CROATIA TO PROVIDE STRONG PUBLIC SUPPORT FOR THE

UNCLAS ZAGREB 000699 SENSITIVE SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL HR SUBJECT: CROATIA TO PROVIDE STRONG PUBLIC SUPPORT FOR THE WAY FORWARD IN AFGHANISTAN AND PAKISTAN REF: A. A) STATE 122731 ¶B. B) ZAGREB 690 ¶1. (SBU) Ambassador Foley met with Foreign Minister Jandrokovic on November 27 meeting to request additional contributions in Afghanistan. As reported in reftel B, Jandrokovic pledged that Croatia would endorse a unified alliance statement in support of the U.S. plan at the December 3-4 NATO Ministerial. Following his meeting with the Foreign Minister, Ambassador Foley then met with Prime Minister Kosor, who confirmed that Croatia will back the U.S. publicly on the way forward in Afghanistan and Pakistan, saying: "We will fulfill our obligations as a proud member of NATO." Kosor also reaffirmed Foreign Minster Jandrokovic's commitment to increase Croatia's 300 soldier ISAF contingent by 5 percent (15 soldiers) but added that this increase could not be made operational until after the upcoming presidential election. ¶2. On the public diplomacy side, post will feature exclusive national radio and print interviews with the Ambassador on December 3 to amplify the President's remarks. Additionally, post will put the President's speech on the Embassy website and distribute language versions of the text to a targeted contact base. WALKER