VZCZCXRO3663
RR RUEHDBU
DE RUEHVB #0321/01 0681436
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 091436Z MAR 06
FM AMEMBASSY ZAGREB
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 5825
RUEAORC/USCUSTOMS AND BORDER PROT WASHINGTON DC
RUEAHLC/HOMELAND SECURITY CENTER WASHINGTON DC
RHEBAAA/DEPT OF ENERGY WASHDC
RUCPDOC/USDOC WASHDC
RULSSGG/COMDT COGARD WASHINGTON DC
INFO RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC
RUEHLJ/AMEMBASSY LJUBLJANA 6331
RUEHSL/AMEMBASSY BRATISLAVA 0205
RHEBAAA/USDOE/NNSA WASHDC
RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHDC
RUCNEXC/EXRBS COLLECTIVE

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 05 ZAGREB 000321 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPT FOR NP/ECC PVANSON, ACHURCH, AMAGOULAS AND 
JMCCLELLAN; DEPT FOR EUR/ACE DMARTIN; CBP/INA FOR 
PWARKER; USDOE/NNSA FOR TPERRY; DOC FOR PETERSEN- 
BEARD 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: ETTC MNUC PARM PREL KSTC KNNP HR LO
SI 
SUBJECT: EXBS: CROATIA/SLOVAKIA/SLOVENIA ADVISOR 
MONTHLY REPORTING CABLE - FEB 2006 
 
¶1.  SITE ASSESSMENTS AND MEETINGS 
 
    Croatia 
    ----6 Feb, met with the General Director 
and Department Head of the State Office for 
Nuclear Safety (SONS).  The main focus of the 
meeting was to review responsibilities of the 
office (est. June 2005 per Art. 22 of the 
Nuclear Safety Act) and identify areas where 
EXBS assistance can contribute to professional 
capacity and effectiveness.  In overview, the 
office is responsible for implementation of the 
Act and regulations, all related record 
keeping, issuance of all nuclear and related 
activity and equipment licenses, and conducting 
safety inspections, analysis and certification 
of facilities where any form of nuclear 
activity is conducted to ensure compliance with 
all applicable Act provisions and regulations. 
 
The office voiced an eager desire to receive 
any NRC sponsored training applicable and 
responsive to improving their professionalism 
and effectiveness.  Although no personnel were 
available to attend the 2005 RADICAD training, 
members of this body have thus far, been 
included in WMD regulatory control training. 
It was further determined that their 
responsibilities dictate the need for radiation 
pagers and accompanying training. 
 
    ----7 and 14 Feb, met with Deputy Head of 
Border Police and Department Heads of Maritime 
Police to plan and coordinate the U.S. Coast 
Guard Assessment visit scheduled for 20-28 Feb. 
 
    ----7 Feb, met with representatives of 
Lockheed Martin (currently engaged in the 
development of Croatian MOD radars) to motivate 
discussion with the Coast Guard Assessment Team 
toward identifying technical problems and 
responsive solutions to MOD coastal radar 
support of MOI Maritime Police operations. 
 
    ----7 Feb, met with instructors for the 
U.S. Commerce sponsored Licensing Workshop 
scheduled for 8-10 Feb, to review training 
materials and verify arrangements for the 
session. 
 
    ----15 Feb, met with the Ministry of 
Finance Customs Directorate, Assistant Minister 
and Director General (DG) and the Assistant 
Director Generals (ADG) for International 
Cooperation and Anti-Smuggling to discuss the 
status of USG cooperation, particulary EXBS 
support.  Talking points focused upon 
encouraging completion of their Strategic Plan 
and associated mechanisms necessary to meet 
assigned EU goals and strengthen Croatia's role 
in support of international export control 
regimes. The offering of capacity building 
assistance and support through donations of 
specialized nonproliferation training and 
technical detection equipment was again 
extended in support of those aims.  The DG 
acknowledged that although these instruments 
had not yet been implemented, Customs did 
expect to meet that goal by the spring and 
would also welcome our equipment donation 
offerings.  The point was made clear that any 
offering carried an expectation that Customs 
would willingly make a more concerted effort to 
demonstrate measurable goal progression through 
the linkage of tactical deployments of 
 
ZAGREB 00000321  002 OF 005 
 
 
equipment with published strategic planning 
methodology.  The DG's concluding remarks were 
limited to gratitude for any donations, a 
general declaration of good will through 
contined coordination and cooperation with no 
commitments directed toward the specific points 
addressed. 
 
This meeting was significant in that it 
revealed an observed distinction in attitude 
between the DG and the ADGs.  This point was 
made clear in conversation at the conclusion of 
the meeting that the ADGs, unlike the DG, were 
predisposed toward a preference and desire for 
active EXBS cooperation and assistance but 
lacked the necessary decision making authority 
for any commitment.  A subsequent meeting with 
the Regional Head of Customs in Rijeka 
presented a similar point of view.  The Customs 
Rijeka official commented that he had been 
briefed on the content of the meeting with the 
DG in Zagreb.  He basically agreed that 
integration of the suggested points could offer 
greater progressive opportunity for 
international and EU harmonization of Customs 
responsibilities.  He stated he has long 
advocated adoption of a more progressive 
centralized enforcement and compliance driven 
Risk Management policy that offers more 
responsive and effective interdiction and 
revenue potential over the current 
decentralized revenue driven approach he sees 
as only marginally effective.  Following a 
scheduled meeting with relevant EU 
representatives in Zagreb to discuss and 
coordinate joint ongoing MOF (Customs) 
international assistance, a subsequent meeting 
with Customs will be scheduled to address their 
commitment toward a plan for deployment of 
projected EXBS donations of technical 
equipment. 
 
    ----15 Feb, met with representatives of 
Safeworld, a contracting agency assigned by the 
EU to analyze arms export controls across the 
Stability Pact States and Croatia's 
contribution to that process.  The 
representatives were given a briefing on the 
status of all EXBS initiatives ongoing in 
Croatia, an update on the progressive state of 
Croatian export controls initiatives, 
particularly in relation to their ongoing EU 
membership screening process, and the close 
relationship between the U.S. and EU in 
promoting Croatia's export control and border 
security capacity. 
 
 
    ----16 Feb, met with representatives of the 
Ministry of Foreign Affairs to discuss their 
leadership role within Croatia's Export Control 
Coordinating Body.  MFA concurred that one of 
their principal responsibilities is to 
encourage and promote cooperative support and 
cohesiveness among all the relevant member 
ministries and ensure their assigned delegates 
had the necessary backing and authority to 
contribute equally, responsibly and decisively 
to the licensing control process. In that role, 
MFA suggested the development and presentation 
of an Executive and Senior Management Export 
Control and Licensing Workshop.  The workshop 
aim would be to engage, focus and challenge 
Ministers, their pertinent deputies, assistants 
and senior management staff toward the 
 
ZAGREB 00000321  003 OF 005 
 
 
development and promotion of clear channels of 
understanding, communication and exchange 
between ministries (both internally and 
externally) to support the conduct of their 
assigned role responsibilities and 
participation in Croatia's export controls 
initiatives.  Although MFA initially asked USG 
(EXBS) to develop, host and present the 
proposed workshop, it was subsequently agreed 
that MFA should more appropriately undertake 
these leadership responsibilities with EXBS 
support.  It was further agreed that this 
concept should be studied in more detail prior 
to further discussion and development. 
 
    ----20-24 Feb, coordinated and hosted visit 
of the DOS NP/ECC Desk Officer for Croatia and 
Slovenia. The visit included attendance and 
guest speaker/panel member at the Stockholm 
International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) 
and EU sponsored Regional Dual-Use/Export 
Control Seminar and subsequent meetings with 
pertinent U.S. Embassy Zagreb staff, U.S. Coast 
Guard Assessment Team members and Croatian 
Ministry representatives in Zagreb and Split. 
 
    ----19-28 Feb, coordinated and hosted visit 
of the U.S. Coast Guard Assessment Team to 
support EXBS Program objectives.  Team members 
initially meet with DOS U.S. Embassy Zagreb 
staff and Ministry officials of the MoI Border 
Police Maritime Division (BMP) and the Ministry 
of Sea, Tourism, Transport and Development 
(MOSTTD Port Authority and Harbor Masters) in 
Zagreb.  The team subsequently traveled to 
Split, Vis, Ploce, Dubrovnik and Rijeka to 
evaluate the capacities, development and needs 
of the MoI BP and MOSTTD in the conduct of 
mission performance from operational patrols to 
port security, particularly in response to WMD 
and NP requirements.  Regional meetings were 
held with Ministries representing the 
Coordinating Body to include MoI BMP, MOSTTD, 
MoF Customs Directorate and MOD Navy to discuss 
mission roles, coordination, and radar access, 
operational capacities and identify collective 
and individual limitations and needs.  The 
visit was concluded with an out brief of 
findings to both U.S. and Croatian officials. 
 
 
 
Slovenia. 
 
    ----17 Feb, attended country team and 
coordination meetings at Embassy Ljubljana to 
discuss status of Slovenian MoE continuing 
support of ICP workshops.  Slovenian MoE 
licensing officials have been unwilling to 
schedule any working meetings during Feb, 
pending the completion of their response to the 
Ambassador's letter dated 10 Feb.  The letter 
inquired about MoE's continued support of ICP, 
Tracker and the Wisconsin Project.  One MoE 
official contacted expressed some optimism 
(somewhat wishfully), that the forthcoming 
official response might be constructive.  A 
meeting with the MoE Undersecretary for 
Licensing is scheduled for 9 Mar to verify 
their continued support of the remaining EXBS 
program initiatives. 
 
2.TRAINING 
 
Croatia 
 
ZAGREB 00000321  004 OF 005 
 
 
 
----01 Feb, EU and SIPRI, in coordination 
with EXBS participation, sponsored a one day 
Industry Outreach Seminar with a variety of 
guest speakers providing advise and knowledge 
in the development of a viable industry 
outreach program.  Attendees included the MoE, 
MFA, MoD, the Chamber of Commerce and private 
industry. 
 
 
 
----07-08 Feb, MoE Division for Trade and 
Licensing sent two delegates to attend a UNDP 
SEESAC conference in Belgrade to discuss 
development of a regional annual report on 
small arms controls. 
 
----08-10 Feb, MoE hosted a USDOC sponsored 
Licensing Procedures and Practices Workshop in 
Zagreb.  Speakers included two USDOC contract 
specialists, two U.S. and two EU licensing 
officials.  Attending GOC officials represented 
the Ministries of Foreign Affairs, Economy, 
Defense, Finance (Customs) and the State Office 
for Nuclear Safety along with representation 
from the Croatian Chamber of Commerce and 
private industry. 
 
----20-22 Feb, EU and SIPRI sponsored a 
Regional Dual-Use/Export Control Seminar in 
Zagreb attended by Croatian MoE delegates.  The 
USDOS NP/ECC Desk Officer for Croatia and 
Slovenia also attended a day session as a guest 
speaker and discussion panel member. 
 
Slovenia 
 
-----31 Jan - 01 Feb, the second portion of 
the DOC sponsored Internal Control Program 
(ICP) training was held in Ljubljana. Attendees 
included MoE officials and representatives from 
private industry coordinated through the 
Slovenian Chamber of Commerce.  DOC endorsed 
the request for inclusion of a EU speaker 
(formerly Estonian MoE and current EU 
consultant) to address issues of concern to 
Slovenian MoE.  The speaker explained the EU 
position on the use of denial lists, 
government-industry outreach roles and 
responsibilities and other export control 
related issues.  This participation appeared to 
have a positive impact and lent greater 
credibility to the training effort. If this 
workshop is to continue this approach should be 
considered for the next session. 
 
3.EQUIPMENT STATUS 
 
Slovakia. 
 
  ----In Feb Slovak Customs requested repair 
of their X-Ray van monitors.  Coordination with 
Bechtel Nevada Corp. (DOE/NNSA) determined 
repairs would be carried out during regular 
scheduled maintenance in Aug 2006.  EXBS 
Bratislava coordinated a similar repair through 
LATA/L3 at the request of U.S. Embassy Budapest 
and Hungarian Customs. 
 
  ----Feb status update on Portal Monitor 
Upgrades at Slovakian POE's, along the 
Ukrainian border, continuing in coordination 
with DOE.  DOE is currently assisting Slovak 
Customs in modification of the required MOU in 
 
ZAGREB 00000321  005 OF 005 
 
 
accordance with EU Commission instruction. 
 
The portal monitors at Vysne Nemecke POE must 
be relocated due to extensive facility 
reconstruction to accommodate an increase in 
border traffic.  Selection of a new site for 
the monitors will be done subsequent to the 
awarding of the contract and submission of the 
project plan draft by Apr 06.  The proposed 
project completion date is Dec 06. 
 
The portal monitors and checkpoint at Cierna 
nd Tisou Railway POE must be relocated closer 
to the border in compliance with Schengen 
requirements. Attendees included representation 
from both industry and government. 
 
FRANK