VZCZCXRO7932
PP RUEHAG RUEHAST RUEHDA RUEHDF RUEHFL RUEHIK RUEHKW RUEHLA RUEHLN
RUEHLZ RUEHPOD RUEHROV RUEHSR RUEHVK RUEHYG
DE RUEHVB #0010 0091502
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 091502Z JAN 08
FM AMEMBASSY ZAGREB
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 8459
INFO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC PRIORITY
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC PRIORITY

UNCLAS ZAGREB 000010 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
FOR EUR/SCE, EUR/PPD, EUR/RPM AND EUR/ERA 
OSD FOR WINTERNITZ 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PREL PGOV HR
SUBJECT: ZAGREB WEEKLY ACTIVITY REPORT - JANUARY 9, 2008 
 
¶1.  (U) PM TO PRESENT NEW GOVERNMENT ON JANUARY 12: PM 
Sanader has now signed coalition agreements with the Peasants 
Party (HSS), the Social Liberals (HSLS) and five minority 
representatives, giving him a 79-seat majority in the Sabor. 
He expects to conclude another agreement with the leading 
Serb party (SDSS) to add three additional seats by the end of 
the week.  Discussions of ministerial positions are ongoing, 
sparking widespread media speculation regarding who will take 
which portfolio.  A clear picture of the new cabinet may not 
emerge until Sanader presents his government to an 
extraordinary session of parliament on January 12. (TSelinger) 
 
¶2. (U) NO REFERENDUM ON NATO: During coalition negotiations 
with PM Sanader, the HSS and HSLS agreed to 
give up pursuit of a NATO referendum.  Commenting on the 
coalition agreement, HSS leader Josip Friscic 
explained that he called for a NATO plebiscite during the 
election campaign only in the case of 
widespread public opposition to membership, but Croatians now 
support NATO in public polls.  Friscic also 
stressed that HSS has never opposed NATO membership but only 
wanted to ensure a climate of support among 
citizens.  A poll released on January 8 showed 49 percent of 
citizens supporting membership while about 
40 percent were opposed and 11 percent remained undecided. 
(TSelinger) 
 
¶3.  (U) US-SUPPORTED PILOT TASK FORCE BREAKS ORGANIZED CRIME 
RING: With long-term Post support and 
ICITAP guidance, Croatian prosecutors established a pilot 
regional task force to investigate and 
break-up a suspected trafficking ring.  The innovative 
project brought together Serbian, Slovenian, and 
Montenegrin counterparts, and IOM (International Organization 
for Migration) along with the EU/Spain 
twinning advisor.  After a year-long investigation by police 
and prosecutors, in December authorities 
arrested 25 persons in the four countries on charges 
including human trafficking, illegal smuggling of 
persons, illegal possession of firearms, and counterfeiting. 
Among the arrested include one individual 
wanted for murder from a notorious organized crime group. 
The project began with a successful 
investigation and trafficking conviction in Serbia, which 
provided testimony and evidence for further 
investigation.  The task force intercepted a total of 105,000 
telephone calls on 61 different phones that 
were being utilized by the group.  Croatian police identified 
two trafficking victims and prevented the 
sale of one victim when they intercepted a call that involved 
negotiations for her sale.  Post and ICITAP 
advocated for the employment of a task force structure, which 
is common practice in US law enforcement, 
but a new concept to Croatian officials.  As a result of the 
success of this operation and a related 
US-sponsored study visit of police and prosecutors, Croatian 
police are establishing a permanent 
fugitive-tracking task force. (KSelinger) 
 
¶4.  (U) INDICTEE GLAVAS TO REMAIN IN CUSTODY, FOR NOW: 
Political-judicial wrangling over the detention of war crimes 
indictee Branimir Glavas has intensified in the run-up to the 
January 11 opening session of the new parliament.  Glavas was 
re-elected to parliament during the November election and 
believes that a new term will restore his parliamentary 
immunity stripped during the last session to pave the way for 
his ongoing trial for crimes against Serb civilians in 1991. 
Legal experts are divided on the issue of whether the new 
parliament will have to remove his immunity again, and the 
presiding judge will undoubtedly be soon faced with the 
decision of whether Glavas' detention and trial can continue 
without additional parliamentary action.  The Zagreb County 
Court denied his request for temporary release on January 8 
to prepare for the opening of parliament but will rule again 
on Friday whether he may be released that day to actually 
attend the session (Croatian law allows for brief releases 
for "special events").  PM Sanader also weighed in earlier 
the same day, announcing that Glavas would in fact appear in 
Parliament.  One daily attacked the PM's comment, calling it 
indirect pressure on the Court.  (KSelinger) 
 
 
 
 
WALKER