMBASSADOR'S SPEECH ON NEW ADMINISTRATION DRAWS LARGE
AUDIENCE AT AMCHAM:
Ambassador Bradtke delivered a speech entitled "New
Directions in the Obama Administration" at the American
Chamber of Commerce luncheon at the Hotel Esplanade in
Zagreb. Speaking to over 150 members of the business
community, the Croatian government, the diplomatic corps and
the media, the Ambassador highlighted the foreign and
economic policies of the Obama administration, placing them
within the context of Croatian-American relations. Our
partners at the American Chamber of Commerce characterized
the event as their most successful luncheon ever. The event
generated broad coverage in the Croatian press. (KWetzel)


2. (U) GoC ISSUES ANTI-RECESSION MEASURES:
The GoC presented a program of anti-recession measures on
Thursday. The government intends to battle the recession by,
among other things, renegotiating the budget (by the end of
March),subsidizing loans for housing purchases,
strengthening tourism, shortening the issuance of permits to
potential foreign investors to 45 days and maintaining the
standard of living for those most at risk. Ministers will
meet on Friday to consider what each respective Ministry can
do to save money. PM Sanader said "the goal of the
government is to maintain economic activity, jobs and
citizens' standard of living." He also stated that now is
not the time for raising interest rates nor is it time for
certain groups to try to use the crisis to increase their own
wealth, rather a time for responsibility and solidarity.
(DMatijas)


3. (U) TRAINING EVENT FOR JOINT OMLT SCHEDULED TO DEPLOY TO
AFGHANISTAN IN MARCH:
February 16-20, the Djakovo training area saw an out-of-cycle
event on ISAF Lessons Learned for the joint
Croatian/Minnesota National Guard OMLT. All feedback was
very positive, on everything from theater-level
organizational structure down to individual tasks that can
make the difference between life and death. The trainers,
themselves from the Minnesota National Guard, were able to
use a question and answer format with slides and photos to
steer the discussion. Croatian veterans of previous OMLT and
other ISAF rotations added to the value of the event in

preparing the OMLT to deploy in late March. (CDavis)


4. (U) DCM SPEAKS ABOUT WOMEN IN DIPLOMACY:
Deputy Chief of Mission engaged members of the Center for
Women's Studies in a dynamic presentation on the history and
role of women in diplomacy. After a discussion of examples
from the United States and the State Department, conversation
widened to include the experiences of other countries and
Croatia. Members of the audience included representatives of
the diplomatic corps, the Croatian Ministry of Foreign
Affairs and European Integration, NGO's, students, an
actress, and a web portal journalist. The lecture provided
the audience with valuable experience from the U.S.,
encouraging women in Croatia to take a greater role in
political and social life in Croatia. (MCrnjakovic, KWetzel)


5. (U) CROATIA'S TRADE DEFICIT GREW TO HRK 81.2
BILLION($16.6 BILLION) IN 2008:
Official figures show Croatia's trade deficit grew from HRK
72.1 billion ($13.5 billion) in 2007 to HRK 81.2 billion
($16.6 billion) in 2008, a 12.6 percent increase in kuna
terms. Coverage of imports by exports fell from 47.9 percent
in 2007 to 45.9 percent in 2008. Monthly levels of imports
and exports rose and fell throughout much of the year, until
the final four months when both fell, imports more sharply
than exports. The economic crisis presumably influenced this
end-of-year drop. However, the fact that monthly levels
followed a similar pattern in 2007, including a drop in the
fourth quarter, indicates a cyclical component as well.
(SLitke)


6. (U) PLUNGE IN REAL ESTATE MARKET WORRISOME SIGNAL FOR
ECONOMY:
Sales in January were down 70 to 80 percent over January
2008, according to the Real Estate Association, due to
shortage of credit and worries over rising interest rates.
The dismal numbers are a bad sign for the construction
industry. (Note: we have noticed an unusually high number of
bidders for a few small-scale construction projects the
embassy has tendered - another sign perhaps of the poor state
of the construction sector.) (DWestfall)


7. (U) MILITARY-T0-MILITARY PLANNING CONFERENCE USED AS A
REGIONAL MODEL:
The Bilateral Affairs Office of the Office of Defense

ZAGREB 00000109 002 OF 002


Cooperation - Croatia held the annual Military-to-Military
Planning Conference February 9-13, 2009. Representatives
from USAREUR, USAFE, EUCOM J5, Minnesota National Guard
joined the GoC in planning for Fiscal Year 2010.
Twenty-three event proposals were discussed and ranked based
upon support assets and scope of the Mil 2 Mil program with
the top fifteen expected to be funded by EUCOM in 2010. The
conference was a great success and EUCOM is using it as a
teaching tool to others in the region. (CDavis)


8. Public Affairs Promotes Educational Exchange:
APAO and an educational advisor from the Institute for the
Development of Education spoke to 80 high school students at
the Karlovac Library about university study in the United
States. The majority of the students indicated they would go
to the U.S. if they were able to study abroad. The institute
gave an overview of applying to U.S. colleges and
universities while the APAO presented his own experience,
offering practical information about various aspects of
college life in the United States. APAO gave a short
interview for local television encouraging Croatian students
to explore the possibilities of studying in the United
States. (KWetzel)
BRADTKE