Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09ZAGREB196
2009-04-10 08:16:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Zagreb
Cable title:  

ZAGREB WEEKLY ACTIVITY REPORT - APRIL 10, 2009

Tags:  PREL PGOV HR 
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RUEHLN RUEHLZ RUEHNP RUEHPOD RUEHROV RUEHSK RUEHSR RUEHVK RUEHYG
DE RUEHVB #0196/01 1000816
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 100816Z APR 09
FM AMEMBASSY ZAGREB
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 9140
INFO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC PRIORITY
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC PRIORITY
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ZAGREB 000196 

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 - APRIL 10, 2009

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ZAGREB 000196

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 - APRIL 10, 2009


1. (U) CROATIA CELEBRATES JOINING NATO
Croatia marked its accession to NATO on April 7 first by
raising the flag of the Alliance at the Ministry of Defense
(MOD). During his official remarks at the ceremony,
President Mesic said that the NATO flag should remind Croatia
of the path it had chosen, the path of peace in unity with
Croatia's allies. PM Sanader, who had just flown back from
the flag raising ceremony for Croatia and Albania at NATO
headquarters earlier in the day, told the press in front of
MOD that Croatia joining NATO was "the culmination of the
endeavor that began with independence and resisting military
aggression, that led to the current international position of
the country." Later in the evening on April 1, Croatia's
NATO accession was further celebrated during a performance at
the Croatian National Theater. In his speech at the event PM
Sanader stated that in a 15 year time period Croatia had gone
from being a country that was the recipient of international
assistance to one that had taken on the responsibility to
participate in key decisions affecting global security.
President Mesic noted that while Croatia should be satisfied
by its achievement it should also realistically assess what
responsibilities it had assumed by entering NATO. The
Speaker of the Sabor, Luka Bebic, government ministers,
members of parliament, military personnel, representatives of
the diplomatic community, and other prominent figures
attended both events. (PD'Amico)


2. (U) INDEPENDENT ACADEMICS JOIN FORCES TO CONTEST MAYOR
BANDIC:
Josip Kregar, one time interim mayor of Zagreb and current
Dean of the Law Faculty, has joined forces with another
independent candidate for Zagreb mayor, Economic Professor
Velimir Srica. Kregar will remain the candidate for mayor
for their combined non-party group and Srica will top their
list for head of the city council. The two candidates, who
tout on every occasion their personal integrity, have
produced a local election ethics code, which will guide their
campaign activities and ensure to the public that will govern
transparently. Recent telephone polls put their combined
first round strength at near 20%, compared to about 30% for
Bandic, but their campaign is gaining strength and it is
becoming more likely that the Zagreb mayoral contest will be

decided in an increasingly competitive second round run-off
between Kregar and Bandic. (DMeges)


3. (U) COMMEMORATIVE CEREMONY HONORS FORMER SECRETARY RON
BROWN HELD IN DUBROVNIK:
On April 3, 2009 the Ambassador participated in a memorial
service in Dubrovnik honoring former Secretary of Commerce
Ronald H. Brown. The service, held annually, marks the date
of the tragic air crash outside of Dubrovnik of the plane
carrying Secretary Brown and 34 others (including Commerce
employees and business leaders) who were involved in a
regional trade mission. Ambassador Bradtke, Dubrovnik Deputy
Mayor Kisic, and Chief of the Cabinet and International
Cooperation for Dubrovnik-Neretva County AIDA Cvjetkovic,
made remarks at the ceremony. Afterwards, the Ambassador,
Senior Commercial Officer Pamela Ward, Director of Cilipi
Airport Toni Peovic, and other county and city government
officials and airport representatives hiked up the Mt. St.
Ivan mountainside to the site of the crash and placed flowers
and candles at the memorial that has been erected there. The
Ambassador expressed the U.S. government's great appreciation
of the honor that continues to be paid to Secretary Brown and
his delegation. (PWard)


4. (U) EMBASSY ZAGREB PARTICIPATES IN CROATIA'S PREMIER
TOURISM SHOW:
CROTOUR, Croatia's premier tourism show, was held from April
1-5 in Zagreb. For the first time, Embassy Zagreb
participated, setting up a booth to showcase U.S. travel
destinations to the Croatian public and tourism industry.
The Ambassador attended the Opening Ceremony of CROTOUR and
toured the U.S. booth with Croatia's Minister of Tourism
Bajs. At a reception hosted by the U.S. Commercial Service
that evening, the Ambassador encouraged attendees to visit
the United States, visit the new tourism website
(www.discoveramerica.gov) and use the U.S. Commercial Service
office as a resource for travel related information. The
U.S. booth provided information on destinations including New
York City, San Francisco and Washington D.C. Numerous U.S.
cities were presented through promotional DVDs and
slideshows. A representative from the Consular Section was
available to discuss the visa process for Croatians traveling
to the U.S. A representative from the Institute for the
Development of Education also gave a presentation promoting
educational study in the U.S. (PWard)


ZAGREB 00000196 002 OF 002



5. (U) U.S. EMBASSY DONATES BOOKS TO ROMA MAJORITY SCHOOL IN
MEDJIMUREJE:
In celebration of International Roma Day, Deputy Chief of
Mission Vivian Walker visited the Dr. Ivan Novak elementary
school in Macinec, donating 400 English-language books to the
school library. The school's is the only elementary school
in Croatia where Roma constitute a majority of the students.
Students begin learning English from the first grade. The
books were provided by the Zagreb Office of the Sabre
Foundation, a U.S. NGO dedicated to improving education
through donations of books and educational materials. During
the visit, Ms. Walker met with Roma students from various
grade levels, received a tour of the school from the
Principal, Prof. Bozena Dogsa, and was treated to a number of
performances from the children as part of their spring
recital. (JNCallahan)


6. (U) LNG HRVATSKA ESTABLISHED, NEXT TO JOIN ADRIA LNG
CONSORTIUM:
On April 6, INA, HEP and Plinacro signed the long-awaited
agreement establishing LNG Hrvatska: HEP will own 56
percent, INA will own 40 percent, and Plinacro will own 4
percent. LNG Hrvatska will be the Croatian party of the
Adria LNG consortium, with a 25 percent stake. The
consortium currently comprises E.ON Ruhrgas, Total S.A., OMV,
RWE, and Geoplin. (DMatijas)
BRADTKE