VZCZCXYZ0031
RR RUEHWEB

DE RUEHVB #0284/01 0611559
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 021559Z MAR 06
FM AMEMBASSY ZAGREB
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 5775
INFO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE

UNCLAS ZAGREB 000284 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
 
DEPT FOR EUR/SCE 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PHUM PTER PREL HR
SUBJECT: Declaration of European Muslims Well-Received in Croatia 
 
Sensitive But Unclassified.  Please Handle Accordingly. 
 
¶1. (SBU) Summary and Comment.  On 24 February, Bosnian and 
Herzegovinian Grand Mufti Mustafa Ceric presented in Zagreb a 
Declaration of European Muslims.  Hosted by the Zagreb Islamic 
Community, the presentation received widespread public attention as a 
message of tolerance, peace, and moderation.  Ceric, author of the 
Declaration, told the large crowd that he wrote the Declaration for 
several reasons: to send a message to Muslims to abide by the "social 
contract" in European society which includes religious tolerance and 
cooperation; to institutionalize Islam in Europe so that it is not 
dependent on foreign sources and support; and to further the dialogue 
between the "East and the West" to build trust, which is at its lowes 
levels.  Ceric also said he was inspired by the 2005 U.S. Senate 
resolution condemning the events at Srebrenica.  Press highlighted th 
presence of the Ambassador, as did Ceric in his comments, and noted 
that the U.S. provides a welcoming environment for Muslims. 
 
¶2. (SBU) The Declaration was presented in Zagreb at the request of 
Croatian Mufti Sevko Omerbasic, who sees Croatia as a model for Europ 
in that Islam is officially recognized and on an equal footing with 
other religions, the community is fully integrated yet retains its 
identity, and issues are resolved systematically.  By hosting the 
presentation of the Declaration and continuing to make public 
statements of moderation, Omerbasic effectively demonstrated his desi 
to be a proactive force on this issue.  Ceric emphasized the 
receptiveness not only of Croatia, but its media and its president, w 
met with Ceric before the presentation.  On 23 February, Post hosted 
U.S. Muslim speaker Stephen Schwartz, who supported Ceric's view that 
Muslims in the region should assert their moderation and tolerance; a 
he also made a call for leadership: Schwartz asserted that the legacy 
of Balkan Muslims is one of a strong identity along with moderation a 
non-violence.  As such, he believes that Croatia shares a unique 
responsibility to lead a dialogue between the Muslim world and 
"Christian Europe".  His message was extensively reported in the loca 
media, as was the Declaration, likely in response to the protests 
elsewhere over cartoons, which were reprinted in one Croatian weekly. 
In stark contrast to other areas, both events emphasized the tolerant 
integrated, and moderate nature of the Muslim community in Croatia. 
End Summary and Comment. 
 
Ceric Presents Declaration in Croatia 
 
¶3. (U) Speaking to a gathering including representatives from 28 
diplomatic missions, all religious communities and GOC officials, Cer 
explained why he wrote the Declaration.  "We want to send a message t 
Europe that we do not want Jihad, but a social contract," he said.  " 
want Islam to be recognized as a European religion, as it is in 
Croatia.  The Declaration sends a message to Muslims to be a good 
citizens of Europe and to abide by its social norms."  It also calls 
for European acceptance of Islam, of which he remains skeptical.  Cer 
presented his Declaration for the first time last July in London and 
later to the European Islamic Forum.  Ceric was then invited by 
Omerbasic to present the Declaration in Zagreb, where the Grand Mufti 
once served as Imam and still considers himself a part of this 
community.  Ceric plans to present the document in Washington, D.C. i 
April.  During his speech, Ceric singled out the U.S. as a welcoming 
environment for Muslims. 
 
¶4. (U) The text confirms the non-violent nature of Islam and a desire 
to implement a program for non-violence to remove the stigma that tie 
Muslims to global terrorism.  The Declaration sends a call to Muslims 
to promote peace and inter-religious tolerance.  It presents Islam as 
universal rather than tribal or ethnic.  Muslims, it says, generally 
lack a global outlook but carry the stigma of global terrorism.  The 
text refutes collective guilt and recognizes individual 
responsibility.  Europe is depicted as a continent of many faiths wit 
Muslims wanting to be a part of its social, political, and cultural 
development.  While expressing the commitment to the rule of law, 
tolerance and democratic values, the first chapter also speaks about 
expectations of political participation, economic development and 
development of Islamic schools adapted to challenges of European 
society.  Among the expectations is the recognition of Muslim law in 
matters covered by family law and a relaxed migration policy.  It cal 
for recognition of sheriat weddings, allowing headscarves in public, 
recognition of Islamic holidays and preparation of meals in public 
institutions in line with their faith.  The second chapter stresses 
that European Muslims should be more concerned with their 
responsibilities towards society.  It lists several imperatives to 
European Muslims: to read and acquire knowledge, to work hard, to 
adhere to the common law of family life, to be more proactive in 
pursuing success and securing their rights and to be oriented towards 
the future.  The third chapter establishes Islam as a universal faith 
and seeks to develop global awareness that Muslims now lack, 
starting with a common calendar.  Post can send the text of the 24-pa 
document via email if requested. 
 
Croatian Mufti Sends Message of Moderation 
 
¶5. (U) In recent weeks, Mufti Omerbasic has continued to express his 
message of tolerance and moderation.  Following the protests in BiH 
against publishing the controversial cartoons, he publicly spoke out 
against the reaction.  "We Muslims in Croatia, the same as our fellow 
Muslims across the world, raise our voice of protest against those wh 
are offending our highest values such as our emissary Muhammad, but w 
have to be rational as the learning of Kur'an advises."  On numerous 
occasions, Omerbasic has said that he sees Croatia as a model for 
Europe in that Islam is officially recognized and on an equal footing 
with other religions.  Croatia is one of four European countries that 
have officially recognized Islam as a religion, and the country will 
soon celebrate the 90th anniversary of that acknowledgment.  He has s 
that the Croatian Muslim community, which is indigenous, is fully 
integrated yet retains a distinct identity, and that issues are 
resolved systematically with the wider community.  Speaking at the 
Declaration presentation, Omerbasic said that Muslims in Europe need 
focus on integration into European society rather than to isolate and 
segregate themselves.  The lack of understanding of Islam in Europe 
further isolates those communities and makes them vulnerable to a mor 
radical Islam.  Omerbasic said that the Declaration sends a warning t 
the European and Muslim public about the difficult position of Muslim 
in Europe and the problems with the Islamic terrorism, referring 
particularly to the bombings in Madrid and London.  Legal recognition 
and support of Islam throughout Europe would help Muslims fight again 
terrorism more proactively and distance themselves from the influence 
of the Middle East, he believes. 
 
Visit of U.S. Muslim Speaker Stephen Schwartz 
 
¶6. (U) Post has previously scheduled a 23 February visit of U.S. auth 
and speaker Stephen Schwartz to publicly discuss Islam in the Balkans 
and Europe.  Schwartz, Executive Director of the Center for Islamic 
Pluralism in Washington D.C., converted to Islam in BiH and has close 
ties with the Islamic community both there and in Zagreb.  The visit 
received widespread media interest, particularly in light of recent 
protests in BiH over the cartoons.  (Note: As a Croatian weekly had 
reprinted the cartoons, the protest included the burning of the 
Croatian flag in Sarajevo.  End note.)  At a forum organized jointly 
between the Embassy and the GOC's Human Rights Center, Schwartz said 
that Croatia and Bosnia have a unique opportunity and responsibility 
shape the future of Islam in Europe.  Schwartz noted that Croatia and 
its moderate Muslim community can act as a moderator between "Christi 
Europe" and the Muslim community, as it has good relations with both. 
Croatia could initiate a dialogue across borders and prevent the lack 
of understanding that has been problematic in the recent past.  Musli 
have proven their moderate character in the Balkans, he added, and th 
Croatian Muslim community is therefore in a unique position.  Schwart 
believes that Bosnian Muslims enjoy high prestige and unique 
credibility around the Muslim world because of their experience durin 
the 90s.  The community underwent enormous difficulties and did not 
resort to terrorism, he said.  The Assistant Minister of Foreign 
Affairs, the Secretary of the GOC's Commission for Relations with 
Religious Communities, representatives of various NGOs as well as 
representatives of the Islamic community and Bosniak minority and 
attended the forum and participated in the discussion. 
FRANK