US embassy cable - 05ZAGREB986

UNCLAS ZAGREB 000986 
 
SIPDIS 
 
 
DEPARTMENT FOR PM/DTCC  BLUE LANTERN COORDINATOR 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: ETTC, KOMC, HR, Trade 
SUBJECT: BLUE LANTERN LEVEL 3: PRE-LICENSE END USE CHECK 
ON APPLICATION 05-960773 
 
REF: STATE 74240 
 
1.  POL and FCS officers visited Lovac Trgovina on 
June 8, 2005. Post recommends the approval of the 
application for export of Smith and Wesson revolvers to 
the firm. 
 
2.  Lovac Trgovina D.O.O. is a bona fide retail 
distribution firm of handguns and rifles in Croatia. The 
firm was founded in 1952 and purchased by its current 
owner, Mario Plejic, in 1995. The primary focus of 
business is the sale of hunting weapons and related gear 
within the Croatian civilian market as well as sales to 
Croatian law enforcement agencies. According to its 
owner, Lovac Trgovina is the leading sporting arms 
distributor in Croatia with an estimated annual turnover 
of USD 2 million and an estimated market share of 75 
percent. 
 
3.  Lovac Trgovina's order of 38 revolvers is consistent 
with their current sales focus. As stated on the 
application, the firm offices and store are located in 
Zagreb. Post officers inspected the firm office, store, 
weapons storage facilities, and record-keeping 
processes. The firm has secure storage facilities and 
detailed record keeping procedures as required by 
Croatian law. Lovac Trgovina maintains detailed 
permanent records of all purchasers. Under Croatian law, 
individuals must present a valid permit issued by the 
Ministry of Interior before purchasing a firearm and all 
individual weapons sales must be reported, complete with 
serial number, to police authorities. Lovac Trgovina's 
owner, Plejic, was well versed in USML restrictions 
regarding re-export and re-transfer of arms and is 
willing to comply accordingly. 
 
FRANK 
 
 
NNNN