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DE RUEHVB #0897/01 2071245
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O 261245Z JUL 06
FM AMEMBASSY ZAGREB
TO RUEHGB/AMEMBASSY BAGHDAD IMMEDIATE 0011
RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 6448
INFO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE
RUCNRAQ/IRAQ COLLECTIVE

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 ZAGREB 000897 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPARTMENT FOR EUR/SCE HOH, SAINZ, PFEUFFER 
BAGHDAD FOR EXEC OFFICE, POL, RSO 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/25/2007 
TAGS: PREL PGOV MARR ASEC IZ HR REGIONAL ISSUES
SUBJECT: CROATIAN AMBASSADOR TO IRAQ TO PRESENT CREDENTIALS 
 
Classified By: Political Officer Tom Selinger for reasons 1.4 (b) & (d) 
 
¶1. (U) This is an action request.  See paragraphs 2 and 3. 
 
¶2. (C) Newly-appointed Croatian Ambassador to Iraq Jerko 
Vukas will travel to Baghdad August 01-03 in order to present 
his credentials and open direct diplomatic contact with the 
Iraqi Government.  Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs Pjer 
Simunovic, who will lead the three-person delegation, asked 
Charge July 25 to advise the US mission and security forces 
in Iraq of the visit and requested an Embassy Baghdad point 
of contact.  Simunovic and Vukas seek a meeting with 
Ambassador Khalilzad or senior diplomatic representative and 
staff briefings on the local political and security situation 
shortly after arrival.  While Polish Ambassador Ryszard 
Krystosik and his mission are providing security and 
logistical assistance as well as arranging for meetings with 
the Iraqi government, Simunovic said the Croatians may turn 
to the US for assistance in securing certain high-level 
meetings if necessary.  Full text of Note Verbale follows. 
 
¶3. (C) COMMENT: With no personnel currently on the ground in 
Iraq, Simunovic admitted that the GoC is at a loss for how to 
proceed in establishing a permanent presence after this visit 
and will rely heavily on USG advice.  This delegation hopes 
to scout potential permanent locations for the Croatian 
mission, ideally within the Green Zone.  While Croatia's 
assistance to operations in Iraq is limited to three police 
instructors at the International Police Academy in Amman, the 
GoC is trying to show its support for the Iraqi government by 
pushing forward in establishing its diplomatic presence. 
Post is grateful for any assistance Embassy Baghdad can 
provide.  END COMMENT. 
 
¶4. (C) Text of Note Verbale: 
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and European Integration of 
the Republic of Croatia presents its compliments to the 
Embassy of the United States of America and has the honour to 
inform that a delegation of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs 
and European Integration of the Republic of Croatian will 
visit the Republic of Iraq from August 1 to 3, 2006.  The 
purpose of the visit is to establish direct diplomatic 
contact with the Government of the Republic of Iraq, 
demonstrate support of the Government of the Republic of 
Croatia to the Republic of Iraq and carry out the first 
preparatory steps for opening of the Diplomatic Mission of 
the Republic of Croatia in Baghdad, with the aim of bringing 
the bilateral relations between the two countries to a new, 
more advanced level. 
 
The members of the delegation are: 
1.) Mr. Pjer Simunovic, Head of Delegation, Assistant 
Minister for International Organizations and Security, 
Ministry of Foreign Affairs and European Integration 
(diplomatic passport no. 000002727 valid till 29 June 2011); 
2.) H.E. Mr. Jerko Vukas, Ambassador, designated Head of the 
Mission of the Republic of Croatia to the Republic of Iraq 
(diplomatic passport number 000001897 valid till 5 November 
2009); 
3.) Ms. Marta Nakic-Vojnovic, Head of Section for 
Peace-Support Operations, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and 
European Integration (diplomatic passport no. 000002509 valid 
till 11 January 2011). 
 
The itinerary of the delegation is as follows: 
- Arrival to Baghdad, Al Muthana Airport ) 1 August at 10.30 
h, flight RJ812 from Amman, Jordan; 
- Departure from Baghdad, Al Muthana Airport - 3 August at 
16.15 h, flight RJ815 to Amman, Jordan. 
 
The visit of the Croatian delegation is being prepared and 
organized with the kind assistance of the Ministry of Foreign 
Affairs of the Republic of Poland.  Equally, during the stay 
in Baghdad, the Croatian delegation would rely on the 
security, logistical and accommodation assistance of the 
Embassy of the Republic of Poland in Baghdad. 
 
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and European Integration 
kindly requests the Embassy of the United States of America 
to draw the attention of the United States diplomatic 
representatives and security forces in Baghdad to this visit. 
 
The Ministry also kindly requests the assistance of the 
Embassy of the United States in arranging a meeting of the 
delegation with the Ambassador or a senior diplomatic 
representative of the United States in the Republic of Iraq. 
The Ministry would highly appreciate if the United States 
representatives in Baghdad could also provide to the 
 
ZAGREB 00000897  002 OF 002 
 
 
delegation a political and security briefing on the situation 
in Iraq. 
 
Iraqi authorities have confirmed the meeting with H.E. Mr. 
Rafi Hiyad Al-Isawi, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs. 
 
The Croatian Delegation has requested meetings with the 
President of the Republic, the Prime Minister and the Minster 
of Economy, the relevant representatives of the Security 
Services (Ministry of Defense, Ministry of Interior) of the 
Republic of Iraq, as well as any possible further activities 
proposed by the Iraqi side. 
 
A more precise schedule of the meetings will be communicated 
as soon as confirmed. 
 
A particular aim of the visit would also be to use the 
occasion - if possible and acceptable on the side of the 
Republic of Iraq - to enable H.E. Mr. Jerko Vukas to present 
his Credentials. 
 
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and European Integration of 
the Republic of Croatia avails itself of this opportunity to 
renew to the Embassy of the United States of America the 
assurances of its highest consideration. 
 
Zagreb, July 24, 2006 
DELAWIE