VZCZCXRO3994
PP RUEHAG RUEHAST RUEHDA RUEHDF RUEHFL RUEHIK RUEHKW RUEHLA RUEHLN
RUEHLZ RUEHPOD RUEHROV RUEHSR RUEHVK RUEHYG
DE RUEHVB #0003 0031425
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 031425Z JAN 08
FM AMEMBASSY ZAGREB
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 8452
INFO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC PRIORITY
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC PRIORITY

UNCLAS ZAGREB 000003 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
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 3, 2008 
 
 
¶1. (U) HOUSE ARREST SCANDAL - INTERIOR MINISTER RESIGNS; ICTY 
INDICTEE MARKAC RETURNS TO HAGUE: 
MOI Ivica Kirin submitted his resignation on 29 December 
following reaction to a 22 December boar hunt with ICTY 
indictee Mladen Markac, who was supposed to be under house 
arrest during his provisional release from The Hague.  The 
hunt took place near Kirin's hometown of Virovitica, about 
100 km east of Zagreb, where he served as mayor before 
becoming Minister.  The spokesperson for the current mayor 
posted a photograph of the hunting party on the local 
government website, drawing widespread media criticism. 
Kirin, who had endured other scandals during his term, took 
responsibility for his actions in a public statement.  He had 
not been expected to be part of the new HDZ government 
currently under negotiation.  On January 2, PM Sanader 
accepted Kirin's resignation and reaffirmed the GOC's 
commitment to and respect for the ICTY.  "The government has 
shown that it fully respects the Constitutional Law on 
Cooperation with The Hague Tribunal," Sanader said, 
commenting on the resignation.  "Kirin did what he had to 
do."  The Virovitica mayor's spokesman also resigned.  The 
day prior to Kirin's resignation, the ICTY issued an order 
for Markac's immediate arrest and transfer to detention in 
The Hague for violating the terms of his provisional release 
by taking part in the hunt.  Markac was transferred two days 
later.  Markac, along with Generals Ante Gotovina and Ivan 
Cermak, are charged by the ICTY with crimes against Serb 
civilians during and after Operation "Storm" in 1995.  At 
that time, Markac was Commander of the Special Police in the 
Ministry of the Interior.  A trial date has not yet been set. 
 
¶2. (U) GOVERNMENT COALITION NEGOTIATIONS ENTER FINAL STAGE, 
SABOR TO CONVENE JANUARY 11: 
PM Sanader expects to sign a coalition agreement between his 
Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ), the Peasants Party (HSS) and 
the Social Liberals (HSLS) on January 7, according to press 
reports.  Negotiations with minority representatives, whose 
votes would push Sanader above a 77-seat parliamentary 
majority, are still underway.  President Mesic has called a 
session of the new Sabor for January 11.  Newly elected 
parliamentarians will be sworn in, but the session may come 
too soon for the approval of a new cabinet. 
 
¶3. (U) CROATIA'S ECOLOGICAL AND FISHERIES PROTECTION ZONE 
(ZERP) NOW APPLIES TO EU MEMBERS: 
As of January 1, EU member states are subject to Croatia's 
ZERP.  The GoC declared the Zone, which extends to the middle 
of the Adriatic Sea, in line with international law in 2004 
but then delayed application to EU member states due to 
pressure from Italy and Slovenia, whose fishing fleets 
regularly operate in these waters.  The ZERP remains a bone 
of contention in Croatia's EU accession negotiations, to date 
preventing opening of the chapter on fisheries and likely to 
attract more attention under Slovenia's EU presidency.  PM 
Sanader publicly promised talks with EU neighbors to find a 
way forward and welcomed Slovene FM Rupel's comments putting 
the issue on hold pending formation of the new Croatian 
government.  Local media commentaries questioned Croatia's 
current ability to enforce the ZERP until a recently passed 
law on formation of a coast guard is fully implemented. 
 
 
WALKER