VZCZCXYZ0001
RR RUEHWEB

DE RUEHVB #1495/01 3531423
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 191423Z DEC 06
FM AMEMBASSY ZAGREB
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 7066
INFO RUEHBW/AMEMBASSY BELGRADE 1922
RUEHVJ/AMEMBASSY SARAJEVO 0197

UNCLAS ZAGREB 001495 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPT FOR PRM: ROLSON 
DEPT FOR EUR/SCE: RBALIAN 
BELGRADE FOR OLSON 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PREF PGOV HR
 
SUBJECT: Refugee Fund Helps Open Multi-ethnic 
Seniors Home 
 
 
¶1. SUMMARY AND COMMENT: On December 6, Ambassador 
commemorated the opening of a US-funded multi-ethnic 
seniors home in Siroka Rijeka near Cetingrad on the 
Bosnian border.  Operated by the local Islamic community, 
the home offers daytime activities and services for 
elderly in the community as well as food delivery 
to shut-ins and assistance with other basic 
needs.  Clients are ethnic Bosniak, Serb, and 
Croat, reflecting the area's diversity.  Through 
funds from PRM's Ambassador's Refugee Fund and 
USAID, Post provided kitchen equipment and 
central heating.  At the opening, Ambassador 
stressed that the home was an excellent example 
of inter-ethnic cooperation and inter-religious 
tolerance.  The project is the most recent 
illustration of close cooperation with the Muslim 
community in the area.  END SUMMARY AND COMMENT. 
 
LOCAL LEADERSHIP FOSTERS RECONCILIATION 
 
¶2. In attendance with Ambassador were Mufti Sevko 
Omerbasic, Head of Zagreb Islamic Community 
Mirsad Srebrenikovic, local Imam Azim Durmic, as 
well as the deputy prefect of Karlovac County and 
local mayor.  National press covered the visit to the 
home.  In his comments, the Ambassador stressed 
the importance of the home's mission of 
interethnic cooperation, diversity and religious 
tolerance.  The community is 
ethnically-mixed with a sizeable Muslim 
population.  The area has been spared post-war 
inter-ethnic incidents, led in part by Imam 
Durmic's commitment to reconciliation and 
extension beyond his role of a religious leader 
to that of community leader.  In Vojnic 
municipality, ethnic Serbs comprise 50% of the 
population followed by 37% Bosniaks. 
 
¶3. Prior to the war, many residents worked across 
the border near Velika Kladusa at the Agrocomerc 
state-owned food processing company.  Now, 
however, Cetingrad Mayor Nikola Paulic explained, 
unemployment rate is around 95 percent in his 
town, and is one of the most pronounced problems 
in the county.  Unclear land ownership and 
problematic privatizations have contributed to 
the lack of investment.  Due to lack of jobs, 
most young people have moved away, leaving 
predominately the elderly.  The county is now 
installing computers in the schools to improve 
students' technical skills and build a more 
competitive work force. 
 
A HOME FOR ALL ETHNICITIES 
 
¶4. The home currently offers a day facility for 
40-45 elderly residents from the surrounding 
three municipalities (Cetingrad, Vojnic and 
Topusko) on a rotating basis.  It includes a 
medical unit and will soon provide residential 
space for those who are unable to care for 
themselves.  Imam Durmic and 15 others deliver 
hot meals to more than 270 shut-ins in 28 
villages, the majority of whom are over 70 and 
alone.  In addition, staff provide other 
assistance such as cleaning, chopping wood, 
transport to medical appointments, etc.  Durmic, 
in cooperation with Caritas, secured funds for 
the reconstruction from various donors including 
the governments of Switzerland, Germany, and 
Iran.  Post's Refugee Fund purchased a kitchen 
stove and washing machine; USAID funded the 
heating system.  Karlovac County and the 
Ministry of Health and Social Welfare provided 
additional funding.  Lack of operating funds from 
the GOC until now has prevented use of the 
facility for residential purposes.  Mufti 
Oberbasic explained that their goals in operating 
the home were to care for the elderly Muslim 
residents, employ members of the local community, 
and stimulate investment in areas with a Muslim 
population. 
 
GOOD RELATIONS CONTINUE WITH MUSLIM COMMUNITY 
 
¶5. Post's collaboration in constructing the 
senior's home continues its strong ongoing 
 
relationship with the Bosniak community in the 
region.  Post began working with the community in 
2002 when the Embassy began advocating both formally 
and informally for the GOC to grant citizenship to 
ethnic Bosniaks--largely members of the Muslim 
faith-- from the Maljevac area who were denied 
citizenship for more than a decade.  Advocacy 
included direct financial support to the Muslim 
community for organizing their legal effort. 
In 2003 PRM funds provided for office equipment 
to the Islamic Community Center to facilitate 
citizenship applications.  In May 2005, the GOC 
granted citizenship to members of the community. 
That same year, Post sent Imam Durmic on an 
International Visitors program focused on the 
role of minorities in public policy.  Also, EUCOM 
and USAID provided funds in 2003 and 2004 for 
refurbishment of the nearby Maljevac elementary school. 
EUCOM funded construction materials and U.S. and 
Croatian engineers rebuilt the school and 
constructed a recreational area, playground, 
picnic benches and spectator stands; and later 
USAID provided kitchen equipment.  The school has 
become a community gathering point and evidence of 
USG commitment to the area. 
BRADTKE