Cablegate: Mfa Condemns Hezbollah Attacks, Syrian Complicity

P 191344Z JUL 06
FM AMEMBASSY ZAGREB
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 6416
INFO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE
RUEHXK/ARAB ISRAELI COLLECTIVE

UNCLAS ZAGREB 000861

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE

DEPT FOR EUR/SCE - PFEUFFER

E.O. 12356: DECL: N/A
TAGS: PREL PGOV HR
SUBJECT: MFA CONDEMNS HEZBOLLAH ATTACKS, SYRIAN COMPLICITY

1. (SBU) SUMMARY AND COMMENT: The MFA condemned Hezbollah
attacks on Israel from Lebanese territory in a July 17
statement and called on the international community to
facilitate a quick calming of the crisis. The MFA's
director of middle eastern affairs told PolOff that the
GoC fears the conflict will escalate and directly involve
Syria and then Iran before an international peacekeeping
presence can be established. President Mesic called for an
immediate ceasefire in a public statement the same day and
condemned recent violence, particularly indiscriminate
terrorist attacks on civilian targets. END SUMMARY AND
COMMENT.

CROATIAN CITIZENS OUT OF LEBANON
--------------------------------

2. Enisa Karamarko, director of the MFA's Department for
Africa and the Near and Middle East, reconfirmed for PolOff
July 17 the GOC's commitment to combating global terrorism
and finding a peaceful and international resolution to the
conflict in Israel and Lebanon. The MFA clearly is very
concerned by the escalation of violence and questions
whether a return to the peace process roadmap is still
possible. In its statement, the GOC strongly condemned the
actions of Hezbollah and possible complicity of Syria and
regretted the abuse of Lebanon's sovereignty.

3. Karamarko confirmed that Croatia has evacuated 39
citizens from Lebanon but remains concerned for the safety
of approximately 500 citizens currently in Syria.

BRADTKE

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