VZCZCXRO5464
RR RUEHDBU
DE RUEHVB #1482/01 3481241
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 141241Z DEC 06
FM AMEMBASSY ZAGREB
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 7047
INFO RHFJUSC/HQS US CUSTOMS SERVICE WASHDC
RUEAHLC/HOMELAND SECURITY CENTER WASHINGTON DC
RHEBAAA/USDOE WASHDC
RUCPDOC/USDOC WASHDC
RULSSGG/COMDT COGARD WASHINGTON DC
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC
RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHDC
RUCNEXC/EXRBS COLLECTIVE

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ZAGREB 001482 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPT FOR NP/ECC PVANSON, ACHURCH 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 - NOVEMBER 2006 
 
 
¶1.  SITE ASSESSMENTS AND MEETINGS 
 
Croatia 
 
----09 November, Met with Ministry of Finance (MOF), Customs 
Directorate, Operational and Customs Academy Department Heads at 
their request to tour the facility located on the grounds of the 
Ministry of Interior (MoI) Police Directorate Training complex. 
EXBS was asked for recommendations to enhance both curriculum and 
training methods, supportive of their expanding responsibilities, 
particularly relating to export controls consistent with EU and US 
standards. Discussion included the use of practical training 
techniques such as skill demonstration and problem solving exercises 
to instruct their Electronic Communication System and Operational 
Information System to collect, query, retrieve and exchange 
operational data.  The potential for adding an interface between 
that system and a Case Management System to more effectively support 
their inspection, control, enforcement and future investigative 
activity was also discussed.  EXBS agreed to assist with the 
development of practical exercises for evaluating trainees' 
performance in hidden compartment detection, container and 
conveyance inspection and search, contraband interdiction in 
conjunction with cargo clearance and verification of controlled 
commodities to complement EXBS training in those disciplines 
scheduled for 2007.  Customs presented a non-paper outlining a 
request for USG support in assembling training props such as 
vehicles, containers, ramps, street signs and traffic signals in 
conjunction with a previously proposed mock-up Port of Entry (POE) 
facility. Use of this platform is intended to encourage joint 
training of both Customs and Border Police (BP) recruits to 
introduce and reinforce Integrated Border Management (IBM) 
practices.  This concept was conditional upon MoI approval for 
participation and authorization for construction since it is 
situated on MoI property.  This meeting marked the first tangible 
discussion in which Customs has acknowledged the need for 
alternative approaches and made a commitment to accept remedies. 
All EXBS recommendations are supported by the EU Customs Advisor 
from Austria. 
 
----14 November, Attended a meeting with the Department Head for the 
State Office for Nuclear Safety (SONS) to receive a proposal to 
improve the monitoring procedures for the Bregana BCP Portal 
Monitors.  The monitors were provided by IAEA and installed by the 
Russian Government.  The hardware included in the grant did not 
provide either the necessary supportive hardware, software or 
computer network interface to link the SONS office with the BCP for 
offsite monitoring. Currently, in the absence of an offsite monitor 
link, inspectors are required to stand 24-hour duty at the BCP to 
respond and evaluate each alarm for accuracy.  Recommended monitor 
settings generate about 20 false alarms per 24-hour period requiring 
an inspector to be on site to respond to every warning. A network 
link between the BCP and the SONS office in Zagreb would enable 
offsite evaluation of alarms for accuracy and issue an immediate 
clearance or response order as appropriate.  The specific proposal 
will be provided during consultations in January 2007. 
 
----14 November, EXBS was requested to observe an internal 
inter-ministerial meeting chaired by the Director General, State 
Office for Radiation Protection (SORP) and attended by Assistant 
Ministers from Finance and Health and Assistant Director Generals 
from the Customs Directorate, Border Police and Office of Nuclear 
Safety.  Attendees discussed amending the Operational Protocol for 
Portal Monitors at the Bregana BCP to allow for greater sharing of 
responsibility in both the operation and alarm response.  While the 
discussion was spirited, no decisions resulted. 
 
----16 November, EXBS and Embassy Zagreb Political Officer met with 
the Department for International Security, Ministry of Foreign 
Affairs (MFA), to receive a non-paper outlining Croatia's request to 
host a Proliferation Security Initiative (PSI) Tabletop Exercise in 
spring 2007.  The proposal apparently resulted from a discussion 
between a member of the MFA staff and a representative from 
International Security and Nonproliferation (IS/NP) while attending 
a recent PSI Exercise hosted by Poland and a reported reference 
during discussions between the Foreign Minister and the Secretary of 
State incident to the Prime Minister's official visit to Washington. 
 They were advised their request would be forwarded to IS/NP for due 
consideration as reported by front and back channel communication. 
 
----24 November, Attended an International Donor's Group meeting 
 
ZAGREB 00001482  002 OF 002 
 
 
hosted by the OSCE.  International representation aside from OSCE 
and EXBS Embassy Zagreb included International Organization for 
Migration (IOM), UK Department for International Development (DFID) 
and the Embassies of the UK, Norway and Greece.  The meeting 
provided reporting on current activities and emphasized coordination 
of scheduled activities. 
 
----29 November, Met with the Second Secretary, UK Embassy and DFID 
representative at their request to coordinate joint Export Control 
and Border Security initiatives.  Specific topics included 
coordination of the UK sponsored trip for Croatian Export Control 
officials to tour the UK export licensing authority and efforts to 
enhance Border Police effectiveness on the Eastern border with 
Serbia. 
 
----29 November, EXBS and Embassy Zagreb Political Officer met with 
the Department for International Security, MFA, to provide a 
response to a request to host a PSI Tabletop Exercise in spring 
¶2007.  It was reported that Slovenia had previously requested 
hosting a similar event during the same timeframe to which the MFA 
officials indicated no prior knowledge.  MFA was informed that any 
exercise should be joint and that any final decision would be made 
by Washington and they would be advised accordingly.  While support 
for their request was extended no promises or special considerations 
were offered. 
 
----20 November, met with Ministry of Economy (MOE), Head of Trade 
Policies (Licensing) and Senior Counselor to discuss status of 
Export Control legislation revisions and agenda for the upcoming 
Industry - Government Forum.  MoE reaffirmed their request for EXBS 
assistance in the revision process to ensure it could be complete as 
soon as possible. 
 
Slovakia 
 
----03 November, met with the Analyst for Slovak Foreign Policy 
Association to discuss framework and procedures for conducting a 
scheduled assessment of Slovakia's Export Controls process and 
procedures within the Slovak MOE, Department of Sensitive Goods 
Trading Management.  The assessment is tentatively scheduled to 
commence during November.  NOTE: In coordination with Embassy 
Bratislava it was subsequently agreed to postpone the assessment 
until early 2007, due to the nomination of a new Department Head 
within the Ministry following recent National elections. 
 
Slovenia 
 
----29 November, met with Ministry of Economy (MOE), Undersecretary 
for Foreign Economic Relations (Licensing) regarding the status of 
the Tracker Site Survey and Questionnaire.  It was reported that a 
final approval by the Minister has not yet been extended. 
 
 
¶2.  TRAINING CONDUCTED DURING REPORTING PERIOD 
 
Croatia 
 
----14-15 November, A two-day Industry-Government Forum was hosted 
by the Ministry of Economy (MOE) Trade Policy Division with the 
support of and participation of the Croatian Chamber of Commerce, 
EXBS, DOC and CTP.  The forum was opened with welcoming remarks from 
the MOE Assistant Minister for International Economic Relations and 
the U.S. Ambassador to Croatia.  The program included a series of 
presentations and round table discussions on building effective 
partnerships to support export controls and protect industry 
integrity. 
 
Slovenia 
 
----30 November - 01 December, the fourth deployment of the U.S. 
Commerce sponsored Internal Control Program (ICP) was conducted with 
the excellent assistance of the Slovenian Chamber of Commerce.  The 
event was well attended and the Slovenian Ministries responsible for 
presenting segments of the program demonstrated significant 
improvement toward generating interest in their scheduled 
presentations. 
 
BRADTKE