Cablegate: Blue Lantern Update for Croatia

This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.

UNCLAS ZAGREB 001846

SIPDIS

DEPARTMENT FOR PM/DTCC-BLUE LANTERN COORDINATOR
VIENNA FOR DHS - FLANAGAN

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ETTC KOMC HR NATO
SUBJECT: BLUE LANTERN UPDATE FOR CROATIA

REF: STATE 205022

1. Embassy Zagreb's principal Blue Lantern contact is
Pol-Mil Officer Justin Friedman, tel 385-1-661-2341, fax
385-1-661-2178, email: friedmanj@state.gov. Friedman is
expected to depart post in July 2006.

2. Embassy Zagreb uses a team approach for its Blue Lantern
checks. Oversight of the Blue Lantern process is carried out
by the DCM. Post's Defense Attache Office and Office of
Defense Cooperation actively participate in Blue Lantern
checks, as does the FCS office, when appropriate. DHS
provides regional coverage out of Vienna. Post has a record
of carrying out Blue Lantern checks within thirty days after
receipt.

3. The environment in which post implements the Blue Lantern
Program continues to improve. As a serious aspirant for an
invitation to join NATO, the GoC has continued to improve
official controls over the trade in weapons and munitions.
Croatia is seeking membership in most of the formal major
arms control mechanisms (MTCR, Waasenaar) while establishing
interagency mechanisms to improve internal coordination and
control over arms sales. Post's Office of Defense
Cooperation maintains active relationships with most
potential recipients of U.S. ) origin defense articles and
services sold commercially. Legitimate dealers and several
of Croatia's arms manufacturers have entered into cooperative
commercial relationships with U.S. firms and are eager to
cooperate with Blue Lantern checks.

DELAWIE

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