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

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