Cablegate: Zagreb Daily Report - December 08, 2009

VZCZCXRO0540
PP RUEHIK
DE RUEHVB #0716 3421435
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 081435Z DEC 09
FM AMEMBASSY ZAGREB
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 9710
INFO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE PRIORITY

UNCLAS ZAGREB 000716

SIPDIS
SENSITIVE

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL HR ECON
SUBJECT: Zagreb Daily Report - December 08, 2009

1. (U) Dutch Foreign Minister reserved over Croatia's chances to
open Judiciary Chapter in EU negotiations: Dutch Foreign Minister
Maxime Verhagen, referring to ICTY Chief Prosecutor Brammertz's
report on cooperation with Croatia, commented in Brussels on
December 7 that he did not see how the EU could soon open the
negotiations on the judiciary chapter with Croatia. Verhagen spoke
after the EU General Affairs Council meeting, which also approved
the financial package for Croatia once it becomes an EU member (see
next item). Draft Conclusions for the GAERC, which continues today,
reportedly include a statement that the ICTY Prosecutor "still could
not report on substantial progress in the issue of finding the
missing documents."

2. (U) EU Adopts Financial Package For Croatia: The European Union
General Affairs and External Relations Council adopted on December 7
a draft financial package of 3.56 billion Euros in funding for
Croatia during the first two years of its EU membership. Croatia
will have to prepare project proposals with EU approval and provide
15% of financing on these projects to be eligible to utilize these
funds.

3. (U) Press reports USKOK investigation of INA privatization:
Croatian media on December 7 reported that the Prosecutor's Office
for the Suppression of Corruption and Organized Crime (USKOK) has
opened an investigation into alleged irregularities in the sale of
Croatia's state-owned oil company INA to Hungary's MOL last year.
In an interview on Dec. 7, President Mesic said that USKOK should
question former Prime Minister Sanader and former Economy Minister
Polancec in the case.

FOLEY

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