US embassy cable - 04ZAGREB1665

UNCLAS ZAGREB 001665 
 
SIPDIS 
 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: MARR, HR, Defense Reform (Mil & NATO) 
SUBJECT: CROATIA CONTINUES ACTIVE INVOLVEMENT IN 
NATO PREPARATIONS THROUGH ADRIATIC CHARTER 
 
1.  CROATIA HAS ENGAGED ACTIVELY IN A NUMBER OF 
NATO-RELATED ACTIVITIES DURING ITS CHAIRMANSHIP OF 
THE ADRIATIC PARTNERSHIP COMMISSION (JULY-DECEMBER 
2004) AND HAS A FULL CALENDAR PLANNED FOR THE 
REMAINDER OF THE YEAR (SEE PARA 2 BELOW).   THE GOC 
KICKED OFF ITS CHAIRMANSHIP WITH AN INFORMAL 
PARTNERSHIP COMMISSION MINISTERIAL IN JULY (ATTENDED 
BY EUR DAS STEPHENS).  DESPITE THE EUROPE-WIDE 
AUGUST "LULL," THE GOC SENT PARTICIPANTS TO A LATE 
AUGUST " NATO AND SE EUROPE" SEMINAR ORGANIZED 
JOINTLY BY THE CROATIAN ATLANTIC COUNCIL AND THE 
NATO INFORMATION CENTER.  WORK CONTINUED THROUGHOUT 
THE SUMMER ON CROATIA'S STRATEGIC DEFENSE REVIEW, 
WHICH IS EXPECTED TO BE COMPLETE BY THE END OF THE 
YEAR.   IN ADDITION, THE DEFENSE MINISTRY CONTINUES 
TO PLAN FOR A-3 EXERCISES TO BE HELD IN FALL 2004 
AND 2005. 
 
2.  CALENDAR OF NATO/ADRIATIC CHARTER RELATED EVENTS 
THROUGH DECEMBER 2004: 
 
-- 30 SEP NATO TEAM IN ZAGREB TO REVIEW AND COMMENT 
ON STRATEGIC DEFENSE REVIEW 
 
-- 30 SEPT - 2 OCT  U.S.-ADRIATIC CHARTER DEFENSE 
CHIEFS OF STAFF ON BRIUNI JOINED BY DEFENSE CHIEFS 
OF STAFF OF ITALY, HUNGARY, SLOVENIA, BOSNIA- 
HERZEGOVINA AND SERBIA-MONTENEGRO 
 
-- 3-15 OCT ADRIATIC PHIBLEX NAVAL EXERCISE IN 
CROATIAN WATERS WITH A-3 PARTNERS 
 
-- 15 OCT U.S.-ADRIATIC CHARTER FOREIGN AFFAIRS 
MINISTERS MEETING, JOINED BY FOREIGN AFFAIRS 
MINISTERS OF  BOSNIA -HERZEGOVINA AND SERBIA- 
MONTENEGRO IN OHRID, MACEDONIA 
 
-- 18-29 OCT ADRIATIC SHIELD AIR EXERCISE IN CROATIA 
WITH A-3 PARTNERS 
 
-- 21 OCT  ANNUAL NATIONAL PLAN REVIEW IN BRUSSELS 
BY SENIOR POLITICAL COMMITTEE- REINFORCED 
 
-- 29-31 OCTOBER U.S.-ADRIATIC CHARTER /NATO PUBLIC 
RELATIONS STRATEGIES DEVELOPMENT WORKSHOP (DETAILS 
STILL BEING WORKED OUT BY MFA) 
 
-- 12-14 NOV U.S.-ADRIATIC PARTNERSHIP COMMISSION 
MINISTERIA IN OPATIJA (MINISTERS OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS 
OF THE CHARTER COUNTRIES), JOINED BY NATO SECRETARY 
GENERAL, THE FOREIGN MINISTERS OF 
NEIGHBORING/REGIONAL NATO MEMBER-COUNTRIES (ITALY, 
SLOVENIA, HUNGARY, ROMANIA, BULGARIA, GREECE, 
TURKEY) AND FOREIGN MINISTERS OF BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA 
AND SERBIA-MONTENEGRO (A FULL LIST OF PARTICIPANTS 
TBC) 
 
NOVEMBER/DECEMBER IN ZAGREB:  MEETING OF THE 
PRESIDENTS AND MEMBERS OF THE PARLIAMENTARY 
DELEGATIONS TO THE NATO PARLIAMENTARY ASSEMBLY 
 
13-17 DECEMBER IN SKOPJE: A-3 JOINT CONTACT TEAM 
PROGRAM EVENT 
 
FRANK 
 
 
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