Cablegate: Croatian/Montenegrin Prime Ministers Discuss

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RR RUEHAG RUEHAST RUEHDA RUEHDF RUEHFL RUEHIK RUEHKW RUEHLA RUEHLN
RUEHLZ RUEHPOD RUEHROV RUEHSR RUEHVK RUEHYG
DE RUEHVB #0253 0741407
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 141407Z MAR 08
FM AMEMBASSY ZAGREB
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 8757
INFO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE
RUEHPOD/AMEMBASSY PODGORICA

UNCLAS ZAGREB 000253

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

FOR EUR/SCE

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PGOV HR
SUBJECT: CROATIAN/MONTENEGRIN PRIME MINISTERS DISCUSS
BORDERS, TRADE AND TOURISM

1. (U) Croatian Prime Minister Ivo Sanader met with his
Montenegrin counterpart Milo Djukanovic on 12 March 2008 in
Zagreb. According to the Montenegrin DCM in Zagreb, the two
PMs held a 15 minute private meeting before turning
discussions over to their advisors and relevant
subject-matter experts. The two countries discussed their
disputed border and the potential for increased economic
cooperation. Plans call for the formation of a joint
commission to address issues surrounding their shared border.
Though a tentative agreement has been in place for several
years, both countries hope to bring the issue to a final
resolution. The expert level group will prepare legal
documents to be presented to the International Court of
Justice in The Hague. Sanader and Djukanovic agreed the two
countries would abide by the decision of the court.

2. (U) Despite strong political ties between their countries,
neither the GoC nor the GoM is satisfied with current
economic relations. Both governments agreed to create a
Council for Economic Cooperation, bringing together experts
from their respective Ministries of Economy and Chambers of
Commerce. The first meeting will be held in Podgorica
sometime in the coming months. The two PMs also expressed
support for plans to establish direct flights between
Podgorica and Zagreb in the near-term. Discussion of trade
and border issues led to further talks on increased
cooperation in the tourism sector.

3. (SBU) While the GoM continues to pursue its own hopes for
NATO accession, any serious discussion of advice and
assistance from the GoC was deferred until after the April
2008 summit in Bucharest. According to Montenegrin
Ambassador Branko Lukovac, Djukanovic and Sanader did briefly
discuss what Montenegro's best prospects and means of joining
the alliance might be. Sanader reportedly opined that, if
all A-3 countries (Croatia, Albania and Macedonia) earned an
invitation at Bucharest, then Montenegro could well be
working without the benefits of being a part of a group of
aspirants, given the political obstacles likely to face any
of the other non-NATO members in the region in joining the
alliance.
Bradtke

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