FORMAL NOTIFICATION OF CROATIAN INTENT TO DEPLOY

UNCLAS ZAGREB 001698 SIPDIS CENTCOM FOR CCJG/IC3 MCELROY JOINT STAFF FOR J5/MEIPMC/ JOHN HALL DEFENSE FOR OSD/DASD-EURASIA (RICARDEL) E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: MARR PARM PREL MOPS HR IZ SUBJECT: FORMAL NOTIFICATION OF CROATIAN INTENT TO DEPLOY TROOPS TO IRAQ REF: ZAGREB 1364 ¶1. ON JUNE 12, THE CROATIAN GOVERNMENT PASSED A "DETERMINATION" TO DEPLOY AN UNSPECIFIED NUMBER OF MILITARY PERSONNEL TO IRAQ TO PARTICIPATE IN MULTINATIONAL PEACEKEEPING EFFORTS (REFTEL). AFTER BEING INFORMED THAT CENTCOM REQUIRES FORMAL DIPLOMATIC NOTIFICATION, CROATIA'S FOREIGN MINISTRY FORWARDED A DIPLOMATIC NOTE REPORTING THE GOC ACTION. THE NOTE (INFORMAL EMBASSY TRANSLATION BELOW) WAS DATED JULY 23 AND WAS RECEIVED AT THE EMBASSY ON JULY 29. IN ADDITION TO THE INFORMATION IN THE ORIGINAL GOC DETERMINATION, THE NOTE SPECIFIES THAT CROATIA'S OFFER WILL CONSIST OF SPECIAL OPERATIONS TROOPS FOR SERVICE UNDER U.S. COMMAND. THE NOTE ALSO STATES THAT A FINAL DECISION TO DEPLOY MUST BE APPROVED BY CROATIA'S PARLIAMENT. ¶2. BEGIN INFORMAL EMBASSY TRANSLATION: (COMPLIMENTARY OPENING) THE GOVERNMENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF CROATIA, AT THE SESSION HELD ON JUNE 12, 2003, MADE A DETERMINATION THAT, BASED ON THE INTEREST AND READINESS OF THE REPUBLIC OF CROATIA TO CONTRIBUTE TO AND ASSIST IN THE POSTWAR STABILIZATION OF IRAQ, WHICH IS IN ACCORDANCE WITH UN SECURITY COUNCIL RESOLUTION 1483, THE REPUBLIC OF CROATIA AFFIRMS ITS READINESS TO CONTRIBUTE MEMBERS OF ITS ARMED FORCES TO THE INTERNATIONAL COALITION FORCES IN PEACE AND ORDER KEEPING OPERATIONS AIMED AT CREATING CONDITIONS FOR NORMALIZATION OF THE SITUATION, DEMOCRATIC DEVELOPMENT AND RECONSTRUCTION OF IRAQ. IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE ABOVE MENTIONED DETERMINATION, THE GOVERNMENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF CROATIA IS PREPARED TO OFFER A UNIT OF SPECIAL OPERATIONS TROOPS, WHICH WOULD PARTICIPATE IN PHASE IV OPERATIONS FOR ESTABLISHING AND KEEPING THE PEACE IN IRAQ, UNDER THE COMMAND OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. THE GOVERNMENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF CROATIA IS PREPARED, AFTER COORDINATION WITH APPROPRIATE BODIES OF THE GOVERNMENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF CROATIA AND THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, TO COME TO AGREEMENT ON THE MAKEUP, NUMBER AND MODALITY OF ACTIVITY OFTHE MILITARY PERSONNEL WHO WOULD BE INCLUDED IN THE INTERNATIONAL COALITION FORCES IN IRAQ. THE FINAL DECISION ON DEPLOYMENT OF MEMBERS OF THE ARMED FORCES ON A MISSION IN IRAQ WILL BE TAKEN BY THE CROATIAN SABOR (PARLIAMENT). (COMPLIMENTARY CLOSING) END INFORMAL EMBASSY TRANSLATION. FRANK NNNN