VZCZCXRO6820
PP RUEHBW RUEHFL RUEHKW RUEHLA RUEHROV RUEHSR
DE RUEHVB #0334/01 1151011
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
P 241011Z APR 08
FM AMEMBASSY ZAGREB
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 8851
INFO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC PRIORITY

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 ZAGREB 000334 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPARTMENT FOR EUR/SCE, PM/WRA 
 NSC FOR BRAUN 
 OSD FOR POPOVICH 
 DEPARTMENT ALSO PLEASE PASS TO DTRA SALW PROGRAM - REYNO 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/23/2018 
TAGS: MASS PREL PGOV PTER MARR PARM HR DEFENSE REFORM
SUBJECT: PM/WRA VISIT REINFORCES CROATIAN COMMITMENT TO 
MANPADS DESTRUCTION 
 
REF: A. ZAGREB 322 
     ¶B. STATE 30482 
 
Classified By: PolOfficer TOM SELINGER, Reasons 1.4 (B/D) 
 
¶1. (C) SUMMARY AND COMMENT: PolOff and PM/WRA Senior Advisor 
Mark Adams on April 15-16 visited key Croatian Army logistics 
facilities to discuss possible assistance for destruction of 
the military's excess Man-Portable Air Defense Systems 
(MANPADS).  During meetings and site visits at Velika Buna 
logistics base outside Zagreb and the Slunj training range 
south of Karlovac, Adams heard from senior military and MOD 
officials about Croatia's intent to destroy 929 of the 
approximately 2,900 Strela-2 (1980's era SA-7 variant) 
missiles in military stockpiles and 284 of the corresponding 
gripstocks.  Additional missiles from this inventory are 
likely to be designated for destruction in coming years.  At 
a final meeting at the MFA, Asst Min for International 
Organizations and Security Pjer Simunovic expressed the GoC's 
complete agreement with our goal of eliminating excess 
MANPADS and keen interest in USG assistance to accelerate the 
process.  MOD Senior Advisor for Development, Acquisition and 
Modernization Sanko Bakija committed to delivering a formal 
letter of request for assistance to the Embassy within two 
weeks. 
 
¶2. (C) Security at missile storage sites was effective but 
low-tech, lacking alarms or video surveillance.  Post intends 
to use MANPADS destruction assistance as an incentive to 
secure GoC participation in the Defense Threat Reduction 
Agency's Physical Security and Stockpile Management program 
for Small Arms and Light Weapons.  END SUMMARY AND COMMENT. 
 
AMMUNITION DESTRUCTION PROCEEDING AT SLOW RATE 
--------------------------------------------- - 
 
¶3. (C) Brigadier General Mate Ostovic, Commander of the 
Croatian Army's Logisitics Command, described current weapons 
and ammunition destruction efforts, which he stressed he 
could only initiate upon direction from the MOD.  The 
military destroyed 8,000 excess SALW with UNDP/EU assistance 
in early 2008 and is currently destroying 17,000 anti-tank 
missiles.  Ostovic does not currently have a budget to 
destroy the 929 Strela-2 missiles already designated as 
excess by the MOD, and ministry officials have indicated that 
assistance from the Norwegian government will make 
destruction of cluster munitions a higher priority. 
 
¶4. (C) The military also routinely destroys approximately 
1,000 tons of obsolete ammunition each year, according to 
Ostovic.  Bakija told PolOff that a total of 11,000 tons of 
ammunition has already been designated for destruction, with 
a potential for designation of another 27,000 tons in coming 
years if the MOD succeeds in its plan to completely renew its 
aging munitions stocks by 2015.  Croatia's newest ammunition 
is at least 25 years old, according to Bakija.  A weapons and 
ammunition tracking system currently under development will 
enable the military to follow the entire life cycle of each 
individual munition and weapon, increasing efficiency in 
identifying items for destruction. 
 
"CLASSIC" SECURITY MEASURES FOR MANPADS INVENTORY 
--------------------------------------------- ---- 
 
¶5. (C) BG Ostovic also outlined what he called "classic" 
security practices at Croatian weapons and ammunition storage 
facilities, including inventory controls, locked and guarded 
bunkers, roving patrols, and perimeter fencing.  Site visits 
confirmed his description: a concrete, climate-controlled 
bunker guarded in a remote section of the Slunj training 
range housed 1,052 perfectly stacked and packed Strela-2 
missiles.  Additional serviceable missiles are stored at a 
facility in northeastern Croatia.  The 929 Strela-2 missiles 
designated for destruction are currently stored at the 
Golubic base near Knin but may ultimately be destroyed by 
open detonation at the Slunj range.  Fourteen Igla missiles 
(a newer SA-7 variant) have also been designated as excess 
along with 13 corresponding gripstocks, but these may be kept 
for research and training, according to Bakija. 
 
¶6. (C) Ostovic's command has plans to add increased 
technology (i.e. video surveillance and alarms) at one 
facility this year and expand in the future depending on 
resources.  He noted that international assistance to 
 
ZAGREB 00000334  002 OF 002 
 
 
accelerate security upgrades would be welcome. 
Bradtke