CROATIAN ACTIONS ON GETTING KOSOVO INVITED TO

C O N F I D E N T I A L ZAGREB 000315 SIPDIS SENSITIVE FOR EUR/SCE E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/01/2018 TAGS: PREL PGOV HR SUBJECT: CROATIAN ACTIONS ON GETTING KOSOVO INVITED TO REGIONAL EVENTS REF: A. STATE 54930 ¶B. STATE 55320 ¶C. ZAGREB 307 ¶D. ZAGREB 310 Classified By: Rick Holtzapple, PolEcon Counselor, for reasons 1.4 (b) & (d). ¶1. (SBU) MFA Chief of Staff Neven Mikec called the Ambassador on June 2 to follow up on reftel demarches. Mikec said that FM Gordan Jandrokovic had personally called Montenegrin FM Milan Rocen to urge Kosovo's inclusion in the upcoming "Corridors of Culture" event (REFS A and C). Rocen had given a "non-committal" response, which Mikec felt indicated that the Montenegrins were unlikely to invite Sejdiu. Regarding the upcoming RCC and SEECP events in Moldova (REFS B and D), Mikec said that the MFA felt planning was too far advanced for FM Jandrokovic to withdraw from the event. Jandrokovic would still represent the GoC at the RCC and SEECP, but intends to include in his statements a reference on the need to include all SEE countries in all regional cooperation efforts. ¶2. (C) Mikec said that we needed a more effective way to ensure the inclusion of Kosovo in such events, and that the GoC would welcome the opportunity to consult with the U.S. on this issue. (NOTE: In an earlier conversation with PolCouns, Mikec observed that any country hosting such events typically faces an ultimatum from Belgrade that Serbia will refuse to participate in an event if Kosovo is included. END NOTE.) The Ambassador said he would pass the request to Washington. (COMMENT: This could be a useful topic of discussion for EUR/SCE Director Hyland's June 11-12 visit to Zagreb. END COMMENT.) BRADTKE