Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09ZAGREB232
2009-04-30 15:06:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Zagreb
Cable title:  

ZAGREB WEEKLY ACTIVITY REPORT - APRIL 30, 2009

Tags:  PREL PGOV KFLU MARR MASS KPAO HR 
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DE RUEHVB #0232/01 1201506
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 301506Z APR 09
FM AMEMBASSY ZAGREB
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 9182
INFO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
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UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ZAGREB 000232 

SIPDIS

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

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PGOV KFLU MARR MASS KPAO HR
SUBJECT: ZAGREB WEEKLY ACTIVITY REPORT - APRIL 30, 2009

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ZAGREB 000232

SIPDIS

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

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PGOV KFLU MARR MASS KPAO HR
SUBJECT: ZAGREB WEEKLY ACTIVITY REPORT - APRIL 30, 2009


1. (U) WORK STARTS ON CROATIAN SUPPORTED CIVILIAN
ASSISTANCE PROJECT IN AFGHANISTAN:
On April 26 Croatian civilians serving in the PRT working
with the government of Afghanistan and local officials in
the Feyzabad district of Badakhshan province took part in a
ground breaking ceremony for a health center. The
government of Croatia funded the project in cooperation
with IOM and it is expected to last about 24 weeks. The
MFA noted in a statement that this project was part of
Croatia's long-term support of Afghanistan, which also
included its participation in ISAF and EUPOL. (PD'Amico)


2. (U) AMBASSADOR BRADTKE ADDRESSES PARLIAMENTARY CONFLICT
OF INTEREST COMMITTEE:
Ambassador Bradtke and European Commission Chief of
Delegation Vincent Degert spoke to the members of the
Parliamentary Committee for Suppression of Conflict of
Interest on April 27. The visit came at the urging of
Antun Zorislav Petrovic, the Head of Transparency
International's Office in Croatia and a member of the
committee. Since the committee is a newly established
body, which began operations in October 2008, Petrovic
invited Bradtke and Degert to share US and EU experiences,
models, and best practices with regard to ethic rules.
(VDjukic/CZimmer)


3. KOSOVO'S SPEAKER OF PARLIAMENT VISITS ZAGREB:
Jakup Krasniqi, Kosovo's Speaker of Parliament, met with
President Mesic on April 29 and discussed relations between
the two countries. During the meeting, Mesic repeated the
reasons why Croatia recognized Kosovo's independence and
expressed the belief that relations between the two
countries would continue to strengthen. Krasniqi discussed
the current situation in Kosovo and noted that Pristina's
goal was to build a state where all citizens would be
equal. In a separate meeting with his Croatian
counterpart, Luka Bebic, the two discussed bilateral
issues, challenges confronting the region, as well as
problems both countries were experiencing on the path to
the EU. Bebic noted that Croatia would assist others in
the region on the process of European integration with

"good will and good intentions" and that Zagreb wanted to
help stabilize Kosovo. During Krasniqi's meeting with
Deputy Prime Minister Jadranka Kosor, both sides stated
relations between Croatia and Kosovo were excellent but
that economic relations should be strengthened. Krasniqi
thanked Croatia for its support and expressed satisfaction
with the current cooperation. (PD'Amico)


4. (U) MINISTRY OF JUSTICE HIGHLIGHTS ONGOING JUDICIAL
REFORMS:
The Ministry of Justice (MOJ) on April 28 presented a list
of current and planned judicial reform projects to the
representatives of embassies and international
organizations in Croatia. The projects total EUR 42
million and are aimed at insuring the independence and
efficiency of the judiciary. The MOJ called upon the
International Community to provide assistance, either by
funding the projects or by providing experts, but did not
announce how much the Croatian Government will contribute
to the efforts. The projects target capacity building,
shortening the length of court proceedings, reducing
backlogs, improving the criminal justice system, improving
the prison system, improving the system for selection and
education of judicial professionals, and expanding access
to justice for all citizens. (VDjukic/CZimmer)


5. (U) AMBASSADOR BRADTKE FEATURED ON CALL IN RADIO
PROGRAM:
Ambassador Bradtke was the featured guest on Radio 101's
Corps Diplomatique, a weekly international affairs program
hosted by one of Croatia's most renowned journalists. In a
wide-ranging interview covering the latest in U.S.,
European and Croatian news, the Ambassador discussed
Croatia's full membership in NATO, U.S. foreign policy, and
the first 100 days of the Obama Administration. The
Ambassador also took live calls from the public during the
one hour program. (KWetzel)


6. (U)ZAGREB HOSTS ANTI-DISCRIMINATION CONFERENCE:
The International Organization for Migration (IOM),
Croatian Judicial Academy, and the Croatian Law Center
organized a conference on anti-discrimination measures on
April 27 that gathered Croatian prosecutors, ombudsmen,
foreign Embassies, international organizations, defense
attorneys, judges, and media representatives. Participants
largely agreed that Croatia has accepted all important
international agreements and has enhanced domestic

ZAGREB 00000232 002 OF 002


legislation regarding the suppression of all forms of
discrimination. Croatia also enacted a special law on the
Suppression of Discrimination which became effective as of
January 2009. However, the number of final convictions
under the law is still low, which indicates that domestic
legal practitioners have problems recognizing what
constitutes discrimination. Several decisions of the
Croatian Constitutional and Supreme Courts as well as
decisions of the European Court for Human Rights and
European Court of Justice were presented as positive
examples in recognizing discrimination. To ensure that
domestic legislation is implemented and international
standards on suppression of discrimination are followed,
however, requires more training for judges, prosecutors,
members of relevant state institutions, and civil society
groups, according to participants. (VDjukic/CZimmer)


7. (U) U.S. EMBASSY ZAGREB ENGAGES AUDIENCE WITH A NEW
OUTREACH TOOL - TED TALK EVENT:
The Public Affairs Section of the U.S. Embassy Zagreb
launched a new initiative under its Embassy Outreach
Program -- monthly TED (Technology, Entertainment, Design)
Talks events. The first event took place in the American
Corner Zagreb on April 27, with the TED Talks video
featuring Jonathan Haidt on "The Real Difference Between
Liberals and Conservatives." Participants from different
fields engaged in a lively and open discussion on the five
moral values forming the basis of our political views and
how individuals see and evaluate them on the basis of their
own political stand point. This new PAS Zagreb outreach
event drew strong interest among Croatia's young
professionals, an audience that the Embassy often finds
hard to reach, and was covered in the press. (MCrnjakovic)


8. (U) GOC PREPARES FOR POSSIBLE SWINE FLU OUTBREAK, BUT
NO CONFIRMED CASES SO FAR:
The prime minister and other officials have made statements
to assure the public Croatia is prepared for a possible
swine flu outbreak. Croatia has 600,000 doses of anti-viral
drugs, and the GOC planned to secure 200,000 more doses.
Despite at least one suspicious case, no cases have been
confirmed thus far. The health minister said any
additional suspicious cases would be quarantined at a
designated clinic in Zagreb for diagnosis. In a negative
development, the GOC issued an ordinance banning
importation of live pigs and certain pork and swine-related
products from North and South America. (SLitke)
BRADTKE