US embassy cable - 04ZAGREB1367

C O N F I D E N T I A L  ZAGREB 001367 
 
SIPDIS 
 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/23/2014 
TAGS: PGOV, PREL, PARM, KNNP, MNUC, HR, Defense Reform (Mil & NATO) 
SUBJECT: CROATIA EAGER FOR MORE ACTIVE ROLE IN PSI 
 
REF: A. STATE 142212 
     B. ZAGREB 1245 
 
Classified By: EconOff Joshua Harris for reasons 1.5 (b&d). 
 
SUMMARY AND ACTION REQUEST 
-------------------------- 
 
1. (C) The GoC solidly supports the Proliferation Security 
Initiative (PSI).  In two recent meetings, key foreign 
ministry interlocuteurs have requested US views on modalities 
for intelligence sharing under PSI as well as US advice in 
organizing the GoC's own National PSI Coordinator Office. 
The GoC has also offered to participate or even host 
PSI-related military exercises either under the umbrella of 
the Adriatic Charter or as a broader regional exercise.  The 
GoC has also expressed interest in exploring bilateral 
boarding and non-overflight clearance agreements with the US. 
 Post requests Department guidance in responding to these 
offers for an expanded role for Croatia in the PSI. END 
SUMMARY AND ACTION REQUEST. 
 
HIGH-LEVEL SUPPORT SQUARELY BEHIND PSI 
-------------------------------------- 
 
2. (SBU) On July 22, Assistant Minister for Multilateral 
Affairs in the MFA Tomislav Vidosevic called acting PolEcon 
Chief to his office as a follow-on to reftels to express 
personally the GoC's eagerness to participate in PSI. 
Vidosevic affirmed that strengthening Croatia's involvement 
in PSI is a central task of this government as part of its 
objective to play a constructive role in the region. 
Vidosevic stressed that Croatia sees PSI as a clear step 
towards Euro-Atlantic integration, even as Croatia seeks to 
maintain its position within SE Europe. 
 
3. (C) Vidosevic said that the GoC is working to organize 
itself better to participate more fully in PSI, through 
improving horizontal communication among MFA, MinDef, MinFin, 
MinInt, and intelligence services.  He said he had invited 
senior Polish officials -- including the Polish National 
Coordinator for PSI -- to come to Zagreb in September for a 
"trilateral exchange of views" with US representation.  In 
response to our question on what type of US participation he 
envisioned, Vidosevic backed off, saying that he wanted to 
postpone a visit from Washington until more concrete 
preparations had been completed. 
 
4. (SBU) In response to our observation that PSI could meld 
well with Croatia's involvement in the Adriatic Charter 
regarding maritime issues and interdiction, Vidosevic 
suggested joint training exercises in the region could work 
within the A-3 framework.  He added that while the GoC was 
very keen to see the US included, he realized the initiative 
would have to come from the A-3 themselves. 
 
CROATIA TAKES STOCK OF PSI PROGRESS TO DATE 
------------------------------------------- 
 
5. (SBU) Prior to the Vidosevic meeting, on July 7 we took 
stock with Drazen Hrastic, Head of Department for Cooperative 
Security and GoC POC for PSI, of Croatia's progress to date 
on the five objectives outlined by U/S Bolton in Lisbon in 
April. 
 
6. (SBU) SUPPORT: Croatia has already issued a statement of 
support and remains enthusiastic for GoC participation in PSI. 
 
7. (C) LEGISLATION: Hrastic believes the legislative review 
could be conducted in parallel with Croatia's acquis 
implementation program in which police interdiction 
competencies could be extended in line with PSI guidelines. 
The MFA recently produced an internal policy document 
recommending both the establishment of an inter-ministerial 
body with authority over not just legislative review but 
day-to-day operations and closer cooperation with other PSI 
countries.  In terms of intelligence sharing, Hrastic asked 
how we would like to see intelligence resources reallocated 
within PSI. 
 
8. (SBU) CONTACT: Drazen Hrastic will be the working level 
PSI contact at least until an inter-agency coordination body 
is up and running.  The appropriate rank of a full-time PSI 
coordinator will be determined in collaboration with Poland 
and the U.S. 
 
9. (C) AGREEMENTS: GoC is prepared to consider both a 
boarding agreement and an overflight denial agreement and 
asked if we could produce any sample agreements previously 
concluded with other countries.  At the Vidosevic meeting, we 
responded that the US will likely focus efforts on concluding 
agreements with the most problematic flag-of-convenience 
countries as a first priority and that an agreement with 
Croatia would likely be considered in subsequent rounds of 
 
such negotiations.  Hrastic noted that Croatia could be of 
more assistance interdicting foreign-flagged vessels in 
Croatian territorial waters rather than Croatian-flagged 
vessels in international waters. 
 
10. (C) TRAINING: Croatia is willing to host an indiction 
training exercise both to further PSI participation but also 
to fulfill Croatia's MAP obligations.  Hrastic noted that 
Croatia will certainly observe any training exercises in the 
region but would like to participate if its capacity permits. 
 
 
COMMENT 
------- 
 
11. (C) Croatian participation in PSI clearly has solid 
high-level political support -- as Assistant Minister 
Vidosevic's meeting request demonstrates.  Yet dispite broad 
promises to press ahead with training exercises and 
interdiction agreements, Croatia may find its enthusiasm 
outstrips its resources.  As Hrastic himself summed it up: 
"It's not a question of willingness but capacity."  Within 
our larger priorities, we should tap this enthusiasm by 
seriously considering supporting any follow-up ideas 
presented by the GoC for hosting PSI-related exercises.  END 
COMMENT. 
FRANK 
 
 
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