This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.
UNCLAS ZAGREB 002623
SIPDIS
DEPARTMENT FOR S/ES-CR AND S/ES-O
ALSO FOR EUR/SCE (KABUMOTO)
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL IZ HR
SUBJECT: LETTER TO PRESIDENT BUSH FROM PRIME MINISTER
DESIGNATE SANADER ON THE OCCASION OF SADDAM HUSSEIN'S
CAPTURE
1. ON DECEMBER 14, HDZ PARTY PRESIDENT AND CROATIAN PRIME
MINISTER-DESIGNATE IVO SANADER SENT TO THE EMBASSY A LETTER
FOR PRESIDENT BUSH. THE LETTER (ORIGINAL BEING POUCHED TO
WASHINGTON, FULL TEXT BELOW) CONGRATULATES PRESIDENT BUSH ON
THE CAPTURE OF SADDAM HUSSEIN AND PLEDGES CLOSER BILATERAL
COOPERATION, PARTICULARLY IN THE WAR ON TERRORISM.
2. BEGIN TEXT OF DECEMBER 14 LETTER TO PRESIDENT BUSH.
DEAR MR. PRESIDENT:
I AM THRILLED BY THE NEWS OF THE SUCCESSFUL APPREHENSION OF
SADDAM HUSSEIN, THE FORMER RULER OF IRAQ AND ONE OF THE
WORLD'S MOST NOTORIOUS DICTATORS. IT IS WITH UTMOST
SATISFACTION THAT I CONGRATULATE YOU ON THIS GREAT SUCCESS.
THIS IS A GLORIOUS DAY FOR THE FREE WORLD AND FOR ALL PEOPLE
WHO ASPIRE TO A WORLD OF PEACE AND PROSPERITY. TODAY'S
SUCCESS WILL HAVE AN ENORMOUS IMPACT ON THE FUTURE OF NOT
ONLY IRAQ AND ITS PEOPLE BUT ALSO ON THE WHOLE OF THE MIDDLE
EAST.
AS I POINTED OUT IN MY WALL STREET JOURNAL OP-ED IN MARCH
2003, GIVEN ITS OWN EXPERIENCE, CROATIA ALSO APPRECIATES THAT
EVIL IS NOT A METAPHYSICAL ABSTRACTION BUT THAT ITS WRIT RUNS
THROUGH THE AFFAIRS OF MEN - AND THAT USE OF FORCE, WHILE
INVARIABLE A HORRIBLE ENTERPRISE, IS SOMETIMES THE ONLY
ANSWER TO THE CHALLENGE POSED BY EVIL REGIMES. THIS IS WHY
YOUR SUPERB LEADERSHIP IN GUIDING THE WORLD COMMUNITY IN THE
STRUGGLE AGAINST WORLDWIDE TERRORISM IS AN INSPIRATION TO US
ALL.
SINCE THE VERY BEGINNING OF THE WAR ON TERROR THE CROATIAN
DEMOCRATIC UNION AND I HAVE GIVEN UNWAVERING SUPPORT TO THE
LEADING ROLE OF THE UNITED STATES. AS THE FUTURE PRIME
MINISTER OF CROATIA I AM COMMITTED TO STEP-UP CROATIA'S
ACTIVE ENGAGEMENT IN THE INTERNATIONAL FIGHT AGAINST
TERRORISM.
I SEE A STRONG RELATIONSHIP WITH THE U.S. AS A KEY PILLAR OF
CROATIA'S FOREIGN POLICY. I LOOK FORWARD TO COOPERATING WITH
YOU, MR. PRESIDENT, AND WITH THE GOVERNMENT OF THE UNITED
STATES OF AMERICA ON STRENGTHENING THE PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN
OUR TWO COUNTRIES.
SINCERELY YOURS, DR. IVO SANADER, PRESIDENT OF THE CROATIAN
DEMOCRATIC UNION AND PRIME MINISTER DESGINATE.
END TEXT.