VZCZCXYZ0022
OO RUEHWEB

DE RUEHVB #0736 2181105
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
O 061105Z AUG 07
FM AMEMBASSY ZAGREB
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 7993
INFO RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC PRIORITY
RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHDC PRIORITY
RUEHNO/USMISSION USNATO PRIORITY 3453

C O N F I D E N T I A L ZAGREB 000736 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR EUR, EUR/SCE, PM, PM/SNA, L/PM 
DEFENSE FOR OSD:WINTERNITZ AND MITCHELL 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/07/2017 
TAGS: PREL MARR HR DEFENSE REFORM
SUBJECT: PM ASSURES SOFA APPROVAL AT END OF AUGUST 
 
 
Classified By: Ambassador Robert A. Bradtke for reasons 1.4(b) and (d). 
 
¶1. (C) Following the failure of the Croatian cabinet to 
provide final approval of the text of the Status of Forces 
Agremeent at its last session before a two week summer break, 
the Ambassador spoke August 3 with Ministry of Foreign 
Affairs State Secretary Biscevic to express his 
disappointment and urge that approval of the SOFA not slide 
into the fall and the Croatian electoral campaign season. 
The Ambassador also stressed that much good work had been 
done on both sides to reach this point, and it was important 
to bring the process to closure. 
 
¶2. (C) The next day, August 4, Biscevic called the Ambassador 
to report that he had conveyed the Ambassador,s concerns to 
Prime Minister Sanader.  The Prime Minister had instructed 
him to inform the Ambassador that the SOFA would be approved 
by the cabinet &as soon as8 the Government returned from 
its two week summer break at the end of August. 
 
¶3. (C) Comment.  Whatever the reasons for the delay, we 
believe that the Prime Minister,s assurances put us on track 
for cabinet approval by the end of this month. 
 
 
BRADTKE