Cablegate: Mesic On Refugee Returns

This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.

UNCLAS ZAGREB 002063

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PREF HR YI
SUBJECT: MESIC ON REFUGEE RETURNS

REF: A. (A) BELGRADE 2248
B. (B) ZAGREB 2004

1. (SBU) WE READ WITH INTEREST REFTEL A IN WHICH SAM FOREIGN
MINISTER GORAN SVILANOVIC SAID HE WELCOMED THE INITIATIVE OF
CROATIAN PRESIDENT STIPE MESIC FOR A TRIPARTITE MEETING OF
CROATIA, BOSNIA, AND THE SAM TO TAKE UP REFUGEE ISSUES.

2. (SBU) SINCE THE SUBJECT HAD NOT COME UP IN OUR FIRST READ
OUT OF THE CROATIAN PRESIDENT'S SEPTEMBER 10 VISIT TO
BELGRADE (REF B), WE ASKED MESIC'S ASSISTANT FOREIGN POLICY
ADVISOR, TOMISLAV CAR, ABOUT IT AGAIN ON SEPTEMBER 22. HE
CONFIRMED THAT, YES, THE SUBJECT CAME UP, BUT ONLY VERY
BRIEFLY. WHEN MESIC RAISED THE IDEA, SAM PRESIDENT MAROVIC
AND FOREIGN MINISTER SVILANOVIC AGREED THAT REFUGEES SHOULD
BE DEALT WITH IN THE CONTEXT OF THE THREE COUNTRIES. BUT
CAR, WHO ACCOMPANIED MESIC ON THE TRIP, SAID THERE WAS
NOTHING BEYOND A FEW ANODYNE WORDS ON THE SUBJECT. ACCORDING
TO THE MESIC STAFFER, THERE HAS BEEN NO FOLLOW UP WHATSOEVER
TO REVIVE THE IDEA SINCE PRESIDENT MESIC RETURNED TO ZAGREB.

3. (SBU) COMMENT: A TRIPARTITE SUMMIT WOULD BE SENSITIVE
POLITICALLY IN CROATIA. WITH THE CURRENT GOVERNMENT FACING
ELECTIONS AS EARLY AS NOVEMBER, WE WOULD NOT EXPECT PRESIDENT
MESIC TO PUSH FOR A MEETING ANYTIME SOON.
MOON

NNNN

© Scoop Media