Cablegate: Blue Latern: Post-Shipment End Use Check On

VZCZCXYZ0011
RR RUEHWEB

DE RUEHVB #0648 3071424
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 031424Z NOV 09
FM AMEMBASSY ZAGREB
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 9624
INFO RUCPDOC/DEPT OF COMMERCE WASHDC
RUETIAA/DIRNSA FT GEORGE G MEADE MD
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC
RHMFIUU/FBI WASHDC
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC

UNCLAS ZAGREB 000648

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

PLEASE PASS TO EUR/SCE AND PM/DTCC BLUE LANTERN COORDINATOR

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ETTC KOMC HR
SUBJECT: BLUE LATERN: POST-SHIPMENT END USE CHECK ON
LICENSE 050156644

REF: STATE 89198

1. (SBU) In an October 14 meeting between poloff and
officials from the Croatian MOD, Zdravko Milak from the
Material Resources Department confirmed that the Ministry had
ordered and received the 4 Sig Model 556 rifles and 20
magazines mentioned in reftel. He noted that the MOD had not
yet received the 1,000 rounds of ammunition due to delays on
getting approval for the ammunition to leave the United
States. Milak said the Ministry had ordered the rifles to do
a live firing demonstration sometime likely in November and
provided poloff with copies of the relevant paper work.
Milak also said that the MOD did not pay any brokering fees
for the items. Milak noted that due to recent changes in the
Croatian market, more Croatian firms would likely have a role
in importing defense articles for the first time. On October
29, the MFA's International Security Department also reported
that it had no negative information about Dentonex D.O.O.

2. (SBU) In an October 23 meeting with Nevenko Galic, General
Manager of Dentonex, he confirmed that the company had
received the 4 Sig Model 556 riles and the 20 magazines and
then passed them to the MOD. He also said that there were
transportation problems with the ammunition on the U.S. side,
but that it should be arriving soon. Dentonex was founded in
1994 and Galic was the sole owner. After the meeting, Galic
provided paper work to demonstrate that he had passed the
weapons to the MOD, which matched up with the papers from the
Ministry. He said that Dentonex would participate in a test
of the rifles for the MOD planned for the end of November and
that his firm had not received or paid any commissions during
the course of this transaction. Galic also said that he
would contact post when Dentonex received the ammunition from
the United States.

3. (SBU) COMMENT: Post did not discover information while
responding to this request that raised concerns about the
entities involved. Croatia, as a NATO ally and ISAF
contributor, has a close security relationship with the
United States. The Croatian MOD has high standards of
professionalism and enjoys a strong track record of properly
handling U.S. military items and technology.
FOLEY

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