ZAGREB WEEKLY ACTIVITY REPORT - MAY 7, 2009

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SUBJECT: ZAGREB WEEKLY ACTIVITY REPORT - MAY 7, 2009


1. (U) FORMER CROATIAN POLICEMAN SENTENCED TO 8 YEARS IN
JAIL FOR WAR CRIMES:
After having been acquitted three times in past years by a
local court, former member of the Karlovac special police
Mihajlo Hrastov was found guilty by the Croatian Supreme
Court of killing 13 and wounding two JNA reservists on a
bridge outside Karlovac in September 1991, and sentenced to 8
years in prison. The case dates back to 1992 when the
Karlovac County Court acquitted Hrastov, and the Supreme
Court then returned the case for re-trial due to some
unexplained circumstances. The re-trial began in 2000 and
hearings were regularly attended by numerous locals who
supported the defendant. Hrastov was acquitted a second time
in 2002 and the Supreme Court again remanded the case to the
Karlovac County Court. The county court acquitted Hrastov a
third time in March 2007. The local Karlovac court noted
that the killings happened "in dramatic circumstances" while
the city was under bombardment. Finally, the Supreme Court
decided to adjudicate the case itself, arguing it was
apparent that the local court could not render a fair and
impartial judgment. Hrastov now has the right to appeal the
Supreme Court's guilty verdict, with a different panel of
judges hearing the appeal. While the appeal is underway,
Hrastov will held in detention, as is mandatory for any case
with a sentence of more than 5 years. The press announced
potential public protests, which might be held and organized
by different war veteran organizations. (VDjukic)


2. (U) CROATIAN OFFICIALS REACT TO ICTY DECISION TO INCREASE
SENTENCE IN WAR CRIMES CASE:
This week the ICTY Appeals Chamber announced its decision to
increase the prison sentence for former JNA officer Veselin
Sljivancanin from 5 to 17 years, while upholding the 20 year
sentence for his commander, Mile Mrksic. Both were tried for
the 1991 mass murder of 194 Croatian prisoners of war (POWs)
on the Ovcara farm in Eastern Slavonia. The GOC, through a
spokesperson, said that it welcomed the ICTY decision. In
further remarks, both Prime Minister Sanader and Justice
Minister Simonovic said that the decision to increase
Sljivancanin's sentence and uphold Mrksic's was appropriate,
but also argued that the appeals court did not go far enough.
Simonovic noted that prosecutors had not appealed the
acquittal the final of the initial three defendants, and
re-iterated Croatia's concern that the ICTY's case only
covered the crimes committed in Ovcara and not all other
crimes during the seige of Vukovar in 1991. Sanader, in his
comments, also said he also felt that what took place in
Vukovar has not been sanctioned adequately. Most media
commentary echoed the official line. Even the leading
Croatian Serb politician, Milorad Pupovac, said that the
increase in Sljivancanin's sentence was a positive
development for the victims. (VDjukic)


3. (U) CROATIA WORKS TOWARD A NATIONAL COUNTERPROLIFERATION
STRATEGY:
The U.S. Defense Threat Reduction Agency hosted a "NATO
Advance Training Course" in Split, May 4-8 that was
well-attended by representatives from all of Croatia's
Ministries and State Offices involved in combating WMD
proliferation. Representatives from the U.S. Department of
Defense, FBI, and Department of Homeland Security, along with
a number of their international counterparts, presented a
series of lectures and exercises designed to highlight issues
in interagency cooperation and communication. The course
should give a significant boost to Croatia's efforts to
develope a draft national strategy on counterproliferation.
(CRhoton)


4. (U) REGIONAL WORKSHOP ON REDUCING CONVENTIONAL WEAPONS AND
MUNITIONS STOCKPILES:
On May 6-7, the State Department's Office of Weapons Removal
and Abatement in the Bureau of Political-Military Affairs
hosted a two-day conference in Zagreb to help develop a
regional approach to the reduction of conventional weapons
and munitions stockpiles in South East Europe. Participants
at the workshop included defense officials from numerous
South East European countries, representatives of the
Departments of State and Defense, the U.S. European Command,
and technical and policy experts from international
organizations. Among the topics discussed included the
threats posed by hazardous and loosely secured stockpiles as
well as best practices in stockpile security and management.
The details of the discussions at the workshop will be
reported by septel. (PD'Amico)


5. US EMBASSY HOSTS COORDINATION MEETING FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT
PROGRAMS:
On May 5, the Embassy hosted a coordination meeting to bring

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together donor community representatives and Croatian
officals with responsibilites for law enforcement issues. The
largest donors -- including the EC, UNDP, US, and several EU
member states -- met with police and prosecutors to discuss
upcoming plans and ways to help Croatia continue reform of
its judicial and law enforcement sectors. The head of the
Office for Suppression of Organized Crime and Corruption
(USKOK) told donors that Croatia is not reforming because it
is required for EU membership, but because it will improve
the safety and security of Croatian citizens. As a result of
the coordination meeting, the U.S. Embassy is creating a
web-based users group for participants to share information
about upcoming programs, avaliability of visiting speakers or
trainers, and useful contact information. (CZimmer)
BRADTKE