VZCZCXRO2545
PP RUEHIK
DE RUEHVB #0012 0071329
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 071329Z JAN 10
FM AMEMBASSY ZAGREB
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 9789
INFO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC PRIORITY
RHEFDIA/DIA WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC PRIORITY

UNCLAS ZAGREB 000012 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PREL PGOV HR
SUBJECT: ZAGREB DAILY REPORT: JANUARY 7, 2010 
 
¶1. (U) RULING COALITION SUPPORTS PM KOSOR: Following its 
decision to expel former PM Ivo Sanader from party 
membership, the Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ) leadership 
headed by Prime Minister and party president Jadranka Kosor 
met January 5 with its coalition partners, the Croatian 
Peasant Party (HSS), the Croatian Social Liberal Party 
(HSLS), and the Independent Democratic Serb Party (SDSS). 
All participants expressed faith in the stability of the 
ruling coalition, and PM Kosor stated that the coalition was 
"stronger than ever."  HSS president Josic Friscic said that 
Kosor has shown the HDZ had only one president, and the new 
president of the HSLS, Darinko Kosor, noted that much more 
important issues now awaited the government.  Milorad Pupovac 
of the SDSS said that no one should seek to destabilize the 
government at this point, but he added that the government 
should revise its program and "liberate itself from the 
legacy of old coalition agreements."  A meeting of the ruling 
coalition is expected to take place within two weeks to 
discuss proposals from coalition partners about the future 
functioning of the government. 
 
¶2. (U) PRESIDENT MESIC COMMUTES SENTENCE OF CONTROVERSIAL WAR 
CRIMINALS: President Mesic reduced the sentence of Sinisa 
Rimac from eight to seven years for the illegal detention, 
abuse, and murder of Serb civilians in Pakracka Poljana in 
¶1991.  The original 1999 trial resulted in minimal sentences 
or acquittals for the six individuals on trial for the 1991 
war crimes, but a 2005 retrial ordered by the Supreme Court 
resulted in harsher punishments of three to 12 years for five 
of the defendants, including the eight year sentence for 
Rimac.  In a separate case, Rimac admitted to involvement in 
the killing of a Serb family in Zagreb, including a 
12-year-old girl, but all suspects were acquitted in a 1992 
trial due to procedural errors in the investigation.  Mesic's 
office has not yet issued an explanation for his decision to 
commute the sentence. 
WALKER