VZCZCXYZ0043
RR RUEHWEB

DE RUEHVB #0469/01 1021431
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 121431Z APR 06
FM AMEMBASSY ZAGREB
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 5990
RUEAORC/USCBP 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
RHEBAAA/USDOE/NNSA WASHDC
RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHDC
RUCNEXC/EXRBS COLLECTIVE

UNCLAS ZAGREB 000469 
 
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 - MAR 2006 
 
 
¶1.  SITE ASSESSMENTS AND MEETINGS 
 
Croatia 
 
    ----15 Mar, met with the MoF, Customs Directorate, 
Assistant Director General (anti-smuggling) and 
International Liaison Analyst to discuss interest in 
Port Security Training sponsored by DTRA.  It was 
agreed to provide 20 Customs personnel for this 
training event.  Customs representatives requested 
that the training emphasis be refocused toward a 
"hands-on" inspection, interdiction and port security 
initiatives. 
 
    ----15 Mar, met with the EU Commission to discuss 
the progress of ongoing mutual international 
assistance programs currently provided to the MoF 
Customs Directorate and discuss viable options toward 
promoting more effective goal achievement. 
 
    ----15-16 Mar, met with the EU CARDS Integrated 
Border Management (IBM) Project Advisor to the Customs 
Directorate to coordinate the EXBS and CARDS IBM 
training assistance to ensure that all training would 
be supportive and complimentary to the Customs 
Directorate capacity building goals and objectives. 
 
    ----17 Mar, met with the MoI Head, Maritime and 
Airport Border Police to present and evaluate proposed 
equipment donations sponsored by the USCG based upon 
findings of the U.S. Coast Guard Assessment of the 
Maritime Police in Feb 2006.  The Maritime Police 
further agreed to propose officers to attend the DTRA 
sponsored Port Security training scheduled for 24-28 
Apr 2006. 
 
    ----24 Mar, met with the Assistant Minister of 
Sea, Tourism and Transportation (MoSTT) who agreed to 
propose approximately 10 personnel to attend the DTRA 
sponsored Port Security training scheduled for 24- 28 
Apr 2006. 
 
Slovakia 
 
  ----20 Mar, met with the MoF, Customs Directorate 
Head of Anti-Smuggling to receive their request for 
Risk Analysis and Management training as well as 
training directed toward enhancement of their Customs 
training staff, particularly for course developers and 
training program management. 
 
Neither of these trainings, in any form, is identified 
in the 2006 plan and should be incorporated into 2007 
projections. 
 
Slovenia. 
 
    ----10 Mar, met with representatives from the MFA 
and MoE, to verify dates for the third iteration of 
ICP training.  It was agreed to schedule this training 
for 1-2 Jun 2006.  The MoE Directorate for Foreign 
Economic Relations (Licensing Department) would 
contact the Chamber of Commerce to begin the 
invitation process and coordinate with the ICP 
contractor to secure training facilities. 
 
    ----20 Mar, met with the MoF, Customs Directorate 
Head of Anti-Smuggling to discuss introduction of a 
Case Management System for Customs.  Slovenian Customs 
believe they have identified sufficient funds to cover 
the purchase of any system hardware and equipment but 
definitely needs EXBS assistance to select the most 
effective system and to cover the cost of training and 
software.  It was agreed that EXBS would identify 
potential case management models for review.  Since 
U.S. Customs has Case Management training at the 
academy in FLETC, it is suggested that a visit be 
scheduled to pursue development of this request. 
 
Since this is one of the few times Slovenian Customs 
has indicated a need for EXBS assistance, beyond an 
equipment donation, it is important that we are 
responsive and use this opportunity to foster a more 
positive relationship through confidence building. 
We will begin local assistance in the fundamental 
development of this program and request support and 
coordination to facilitate a potential visit to U.S. 
Customs Academy at FLETC to review their Case 
Management system. 
 
Advisor's Conference 
 
    ----28-29 Mar, Attended the EXBS Advisor's 
Conference in Vienna, which offered a positive forum 
for coordination with management and donor agencies. 
As a suggested change, the inclusion of country desk 
officers might enhance the coordination effort. 
 
2.TRAINING 
 
Croatia/Slovakia 
 
    ----20-22 Mar, three officials from the Croatian 
MoE Trade and Licensing traveled to Bratislava to 
participate in a "Best Practices" 2-day workshop 
hosted by the Slovakian MoE Department of Sensitive 
Goods and Licensing.  The primary topic was directed 
toward comparison of developmental experiences and 
"lessons learned" to apply to the implementation of 
the Tracker licensing database system.  The workshop 
was a success and fostered a closer working 
g 
relationship between the two ministries. 
 
    ----27-31 Mar, the DTRA-sponsored ARIEX 06 
Exercise promoting a regional counter-proliferation 
initiative was held in Split with positive results. 
The exercise resulted in an effective demonstration of 
cooperation and coordination potential testing the 
multi ministry capacities of Croatia, Macedonia and 
Albania to detect, identify, interdict, investigate 
and deter the threat of nuclear smuggling.  There were 
a large number of dignitaries present representing 
both participant and observer countries.  In 
preparation for the scenario exercise DTRA conducted 
supportive classroom training in crime scene and 
criminal investigation and response to radiation 
hazards. 
 
Slovakia 
 
----06-09 Mar, representatives from the Ministries 
of Finance, Economy and Foreign Affairs attended a 
United States-Slovakia National Control List Technical 
Workshop in Washington, DC.  All attendees were very 
pleased with the workshop content and felt the 
information learned would be beneficial to the 
effectiveness of their efforts. 
 
FRANK