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Cablegate: Exbs: Croatia/Slovakia/Slovenia Advisor Monthly

VZCZCXRO6728
RR RUEHDBU
DE RUEHVB #0949/01 2221033
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 101033Z AUG 06
FM AMEMBASSY ZAGREB
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 6498
RHFJUSC/HQS US CUSTOMS SERVICE WASHDC
RUEAHLC/HOMELAND SECURITY CENTER WASHINGTON DC
RHEBAAA/USDOE WASHDC
RUCPDOC/USDOC WASHDC
RULSSGG/COMDT COGARD WASHINGTON DC
INFO RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC
RHEBAAA/USDOE/NNSA WASHDC
RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHDC
RUCNEXC/EXRBS COLLECTIVE

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ZAGREB 000949

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR NP/ECC PVANSON, ACHURCH AND JMCCLELLAN; DEPT FOR
EUR/ACE DMARTIN; CBP/INA FOR PWARKER; USDOE/NNSA FOR
TPERRY; DOC FOR PETERSEN-BEARD

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ETTC MNUC PARM PREL KSTC KNNP HR LO SI
SUBJECT: EXBS: CROATIA/SLOVAKIA/SLOVENIA ADVISOR MONTHLY
REPORTING CABLE - JULY 2006

1. SITE ASSESSMENTS AND MEETINGS

----17-18 JULY, CONDUCTED CONSULTATIONS IN WASHINGTON, DC
WITH NP/ECC TO COORDINATE PLANNING OF 2006/2007,
ASSISTANCE PLAN FOR CROATIA, SLOVAKIA, SLOVENIA AND
PERIMETERS OF REQUESTED TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE AND SUPPORT
TO HUNGARY.

Croatia

----21 July, met with UNDP Chief Technical Advisor for
Small Arms Control to review and discuss the completed
draft of their sponsored evaluation of Croatia's Export
Control development. The document 's content,
developed by an NGO contractor, presented an
inconsistent and contradictory perspective highly
critical of Croatia's achievements and ongoing efforts
to comply with international WMD and conventional
weapons export controls. The report failed to offer
sufficient evidence to substantiate the perceived
deficiencies. The recommendations offered were notable
only to the extent of generally concurring with
recognized points previously made by the international
community and forming the focus of EXBS assistance to
Croatia. In general however, the report's conclusions
and recommendations did not appear mutually supportive.
It was agreed that official release of the report would
be held in abeyance until all content had been
reevaluated and rewritten with supportive corroborated
conclusions.

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----24 July, met with MFA International Security
Department Head, at their request, to discuss the UNDP
draft Arms Control Assessment apparently offered to the
MFA for evaluation. The MFA was very distressed by the
report's perceived content and tone, described as
inflammatory, accusatory, and inaccurate with conclusions
lacking in supportive evidence. There was concern that
if passed to other Ministerial staff for proper review,
as an official document, it might generate disruptive
reactions and repercussions. In discussion of the
issues, MFA was briefed on the meeting between EXBS and
UNDP and their mutual agreement that UNDP would review
and revise the report prior to official release. MFA
thereupon decided to consider the UNDP document as a
working study paper, to be held in abeyance pending
release and receipt of the official Assessment Report by
UNDP.

----25-31 July, held successive meetings with UNDP Chief
Technical Advisor and the MFA International Security
Department Head to discuss methods and options for timely
achievement of established Arms Control goals
(conventional and WMD). It was agreed by both sides that
the revision and development process of the Dual-Use and
Munitions legislation was the most pressing goal but
would require outside assistance in order to have the
decrees ready for review and approval by the end of 2006.
It was further agreed that MFA would support and promote
the importance of supporting this undertaking to the
Ministry of Economy and other involved government
offices. UNDP agreed to determine availability of
funding support to contribute to EXBS efforts to sponsor
an experienced contractor to assist with the process.

Slovakia

----During the month of July, meetings previously
scheduled by EXBS were held with both MOE Head of
Sensitive Goods Licensing Section and Customs through the
assistance of Embassy Bratislava Pol/ECON. The MOE
meeting covered issues including developing and
scheduling a "Best Practices" session with Hungarian MOE,
expected changes to MOE administration under the newly
elected government and the process of the Tracker network
system upgrade. The meeting with the DG of the Slovak
Customs Directorate focused on the status of the "Portal
Monitors replacement project". According to the Customs
DG they plan to incorporate replacement of the monitors

ZAGREB 00000949 002 OF 002


in a large borders reconstruction project, which is to be
realized in 2007. Customs sent the final version of the
MOU (already agreed by Customs' lawyers) to the DG for
Energy and Transport at the European Commission for
review.

2. TRAINING

Slovenia

----19-20 July, The third in a series of ICP workshops
was held in Ljubljana attended by 14 Slovenian industry
representatives along with government officials from the
Ministry of Economy, Customs Administration, National
Chemicals Bureau, and Slovenian Nuclear Safety
Administration. The workshop outcome was positive with
indications of increased support from the Ministry of
Economy.

DELAWIE

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