VZCZCXRO1166
PP RUEHAG RUEHAST RUEHDA RUEHDF RUEHFL RUEHIK RUEHKW RUEHLA RUEHLN
RUEHLZ RUEHPOD RUEHROV RUEHSR RUEHVK RUEHYG
DE RUEHVB #0445 1691035
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 171035Z JUN 08
FM AMEMBASSY ZAGREB
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 8398
INFO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC PRIORITY
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC PRIORITY

UNCLAS ZAGREB 000445 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
FOR EUR/SCE, EUR/PPD, EUR/RPM AND EUR/ERA 
OSD FOR POPOVICH 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PREL PGOV HR
SUBJECT: ZAGREB WEEKLY ACTIVITY REPORT - JUNE 13, 2008 
 
¶1.  (U) IN ABSENTIA WAR CRIMES CONVICTION "UPHELD": 
This week the Split County Court sentenced former Serb police 
commander Mitar Arambasic to 20 years imprisonment for war 
crimes.  Arambasic, who was extradited from the U.S. in 2006, 
was retried by the same judge who had convicted him in 
absentia (along with 38 others) in 1997.  Arambasic was found 
guilty of committing crimes against Croatian prisoners while 
serving as police commander in the village of Otisic, near 
Knin, between 1991 and 1995.  Announcing its verdict, the 
Court indicated that it "upheld" the prior charges and 20 
year sentence - the maximum under the law.  The judge 
explained that since a verdict had previously been reached 
the burden of proof was on the defendant, requiring him to 
present evidence to establish his innocence.  While a written 
verdict has not yet been issued, OSCE monitors are concerned 
that the Court's explanation calls into question an 
individual's right to a retrial following an in absentia 
conviction and his right to a fair trial.  Arambasic 
reportedly emigrated to the U.S. in 2000 and was detained in 
South Dakota two years later.  In January 2006, he was 
extradited to Croatia where he had been awaiting a re-trial 
since March 2007.  (KSelinger) 
 
¶2. (SBU) U.S. RADAR EXPERTS EVALUATE CROATIAN SYSTEM: 
At the invitation of the Croatian Navy, U.S. Navy Europe sent 
a team of three U.S. Navy radar experts to visit Croatian 
Navy headquarters in Split, and the coastal surveillance 
radar station on Lastovo Island, for the purpose of 
evaluating the Croatian Navy's Enhanced Peregrine radar 
system.  Escorted by the Embassy's Naval Attache, the team 
visited Croatia from 9 through 12 June, 2008.  They evaluated 
the Enhanced Peregrine radar system, which has been 
problematic since its original installation by a U.S. 
contractor, examining the Croatian Navy's operation and 
maintenance of the system, and the system's current status 
relative to specifications taken from the system technical 
manuals.  The team provided initial feedback to Croatian Navy 
leadership and will follow-up with a detailed written 
evaluation.  The initial feedback included recommendations 
for immediate operational and maintenance procedural changes 
that should lead to improved radar system reliability. 
(BMosenfelder) 
 
¶3. (U) CROATIA HOSTS UNSCR 1540 WORKSHOP: 
Croatia, in partnership with the government of Romania and 
NATO, hosted the "UNSCR 1540 - A Path for Further 
Implementation" workshop at RACVIAC 5-6 June 2008. 
Participants shared their thoughts on the roles and 
responsibilities of individual states and international 
organizations in implementing efforts to combat proliferation 
of weapons of mass destruction outlined in UNSCR 1540, 
emphasizing national responsibility.  Much of the discussion 
focused on best practices in the areas of implementation 
planning, legal frameworks, and export and border controls. 
William Puttmann, from NATO's WMD Center, shared his thoughts 
on NATO's role in supporting UNSCR 1540, while 
representatives from the U.S. Department of State discussed 
coordinating inter-agency assistance programs and USG 
technical assistance relative to UNSCR 1540.  The workshop 
drew representatives from a variety of countries and 
international organizations including Croatia, Romania, 
Turkey, France, Bulgaria, Norway, Greece, Serbia, Czech 
Republic, Macedonia, the IAEA and the UN.  (CRhoton) 
 
¶4.  (U) NATO REPRESENTATIVES VISIT CROATIA: 
On June 6, Ministry of Foreign Affairs State Secretary Bianca 
Matkovic, who also heads Croatia's delegation in NATO 
accession negotiations, received representatives of the 
NATO's Euro-Atlantic Partnership Council team visiting 
Croatia.  The meeting was held as part of preparing the 
timetable of reforms that the country will undergo during its 
accession to NATO.  Matkovic mentioned Croatia's efforts in 
reforming the judiciary, fighting corruption and providing 
housing for returning refugees.  In the meeting, it was 
confirmed that the Protocol on Croatia's accession to NATO 
would be signed by the North Atlantic Council on July 9, 
¶2008.  (ZTomic) 
Bradtke