US embassy cable - 05ZAGREB1181

UNCLAS ZAGREB 001181 
 
SIPDIS 
 
 
DEPT FOR PRM: TTARGOS 
DEPT FOR EUR/SCE: DROBINSON 
BELGRADE FOR DSALAZAR 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PREF, HR, Refugee, Minorities 
SUBJECT: Addendum Nomination for Ambassador's Refugee Fund 2005 
 
REF: (A) STATE 27113 (B) Zagreb 246 (C) Selinger-Targos email 
 
1. Post appreciates allocation of funds for two projects under 
PRM's Ambassador Refugee Fund.  As per ref C, the refugee 
collective center in which an approved project was to be held 
will be closed by the GOC.  Post is re-sending an alternative 
proposal and requests funding instead be allocated to this 
project.  The project was identified in consultation with 
UNHCR and others. 
 
DONJI LAPAC PLAYROOM (USD 5000) 
 
2. Background: The entire municipality of Lapac 
(354 square km, 2,300 inhabitants) previously had 
no functioning kindergartens until the Red Cross and Red 
Crescent established a playroom in 2003.  The playroom 
is situated in a reconstructed building that was a 
destroyed high school.  In 2004, the Norwegian 
Refugee Council (NRC) financed the playroom but 
will discontinue funding in June 2005 for financial 
reasons.  The playroom has proven able to fill the 
gap of a proper kindergarten. 
 
3. Location Profile: Before the war, Donji Lapac 
was about 95% ethnic Serb.  Most residents left 
during the conflict and the region was severely 
destroyed.  The region is now a mixed community: 
an estimated 75% of the population is ethnic Serb 
while the remaining 25% is ethnic Croat (mostly 
Bosnian Croat settlers) 
 
4. Recipient: Croatian Red Cross' branch office 
would supervise. 
 
5. Project: As no kindergarten or playroom facility 
exists in the region, this facility serves as a 
valuable resource for the community.  Currently 
34 children are enrolled - 20 Croats (from settler 
families) and 14 Serbs (from returnee families). 
The playroom ethnic breakdown is the opposite to 
that of the ethnic structure in the Lapac municipality 
due to the fact that most Serb returnees are elderly 
and Bosnian Croat residents are usually young families. 
 
6. Use of Funds: Funds would cover a teacher's salary 
to work part-time (four hours daily), including pension 
and health contributions.  The current teacher is a 
social worker and has received praise from previous 
donors.  The municipality pays for utility costs. 
Public Diplomacy: Post would highlight its support 
for an underdeveloped, war-affected region. 
 
FRANK 
 
 
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