C O N F I D E N T I A L        ZAGREB 00766

SIPDIS
P 171520Z AUG 07

FM AMEMBASSY ZAGREB
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 8031
INFO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE PRIORITY

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 ZAGREB 000766 
 
SIPDIS 
 
EUR/SCE FOR HOH AND BALIAN 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/17/2017 
TAGS: HR CROATIA PGOV PHUM PREL
SUBJECT: US CARDINAL REACHES OUT TO CROATS 
 
REF: ZAGREB 763 
 
Classified By: Kirsten Selinger for reasons 1.5 (B) and (D) 
 
¶1. (C) Summary and Comment.  The August 12-14 visit of 
Theodore McCarrick, Emeritus Cardinal of Washington, to 
Croatia reassured Croatian leaders that the U.S. is engaged 
in Bosnia and Herzegovina and interested in the situation of 
Croats there.  McCarrick heard from Croatian leaders that 
Bosnia is a largely non-functional state still plagued by 
ethnic tensions, and that the fractious Croat contingent is 
preventing constructive dialogue on constitutional reforms. 
MFA State Secretary Hido Biscevic told McCarrick that Bosnian 
Croats feel abandoned, outnumbered, and marginalized in BiH, 
and that Zagreb will continue to send them the message that 
they need to be active participants in determining the 
country's future.  The interethnic character of the country 
is an essential component to its stability, which is in turn 
critical for the entire region, he stated.  One of the PM's 
closest advisors, Biscevic is likely Croatia's most 
knowledgeable expert on BiH, and his view was clear about the 
need to stabilize the three-pronged administration from both 
inside and outside the country and foster new leadership 
there.  As Croatians are well aware, instability next door 
would have a significant impact on the country, immigration, 
and its economy.   McCarrick left Croatia determined to 
convey the message to Bosnian Croats that their concerns were 
being taken into account, particularly by the US, and of the 
need for them to further engage in BiH's future.  End Summary 
and Comment. 
 
Message of Concern and Confidence to Bosnian Croats 
--------------------------------------------- ------ 
 
¶2. (SBU) As part of a regional trip, McCarrick visited 
Croatia and met with Biscevic, Deputy Prime Minister Jadranka 
Kosor, Special Advisor to the President Budimir Loncar, and 
Cardinal Josip Bozanic.  The meeting with Biscevic, who is 
one of the PM's closest advisors, went into the greatest 
detail.  Biscevic discussed both problems within the Bosnian 
Croat community and Bosnia's future with McCarrick.  His 
expertise on this issue, combined with his Bosniak 
background, gave a realistic if somewhat discouraging picture 
from Zagreb.  (NOTE: Biscevic was recently elected as 
Secretary General of the Regional Cooperation Council of the 
 
SIPDIS 
SEECP and will be relocating to Sarajevo at the end of the 
year.  END NOTE.) Biscevic explained the fractious nature of 
the Croat community in BiH, split between nine political 
parties.  They have been dragged down by internal bickering, 
personality politics, and egos, he said, and as a result 
Croats feel marginalized and abandoned.  The only leader who 
speaks for the Croat community as whole is Cardinal Puljic, 
Biscevic observed.  Puljic's role is critical, according to 
Biscevic, and his thoughts on the future of BiH are important 
to regional stability. 
 
¶3. (SBU) When the PM recently met with Bosnian Croat 
political leaders in Mostar, Biscevic said that the PM told 
them to get involved, not to sit on the sidelines while their 
future was being determined, and to work together towards a 
future in BiH.  They must be pragmatic and talk to Serbs and 
Bosniaks about a shared future, he said.  Reiterating the 
PM's message (who called McCarrick by phone during lunch), 
Biscevic asked McCarrick to convey to Bosnian Croats a 
message of cooperation, concern, and self-confidence. 
 
The Challenges of Leadership 
---------------------------- 
 
¶4. (C) Referring to BiH Presidency Chairman Zeljko Komsic, 
Biscevic argued he didn't truly represent the Croats as he 
was elected by the entire populace, not only by Croats. 
Aligned neither with Dragan Covic (HDZ) or Bozo Ljubic 
(HDZ-1990), he has been less than effective in his position. 
President Mesic's Advisor Loncar told McCarrick he did 
believe Komsic was capable of being a voice for the 
Croatians, but agreed that the other leaders were indeed 
mired in personality politics.  Speaking of other BiH 
leaders, Biscevic commended Suljeman Tihic's dedication to 
keeping the state together.  He recognizes the need to 
include Croats, Biscevic believes, and approaches obstacles 
realistically.  For example, Tihic has focused on the 
substantive issue of police integration, rather than honing 
in on the inflammatory problem of their arm patches. 
Biscevic contrasted Tihic's approach to that of Haris 
Silajdic, calling the latter leader "the biggest danger for 
BiH".  His quasi-nationalism and cheap populism may have 
resonated during the war, but serve to deepen the divisions 
and are only to the detriment of the country, he warned.  In 
this vein, Biscevic continued, Silajdic has instigated 
troubles with Serbs and also Croats in order to exacerbate 
the rifts. 
 
Bosnia: A "Three-Legged Stool" 
------------------------------ 
 
¶5. (SBU) Keeping Bosnia's interethnic character is key, 
Biscevic stressed.  He compared the country to a three-legged 
stool, which was finely balanced but which could not stand 
without the participation of all.  Without such balance and 
assurances, he warned, ethnic Croats have the option of 
leaving for Croatia as they all are eligible for Croatian 
citizenship.  Many parents will certainly choose to send 
their children across the border to a wealthier Croatia bound 
for NATO and the EU if BiH doesn't hold a future for them, he 
reasoned. 
 
¶6. (C) "We need to have a frank discussion on the shape of 
BiH that includes Serbs, Croats, and Bosniaks; we need new, 
young, non-wartime leaders for the country, and we need the 
international community to induce this new generation of 
leadership", Biscevic continued.  The country needs to find a 
balance between national pluralism and democratic 
representation: the "second string" of leaders of all 
ethnicities are hard-liners in favor of splitting the 
country.  For the first time in history, he explained, BiH is 
wrestling with the reality of statehood and independence, and 
international engagement and integration into Euro-Atlantic 
structures are all the more important to its success. 
Biscevic told McCarrick that he recently met with Bosniak 
leaders and conveyed the need to reach out to Croats, not 
just to Serbs.  The leaders responded that they (Bosniaks) 
largely look to Zagreb, to the US, and to the Vatican for 
guidance. 
 
¶7. (C) Biscevic reiterated Puljic's role in BiH's future.  He 
relayed Puljic's ideas on a future BiH structure that unites 
the country by encompassing essential state functions, 
decentralizes government through five to seven component 
parts without regard to national majority divisions, and ends 
Republika Srpska's status.  Biscevic agreed that without such 
changes, BiH will look like Syria's Lebanon: always hostage 
to Belgrade's wishes.  Without more stability, BiH will be 
destined to be a "sunflower", turning either to Zagreb or 
Belgrade for guidance.  Loncar told McCarrick that the best 
structure for B-H would be a strengthening of the central 
government effectiveness and also local government authority. 
 Bosnian Croats need to look to Sarajevo, not Zagreb, he 
stated, and praised PM Sanader for endorsing this view. 
While Biscevic did not share his own view on the shape of a 
future BiH, he agreed that the current status of RS is 
untenable.  The status of RS, he said, is putting the brakes 
on further integration into Euro-Atlantic structures and 
keeping the country closer to Serbia's integration timeline. 
In fact, he commented, the current RS-Belgrade relationship 
is a type of self-preservation for Belgrade within BiH. 
 
Caution on the Kosovo Effect 
---------------------------- 
 
¶8. (SBU) Despite the need for change, Biscevic remained 
cautious about the pace of constitutional reforms.  The 
impact of Kosovo's future status on Belgrade will be a great 
shock, he warned, and needs to be considered when reviewing 
reforms in BiH.  As a Kosovo resolution is fast approaching, 
we must remember that Belgrade is facing the loss of the 
province and will be unsteady.  At the same time, we must 
reassure Belgrade of the integrity and stability of BiH and 
support BiH institutions.  Loncar conveyed a similar message 
to McCarrick, warning about possible spillover effects of 
Kosovo independence in BiH and that reported comments about a 
partition of Kosovo by EU representative Ischinger would only 
raise more questions about redrawing other lines in the 
former Yugoslavia. 
 
McCarrick: Ensure Bosnian Croats Voices Are Heard 
--------------------------------------------- ---- 
 
¶9. (SBU) At all his meetings, Cardinal McCarrick offered a 
view of his upcoming trip to BiH.  His visit, he hoped, would 
help give the Bosnian Croats assurances that their views were 
being heard in Sarajevo and taken into account by the US. 
They want to know there is a place for them in the country, 
McCarrick repeated, and suggested several confidence-building 
steps.  Puljic, whom McCarrick knows well, has complained 
that the permitting process to build a new church has been 
stalled, and hopes to build a hospital and nursing facility 
too.  Movement on these projects, McCarrick suggested, would 
be tangible evidence that there is a good faith effort in 
Sarajevo to reach out to Croats.  McCarrick also confided 
that Puljic has felt sidelined by the US.  Efforts to reach 
out to him even further would be greatly welcomed, McCarrick 
suggested. 
BRADTKE