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DE RUEHVB #0739/01 2971315
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 231315Z OCT 08
FM AMEMBASSY ZAGREB
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 8713
INFO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC PRIORITY
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC PRIORITY

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 ZAGREB 000739 
 
SIPDIS 
 
FOR EUR/SCE, EUR/PPD, EUR/RPM AND EUR/ERA 
OSD FOR POPOVICH 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PREL PGOV ECON PHUM KPAO HR
SUBJECT: ZAGREB WEEKLY ACTIVITY REPORT - OCTOBER 23, 2008 
 
¶1. (U) FIFTH, SIXTH (AND SEVENTH?) NATO ALLIES APPROVE 
ACCESSION PROTOCOL: 
The parliaments in Poland and Romania approved NATO Accession 
Protocols for Croatia and Albania on 
October 21.  The votes made them the fifth and sixth NATO 
member states to approve the Protocols. 
Croatian Parliament President Luka Bebic is in Sofia on 
October 23, where the Bulgarian Parliament 
is expected to give its assent to the Protocols today. 
(PD'Amico) 
 
¶2. (U) CROATIA HOSTS GLOBAL EXPORT CONTROL AND BORDER 
SECURITY CONFERENCE: 
Croatia hosted the "9th International Export Control 
Conference" in Cavtat 20 - 22 October 2008.  The 
conference was co-sponsored by the U.S. Export Control and 
Related Border Security Program.  GoC and U.S. 
representatives welcomed over 200 participants and speakers 
drawn from 65 countries to the event addressing 
the latest trends and challenges facing export control and 
border security practitioners.  Cable to follow. 
(CRhoton) 
 
¶3. (U) TWO CROATIAN COLONELS INDICTED FOR WAR CRIMES: 
The District Attorney in Bjelovar filed indictments this week 
against Colonel Ivan Husnjak and 
retired Colonel Goran Sokol for crimes against civilians. 
The two, among the highest ranking 
officers from the Croatian forces to be charged for any 
crimes during the "Homeland War", are charged 
with command responsibility for failing to prevent their 
subordinates from perpetrating crimes 
during the fighting.  Following the liberation of the 
Orahovica area in Slavonia in December 1991, 
Colonel Ivan Husnjak issued an order on January 31, 1992 for 
the "clearing" of terrain in the 
villages of Pusine and Slatinski Drenovac, after which 
several Serb homes were set on fire. (CZimmer) 
 
¶4.  (U) GOVERNMENT HOLDS CONFERENCE AND INFORMATION FAIR ON 
TRAFFICKING IN PERSONS: 
On Friday, October 17, the International Organization for 
Migration (IOM) and the Croatian Ministry for 
Foreign Affairs and European Integration organized a one day 
conference entitled "The Role of Diplomatic 
Personnel in Combating Trafficking in Human Beings."  The 
results of a joint capacity building project 
between IOM and the ministry were presented at the 
conference.  The project trained 17 diplomatic and 
consular staff who further trained 60 colleagues on issues 
related to trafficking in persons.  Additionally, 
the project produced information brochures in 5 different 
languages designed to help assist foreigners, 
visa seekers, Croatian travelers and potential TIP victims. 
The project also produced a handbook and 
curriculum for Croatia's Diplomatic Academy for further 
education on TIP issues.  In addition to 
representatives from the diplomatic community, high level 
officials from the Croatian government, including 
the Minister of Justice and the State Secretary in the 
Ministry of Foreign Affairs, were in attendance 
and stressed that a strong political will exists in Croatia 
to fight TIP.  Friday's conference was followed 
by an outdoor information fair held in the heart of Zagreb on 
Saturday, October 18 to mark EU Anti-Trafficking 
Day.  Organized by the Government's Human Rights Office and 
related NGOs, the event aimed to raise public 
awareness about the threat of TIP.  Croatia's Deputy Prime 
Minister and head of the national committee on the 
prevention of trafficking in humans, Jadranka Kosor, was 
present and spoke of the problems Croatia faces 
regarding TIP.  In addition to information booths and 
informative leaflets there were also music and dance 
performances. (VDjukic/JNCallahan) 
 
¶5.  (U) SPECIAL ENVOY FOR HOLOCAUST ISSUES VISITS CROATIA: 
Special Envoy for Holocaust Issues, Christian Kennedy, 
visited Zagreb from October 17-20 and met with 
representatives from the local Jewish communities, State 
Secretary Drazen Bosnjakovic at the Ministry of 
Justice, and the Minister of Culture, Bozo Biskupic. 
Ambassador Kennedy reminded the government of its 
obligation to resolve outstanding restitution claims for 
Jewish property and assets from World War II and 
the communist era.  He also stressed the importance of 
maintaining Jewish gravesites and advocated the 
quick construction of a Jewish synagogue in Zagreb.  Cable to 
follow. (JNCallahan) 
 
ZAGREB 00000739  002 OF 003 
 
 
 
¶6. (U) GOC PRESENTS SEVENTH AND FINAL NATO MEMBERSHIP ACTION 
PLAN (MAP) PROGRAM: 
On October 16, officials from the MFA and MOD presented 
Croatia's Annual National Program for implementing 
its MAP for 2008/2009 to NATO's Senior Political Committee. 
MFA officials told post their presentation of 
Croatia's seventh and final MAP cycle went well.  In a press 
statement, the MFA noted that NATO Allies had 
welcomed Croatia's level of readiness to participate in 
Alliance activities, and had confirmed that Croatia 
contributes to peace and security in the Euro-Atlantic 
region.  (PD'Amico) 
 
¶7.  (U) EUR/SCE DESK OFFICER VISITS ZAGREB: 
New Croatia desk officer Cathy Westley visited Croatia from 
October 13-18 for an orientation visit.  The visit 
included a trip to the Slavonian cities of Osijek and Vukovar 
to discuss progress in that region on post-war 
reconstruction and ethnic reconciliation, and a set of 
meetings in Zagreb covering the range of issues on our 
bilateral agenda.  Top priorities expressed by the Croatian 
officials were completing the NATO accession process, 
strengthening economic ties, and moving toward qualification 
for the Visa Waiver Program. 
(RHoltzapple) 
 
¶8. (U) U.S. OLYMPIC TAEKWONDO STARS CONDUCT CLINICS AND MEET 
WITH STUDENTS: 
Steven Lopez, a three-time Olympian and two-time Olympic gold 
medalist and his brother, Jean Lopez, the U.S. 
National and Olympic Taekwondo coach, visited Zagreb, October 
9-14, 2008.  During their visit, the Lopez 
brothers conducted training for over 120 taekwondo students 
from Croatia and neighboring countries, 
including the Croatian national team.  Having earned two of 
Croatia's Olympic medals in Beijing, the Croatian 
team has recently received considerable public attention.  In 
addition to conducting clinics, the Lopez brothers 
met with high-school students in Zagreb and the city of 
Krapina.  Both Jean and Stephen Lopez inspired their 
audiences, emphasizing that hard work, commitment, 
responsibility and respect were the keys to their success and 
encouraging students to pursue their dreams.  The Lopez 
brothers also talked about the sacrifices they made 
to achieve the American dream and about their siblings, Mark 
and Diana, who won silver and bronze medals 
respectively in Taekwondo at the 2008 Olympic games in 
Beijing.  The Lopez brothers held a press conference 
at the Drazen Petrovic Museum which generated both television 
and print coverage of the visit. (KWetzel) 
 
¶9. (U) CROATIAN PARLIAMENT BANS SMOKING IN PUBLIC PLACES: 
On October 17, the Croatian parliament passed a law banning 
smoking in most public places, including offices, 
bars, restaurants, coffee shops, schools and health care 
facilities. Schools and health care facilities must 
implement the ban later this month, after the law is 
published in the National Gazette, while the law gives 
other institutions a six-month grace period. Only psychiatric 
clinics are exempt from the ban. The law also 
requires cigarette packets to display a warning about the 
harmful effects of smoking and bans the direct and 
indirect promotion of tobacco products. According to surveys, 
about 30 percent of Croatians are smokers. The 
Ministry of Health reports that about 10,000 Croatians die 
annually from smoking, and another 3000-4000 because 
of second-hand smoke. (SLitke) 
 
¶10.  (U) DHS REPRESENTATIVES PRESENT CTPAT PROGRAM TO 
CROATIAN EXPORTERS: 
The embassy and Croatian Chamber of Economy hosted two U.S. 
Customs and Border Protection supply chain 
security specialists for a presentation on the Customs Trade 
Partnership Against Terrorism (CTPAT) program, on 
Oct. 20.  Approximately two dozen Croatian exporters and 
government representatives attended the program, which 
also included a short presentation introducing DHS and its 
dual mission of protecting borders and facilitating 
trade.  Private sector companies in attendance included: a 
steel manufacturer, a bottled water exporter, a 
producer of boating equipment, an international freight 
forwarder, and a producer of photographic equipment 
and materials, among others.  U.S. importers who are part of 
the program receive reduced inspections at the 
border if they can show that their international suppliers 
meet various security criteria including: 
adequate physical security procedures for facilities and 
 
ZAGREB 00000739  003 OF 003 
 
 
shipments, proper employee identification 
procedures, and regular training of personnel on security. 
(DWestfall) 
Bradtke