SANADER POSITIVE ABOUT REHN PROPOSAL

C O N F I D E N T I A L ZAGREB 000226

SIPDIS

EUR FOR DAS JONES & DAS GARBER

E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/01/2018
TAGS: PREL PGOV SI EUC HR
SUBJECT: SANADER POSITIVE ABOUT REHN PROPOSAL

REF: A. ZAGREB 00215

B. ZAGREB 00218

Classified By: Robert A. Bradtke, Ambassador, for reasons 1.4 (b) & (d)
.


1. (C) Summary: Building on previous meetings with Foreign
Minister Jandrokovic and President Mesic (see reftels),
Ambassador met today (April 28) with Prime Minister Sanader
to urge a "positive and rapid" response to the latest version
of the Rehn proposal. Sanader agreed, saying that he is
"very positive" about the Rehn proposal: "we are on the same
track." Sanader added that he and Mesic will consult with
parliamentary leaders next Tuesday (May 5),followed by
Croatia's formal response to Rehn. Sanader, like Jandrokovic
and Mesic, expressed concern about the "contact with
international waters" point, but indicated that this issue
would not stand in the way of Croatian acceptance of the
proposal, which he described as a good solution for both
sides. End Summary.


2. (C) Following previous meetings with Foreign Minister
Jandrokovic and President Mesic to urge Croatia's acceptance
of the Rehn proposal, the Ambassador, accompanied by DCM, sat
down April 28 with Prime Minister Sanader to discuss the
latest version of the Rehn proposal to arbitrate the
Croatian-Slovenian border dispute and unblock Croatian
accession talks. He began by emphasizing the U.S. view that
bilateral disputes should not be used to impede Euro-Atlantic
integration. Acknowledging that only Croatia could decide
whether the current proposal is in its best interest, the
Ambassador nevertheless urged a "positive and rapid"
response, adding that the proposal contains important
elements of international law, as Croatia had requested. The
Ambassador also said that the proposal would lead to the
unblocking of Croatia's EU accession talks. Finally, the
Ambassador noted that acceptance of this proposal would
improve the increasingly acrimonious bilateral relationship
between Croatia and Slovenia.


3. (C) Sanader responded by thanking Washington for its
continued engagement on this issue in support of
Euro-Atlantic interests and then stated that he had a "very
positive view" of the Rehn proposal. He noted that he and
President Mesic would be meeting with parliamentary leaders
next Tuesday (May 5) to discuss the proposal before
forwarding a formal response to Rehn. Like Jandrokovic and
Mesic before him, Sanader expressed concern about the
ambiguous implications of the Slovenian "contact with
international waters" point. The Ambassador noted that the
lack of clarity might well be purposeful and does invite some
risk, but added that the ambiguity might well make it
possible for Slovenia to accept this proposal without losing
face with its public. Moreover, the Ambassador added, if
Croatia is confident of its position under international law,
then this is a risk well worth taking.


4. (C) Sanader commented that this issue would not stand in
the way of the proposal, which he characterized as being good
for both sides. He added that four out of six Croatian legal
experts asked to examine the proposal had given it a
favorable review. Finally, he indicated his intention to
give Slovenian Prime Minister Pahor a little room to accept
the proposal with grace, agreeing with the Ambassador that
the proposal should be viewed as a mutually beneficial
solution rather than a triumph for Croatia.


5. (C) Comment: Sanader went farther than Jandrokovic or
Mesic in his positive assessment of the Rehn proposal. While
there is still some possibility that Croatia may seek a
change in the language relating to Slovene contact with
international waters, Sanader seemed to recognize that it is
time for Croatia to say "yes" to Rehn.
BRADTKE