VZCZCXRO2944
PP RUEHIK
DE RUEHVB #0754 3561419
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 221419Z DEC 09
FM AMEMBASSY ZAGREB
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 9761
INFO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE PRIORITY

UNCLAS ZAGREB 000754 
 
SIPDIS 
SENSITIVE 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PGOV PREL HR
SUBJECT: Zagreb Daily Report - December 22, 2009 
 
¶1. (U) Croatia closes two more EU Chapters: Croatia closed two more 
policy chapters in its accession negotiations with the European 
Union in Brussels on Monday, December 21 and has now closed 17 out 
of 33 chapters. Croatia closed negotiations on chapter 3 "Right of 
Establishment and Freedom to Provide Services" and chapter 19 
"Social Policy and Employment" at a ministerial accession 
conference.  There was further indication that three additional 
chapters-chapter 9 "Financial Services", chapter 15 "Energy", and 
chapter 28 "Consumer and Health Protection"-would be ready to be 
closed by the next ministerial conference which is likely to be held 
in February.  Three chapters that have been technically ready for 
opening for some time-"Foreign, Security and Defense Policy," 
"Environment" and "Fisheries"-were not closed at today's conference 
due to lack of consent from Slovenia.  Croatian Foreign Affairs and 
European Integration Minister Gordan Jandrokovic voiced his belief 
that Slovenia will provide its consent to the chapters it held up by 
the next accession conference and that Croatia's accession 
negotiations would be wrapped up in 2010. 
 
¶2. (U) Kosor questions Kalmeta's responsibility after train crash: 
After yesterday's passenger train crash, the third railway incident 
in less than six months, press reported that Prime Minister Kosor 
contacted Transport Minister Bozidar Kalmeta, who is  in charge of 
rail transport and is also the chairman of the HZ national railway 
operator Supervisory Board, and allegedly raised the issue of his 
responsibility.  Speaking for HRT RADIO on Monday, Kosor hinted that 
Kalmeta would be asked to resign, saying that,  "When a string [of 
problems] lines up within any minister's portfolio, it is normal to 
talk about responsibility."  She further stated that they "talked 
about it and will probably reach a final decision today or tomorrow. 
 This is something that I feel should be brought in line with the 
common practice everywhere in the world."  Asked by the press about 
his resignation, Kalmeta said he was "thinking about everything now, 
including a resignation".  Kalmeta also offered his resignation 
after the railroad accident near Kastela  last summer, when nine 
people were killed, but Kosor refused it at the time. 
 
¶3. (U) Croatia can continue searching for the missing artillery 
logs: The panel of judges at the ICTY tribunal ruled in a written 
decision that although Croatia can continue searching for missing 
artillery logs, the investigation of seized documents and computers, 
which may contain information covered by the attorney-client 
privilege, belonging to Gotovina's team members must be suspended. 
However, the court rejected the defense's request to ban any future 
Croatian investigations into the defense team.  The panel of judges 
also ruled that the investigation of the defense's Marin Ivanovic 
can continue albeit in a limited fashion. 
 
¶4. (U) Delay in privatization of shipyards: The European Commission 
has permitted a delay in publication of the second round of shipyard 
privatization tenders. Originally scheduled to be released on 
January 6, the EC has approved the second tender be published 
sometime at the start of February.  The EC Office for Market 
Competition has also agreed to allow the second tender, which was 
supposed to be only 30 days,  to last for 60 days, the same as the 
initial one last summer. 
 
¶5. (U) Regional Security Office visits neighboring cities: Between 
the dates of December 2 - 18, the Regional Security Officer (RSO) 
and Assistant Regional Security Officer (ARSO) from Zagreb visited 
Croatian Police Commanders in Zagreb, Sisak, and Varazdin.  All 
officials stated that the current economic situation has not 
resulted in an increase in crime; however, there has been an 
increase in domestic violence incidents, which they attribute to the 
current economic challenges.  RSO/ARSO expressed the desire to build 
on the solid foundation of joint cooperation in law enforcement 
matters.  Concurrently, department officials expressed their 
gratitude for the Embassy's support for police reform, and look 
forward to continued cooperation and liaising. 
 
 
WALKER