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Cablegate: Zagreb Weekly Activity Report - January 3, 2008

Published: Thu 3 Jan 2008 02:25 PM
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PP RUEHAG RUEHAST RUEHDA RUEHDF RUEHFL RUEHIK RUEHKW RUEHLA RUEHLN
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DE RUEHVB #0003 0031425
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 031425Z JAN 08
FM AMEMBASSY ZAGREB
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 8452
INFO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
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OSD FOR WINTERNITZ
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PGOV HR
SUBJECT: ZAGREB WEEKLY ACTIVITY REPORT - JANUARY 3, 2008
1. (U) HOUSE ARREST SCANDAL - INTERIOR MINISTER RESIGNS; ICTY
INDICTEE MARKAC RETURNS TO HAGUE:
MOI Ivica Kirin submitted his resignation on 29 December
following reaction to a 22 December boar hunt with ICTY
indictee Mladen Markac, who was supposed to be under house
arrest during his provisional release from The Hague. The
hunt took place near Kirin's hometown of Virovitica, about
100 km east of Zagreb, where he served as mayor before
becoming Minister. The spokesperson for the current mayor
posted a photograph of the hunting party on the local
government website, drawing widespread media criticism.
Kirin, who had endured other scandals during his term, took
responsibility for his actions in a public statement. He had
not been expected to be part of the new HDZ government
currently under negotiation. On January 2, PM Sanader
accepted Kirin's resignation and reaffirmed the GOC's
commitment to and respect for the ICTY. "The government has
shown that it fully respects the Constitutional Law on
Cooperation with The Hague Tribunal," Sanader said,
commenting on the resignation. "Kirin did what he had to
do." The Virovitica mayor's spokesman also resigned. The
day prior to Kirin's resignation, the ICTY issued an order
for Markac's immediate arrest and transfer to detention in
The Hague for violating the terms of his provisional release
by taking part in the hunt. Markac was transferred two days
later. Markac, along with Generals Ante Gotovina and Ivan
Cermak, are charged by the ICTY with crimes against Serb
civilians during and after Operation "Storm" in 1995. At
that time, Markac was Commander of the Special Police in the
Ministry of the Interior. A trial date has not yet been set.
2. (U) GOVERNMENT COALITION NEGOTIATIONS ENTER FINAL STAGE,
SABOR TO CONVENE JANUARY 11:
PM Sanader expects to sign a coalition agreement between his
Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ), the Peasants Party (HSS) and
the Social Liberals (HSLS) on January 7, according to press
reports. Negotiations with minority representatives, whose
votes would push Sanader above a 77-seat parliamentary
majority, are still underway. President Mesic has called a
session of the new Sabor for January 11. Newly elected
parliamentarians will be sworn in, but the session may come
too soon for the approval of a new cabinet.
3. (U) CROATIA'S ECOLOGICAL AND FISHERIES PROTECTION ZONE
(ZERP) NOW APPLIES TO EU MEMBERS:
As of January 1, EU member states are subject to Croatia's
ZERP. The GoC declared the Zone, which extends to the middle
of the Adriatic Sea, in line with international law in 2004
but then delayed application to EU member states due to
pressure from Italy and Slovenia, whose fishing fleets
regularly operate in these waters. The ZERP remains a bone
of contention in Croatia's EU accession negotiations, to date
preventing opening of the chapter on fisheries and likely to
attract more attention under Slovenia's EU presidency. PM
Sanader publicly promised talks with EU neighbors to find a
way forward and welcomed Slovene FM Rupel's comments putting
the issue on hold pending formation of the new Croatian
government. Local media commentaries questioned Croatia's
current ability to enforce the ZERP until a recently passed
law on formation of a coast guard is fully implemented.
WALKER
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