VZCZCXYZ0012
RR RUEHWEB

DE RUEHVB #0415/01 0871404
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 281404Z MAR 06
FM AMEMBASSY ZAGREB
TO SECSTATE WASHDC 5936

UNCLAS ZAGREB 000415 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
FOR CA, EUR/SCE FOR ENGLISH/BELL 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: CMGT CVIS CASC CJAN HR
SUBJECT: CA A/S MAURA HARTY MEETS WITH CROATIAN OFFICIALS 
 
REF: ZAGREB 0057 
 
¶1. Summary: Property restitution, student exchanges, 
biometric developments for Croatian passports, and 
extradition processes were some of the issues discussed by 
Assistant Secretary (A/S) for Consular Affairs (CA) 
Ambassador Maura Harty in a bilateral meeting with Croatian 
Ministry of Foreign Affairs State Secretary (S/S) for 
Organization, Development and Management Vera Varga and 
other MFA officials on March 8, 2006 in Zagreb.  Also in 
attendance were Ambassador Frank and Consul Carolyn Gorman. 
End Summary. 
 
¶2. A/S Harty thanked S/S Vera Varga for the close 
cooperation enjoyed by the U.S. and Croatia.  A/S Harty 
noted U.S. Embassy Zagreb was hosting a conference for 
Consular Officers from around Europe and offered a follow- 
up visit at FSI for Croatian diplomats who had been hosted 
there previously for a site visit. 
 
¶3. Property restitution: When A/S Harty raised the issue of 
property restitution and the lack of American citizen 
access to the current property restitution law, S/S Varga 
said negative public opinion at the end of 2005 had 
derailed plans to begin negotiations on bilateral 
agreements that would grant access to foreign citizens. 
However, she said that the government had subsequently 
created working groups for the purpose of drafting an 
amendment to the current law.  The amendment would allow 
foreigners access to the law without the need for a 
bilateral agreement governing such access.  S/S Varga said 
it was anticipated the amendment would be adopted in the 
summer of 2006.  In response to A/S Harty's question as to 
how the amendment would be publicized to those affected, 
S/S Varga said the amendment's adoption would trigger media 
coverage and agreed the Croatian Embassy in D.C. could 
highlight developments on its website.  She also agreed the 
process should be as transparent as possible to allow for 
final resolution of the issue. 
 
¶4. Student Exchanges: In response to A/S Harty's comment 
that student exchange programs remain a U.S. priority, S/S 
Varga noted all present from the Ministry at the table had 
attended school in the U.S. and almost "everyone in the 
Ministry" had done so. 
 
¶5. Biometric Passports: Ms. Maja Tajder, Head of the 
Department for Citizenship and Travel Documents, said new 
biometric passport developments would be unveiled in a 
pilot program in early 2007, beginning with diplomatic and 
other official passports, which would include facial 
imaging and fingerprints with microchip storage capability. 
In response to A/S Harty's question as to whether Croatia 
intended to make the stored information available to other 
countries via readers at Ports of Entry, Ms. Tajder 
responded the decision had not been made but would be 
raised, especially with European Union member states.  When 
asked how the public would greet biometric passports, S/S 
Varga said biometric identity cards had not been an issue 
when rolled out and therefore the GOC did not anticipate 
problems related to passports with similar capabilities. 
 
¶6. Extradition: Ms. Andreja Metelko-Zgombic, Head of the 
International Law Department, thanked Ambassador Harty for 
U.S. cooperation in the Mitar Arambasic extradition case 
(ref) and noted it was an important sign of trust and 
rising confidence in the Government of Croatia's ability to 
prosecute war crimes.  Consul Carolyn Gorman noted the 
collaborative nature of the process and the importance of 
Croatia's follow-through on its guarantee for a second 
trial.  Ms. Metelko-Zgombic said the Croatian Embassy in 
Washington, D.C. was grateful for the assistance rendered 
by the Department of Justice.  Mr. Zoran Bradic, Department 
Head for International Legal Assistance, said he hoped the 
eleven remaining cases would also be resolved soon. 
 
¶7. Croatian Embassy in Baghdad: Mr. Bradic thanked 
Ambassador Frank and the Consul for assistance rendered 
when Croatian truck drivers were killed and missing in 
Iraq.  Ambassador Frank asked when Croatia planned to send 
its diplomatic representative to Baghdad and S/S Varga 
responded that the matter was under discussion, that 
Croatia wants to do it, but "small matters" needed to be 
worked out. 
 
¶8. Visa Waiver Program: S/S Varga asked what data was 
available regarding the rate of returns/overstays with 
respect to Croatian visitors to the U.S.  Consul Gorman 
replied that a recent study showed an overstay rate of 
around one percent.  S/S Varga asked whether that 
information along with the future biometric Croatian 
passports would assist with Croatia's entrance into the 
 
Visa Waiver Program.  A/S Harty replied that while 
countries are encouraged to build good passports and strong 
border facilities, September 11, 2001 put a damper on 
expansion of the program and realistically, the admission 
of any new countries to the VWP was a long way down the 
road.  Consul noted that the U.S. Embassy in Zagreb was one 
of few embassies without a waiting period for visa 
appointments.  S/S Varga said she had heard no complaints 
regarding the U.S. visa process. 
 
¶9. Crisis Management Training: S/S Varga was intrigued by 
A/S Harty's description of her participation in a crisis 
management exercise with Canada, Australia, New Zealand and 
the UK during the recent Consular Colloque.  S/S Varga 
agreed that a similar exercise set in Dubrovnik would be 
beneficial.  Mr. Bradic noted that the MFA had established 
a special MFA Crisis Coordination and Management Department 
after the South Asia Tsunami and problems with Croatian 
truck drivers in Iraq.  Ambassador Frank and S/S Varga 
agreed to discuss possible crisis management training in 
the future. 
 
¶10. Andrea Bekic, Head of the North America Office, and 
Betty Pavelich Sirois, Advisor to the Minister, and 
Consular Affairs Special Assistant Lynne Skeirik also 
attended the meeting. 
FRANK