US embassy cable - 04LJUBLJANA1088

UNCLAS  LJUBLJANA 001088 
 
SIPDIS 
 
 
DEPARTMENT FOR EUR/NCE TRIM AND NP/ECC MCCLELLAN 
CBP/INA FOR WLAWRENCE 
VIENNA FOR ICE ATTACHE 
ZAGREB FOR JFRIEDMAN 
USDOE/NNSA FOR TPERRY 
 
E.O. 12958:N/A 
TAGS: ETTC, MNUC, PARM, PREL, KSTC, KNNP, HR, SI 
SUBJECT: EXBS: SLOVENIA AND CROATIA PROGRAM ADVISOR MONTHLY 
REPORTING CABLE-NOVEMBER 2004 
 
 
1.  SUMMARY: Passports were received from Slovenia and visas 
granted for the Washington Department of Commerce (DOC) 
workshop in December.  Three members of the Slovenian 
Government and three from Croatia attended the London Export 
Conference.  The University of Georgia (UGA) conducted a 
Slovenian export assessment.  Two National Control List 
workshops and Seaport training were conducted in Croatia. 
Shield America (ICP) training was conducted in Ljubljana. 
Discussions continue regarding the formation of a newly 
created Croatian Coast Guard. 
 
Slovenia 
 
I.  BROAD ITEMS OF INTEREST TO ADVISORS AND AGENCY MANAGERS 
 
A.  None 
 
II. COMPLETED ACTIONS FOR THE REPORTING PERIOD. 
 
A.  SITE ASSESSMENTS AND MEETINGS DURING THE REPORTING 
PERIOD. 
1.  The University of Georgia conducted an assessment of 
EXBS in Slovenia during November 1-6, 2004.  The initial 
feedback from the personnel conducting this assessment was 
quite positive.  There has been definite and measurable 
progress within Slovenia. 
 
2.  Visas were issued and final travel arrangements were 
made for the eight senior Slovenian officials traveling to 
Washington for the Department of Commerce International 
Visitors Program. This program will take place in Washington 
from December 6 to 10, 2004. 
 
3.  Three senior Slovenian officials attended the London 
Export Conference November 8-10, 2004 and reported that they 
considered it a valuable forum. 
 
4.  On November 3, meeting was held with the Slovenian 
Nuclear Safety Administration.  Efforts are underway to 
locate all sources of ionizing radiation in Slovenia that 
may have been lost during the transition to independence. 
Several significant sources have been recovered in the last 
few months and it is hoped that all significant sources will 
be located within the next six months. 
 
5.  Meetings were also held with the Chamber of Commerce 
(Defense Industry Association), Customs and Police regarding 
the impact of adoption of the European Commission Control 
List.  Military use items appear to be well controlled, but 
licensing for dual use items is still in a learning mode. 
More companies appear to have the ability to produce dual 
use items then had originally been thought. 
 
6.  On November 30, a Law Enforcement reception was held at 
the Ambassadors residence in Ljubljana.  The purpose of the 
reception was to honor graduates of a recent ILEA course in 
Budapest.  Most EXBS Law Enforcement contacts were present. 
 
B.  TRAINING CONDUCTED DURING THE REPORTING PERIOD. 
 
1.  Shield America (ICP) training was held in Ljubljana 
November 16-18, 2004.  The workshop was well received by the 
participants. 
 
EQUIPMENT DELIEVERD DURING THE TRAINING PERIOD. 
 
1. None. 
 
IMMINENT TRAINING OR EQUIPMENT STATUS UPDATE. 
 
1.  None. 
 
SIGNIFICANT DEVELOPMENTS IN EXPORT CONTROLS, NON 
PROLIFERATION, OR RELATED BORDER SECURITY. 
 
1.  None. 
 
III. RED FLAG ISSUES. 
 
1.  The movement of the EXBS office from Ljubljana to Zagreb 
requires the initiation of an NSDD-38.  Neither Embassy may 
 
 
proceed without this.  Leases in Ljubljana expire by the end 
of June 2005.  To avoid multiple ICASS charges, which can be 
significant, each Embassy requires six months notice.  The 
NSDD-38 request is required to start the six month clock 
ticking. 
 
CROATIA 
 
I.  BROAD ITEMS OF INTEREST TO ADVISORS AND AGENCY MANAGERS. 
 
A.  None. 
 
II.  COMPLETED ACTIONS FOR THE REPORTING PERIOD. 
 
A.  SITE ASSESSMENTS AND MEETINGS DURING REPORTING PERIOD. 
 
1.  The Zagreb Donors group met for their monthly meeting on 
November 23.  This was the EXBS Advisor's first meeting with 
this group, which is hosted by the OSCE.  Several people 
were present that are normally included in EXBS projects and 
it is anticipated that the EXBS Advisor will continue to 
attend these meetings.  A primary focus of the Croatian 
government is entrance into the European Union and many of 
the donor groups are associated with the European Union. 
Close contact between EXBS and these other donor groups is 
essential, not only to preclude duplication of effort, but 
also to insure that EXBS efforts not conflict with EU and 
Croatian goals regarding EU entrance for Croatia. 
 
2.  Further meetings were held with the Croatian Border 
Police regarding requests for assistance with the formation 
of the new Croatian Coast Guard.  The EXBS Advisor will be 
in Washington in January and will discuss these concerns. 
Additionally, a meeting was held with Colonel Roman Mikulic 
regarding the eventual outcome of which agency will actually 
have the new Coast Guard.  It was the Colonel's belief that 
it would be a shared service, using naval vessels, for 
several years, but eventually would be solely civilian under 
the Ministry of Interior Police. 
 
3.  Three senior Croatian officials attended the November 
London Export Conference, but there as yet has been no 
feedback from them to EXBS. 
 
B.  TRAINING CONDUCTED DURING THE REPORTING PERIOD. 
 
1. November 7-12, Seaport training was held for the Croatian 
Customs and Police in Opatija and Rijeka, Croatia.  The 
training was very popular with the attendance of 31 people; 
six more then had originally been anticipated.  The Rijeka 
Customs equivalent of a CBP Contraband Enforcement Team was 
so professional that the U.S. instructors recommend that 
they attend advanced training in Newark, New Jersey. 
 
2.  A National Control List (NCL) training session for 
government licensing officials was held in Zagreb November 
15-18.  The training was well attended and addressed many 
concerns held by the officials anticipating the January 1, 
2005, implementation of the Croatian NCL. 
 
3.  An NCL course for industry was held November 29-30 in 
Zagreb.  This course was also well attended and the 
participation of the attendees was particularly 
enthusiastic.  Based on the number of questions regarding 
what companies will have to comply with the new law and how 
to do so, it is anticipated that there will be requests for 
additional courses after the law takes effect January 1, 
2005. 
 
C.  EQUIPMENT DELIVERED DURING THE REPORTING PERIOD. 
 
1.  Six CT-30 kits containing fiber-optic scopes and density 
meters were delivered to the Croatian Customs Service at the 
conclusion of the training held in Opatija-Rijeka November 
12, 2004. 
 
D.  IMMINENT TRAINING OR EQUIPMENT STATUS UPDATE. 
 
1.  December 14-17, 2004.  Targeting and Risk Management to 
be held in Zagreb. 
 
 
2.   January 17-19, 2005.  PASS (Passive Acoustic Signature 
System) training to be held in Zagreb. 
 
E.  SIGNIFICANT DEVELOPMENTS IN EXPORT CONTROLS, NON 
PROLIFERATION, OR RELATED BORDER SECURITY. 
 
1.  None. 
 
III. RED FLAG ITEMS. 
 
1.  The same concerns listed in the Slovenian Red Flag 
Issues, regarding the transfer of the EXBS office from 
Slovenia to Croatia. 
 
ROBERTSON 
 
 
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