LIBERIA: CROATIAN SUPPORT FOR UN PEACEKEEPING

C O N F I D E N T I A L ZAGREB 001854

SIPDIS


E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/21/2013
TAGS: KPKO MARR PREL LI HR UN
SUBJECT: LIBERIA: CROATIAN SUPPORT FOR UN PEACEKEEPING
PROBABLY NOT AIR ASSETS

REF: SECSTATE 242664

CLASSIFIED BY: POLOFF JUSTIN FRIEDMAN, REASONS 1.5 (B) & (D)


1. (U) POLOFF DELIVERED REFTEL DEMARCHE TO ACTING NORTH
AMERICA DESK DIRECTOR ANDREA BEKIC ON AUGUST 21. BEKIC
COMMENTED THAT THE GOC WAS REVIEWING HOW IT COULD CONTRIBUTE
TO THE NEW MISSION TO LIBERIA. SHE CAUTIONED THAT DEPENDING
ON THE FINAL SCOPE OF THE GOC CONTRIBUTION, PARLIAMENTARY
APPROVAL COULD BE REQUIRED.


2. (C) BEFORE RECEIPT OF REFTEL INSTRUCTIONS, MOD HAD
INDICATED TO DAO IN CONFIDENCE THAT THE CROATIAN UN
DELEGATION WAS ENGAGED IN EXPLORATORY DIALOGUE REGARDING
PARTICIPATION IN PEACE KEEPING OPERATIONS (PKO) IN LIBERIA
AND WOULD VIEW ANY SOLICITATIONS FOR CONTRIBUTIONS FAVORABLY.
UPON DELIVERY OF REFTEL MOD INDICATED PLANNING FOR A
LIBERIAN PKO HAD BEEN KEPT IN CLOSE-HOLD IN SENIOR CHANNELS
AND WOULD REQUIRE THE APPROVAL OF THE MINISTER OF DEFENSE
BEFORE ANY FORMAL RESPONSE WAS GIVEN.


3. (C) CONTRARY TO REFTEL, WE BELIEVE CROATIA IS NOT/NOT IN A
POSITION TO OFFER AIR ASSETS. CROATIAN INTERNAL DISCUSSIONS
HAVE FOCUSED ON CONTRIBUTIONS TO HQ STAFF. WE NOTE THAT
CROATIA ALSO HAS INFANTRY ASSETS THAT COULD BECOME AVAILABLE
FOR THIS MISSION IF NOT OTHERWISE SLATED FOR POSSIBLE
CONTRIBUTION TO KFOR, BUT WE DO NOT/NOT HAVE A FIRM
COMMITMENT FROM THE MOD AT THIS TIME. CROATIA'S CAPABILITY
TO DEPLOY FORCES OVERSEAS IS LIMITED. WITH AN MP PLATOON IN
AFGHANISTAN AND A UNIT OF SPECIAL OPS FORCES TRAINING FOR
POSSIBLE DEPLOYMENT TO IRAQ, IT IS UNLIKELY THAT CROATIA'S
MOD WILL BE ABLE TO MAKE A SIGNIFICANT CONTRIBUTION TO PEACE
SUPPORT OPERATIONS IN LIBERIA.


4. (U) MONROVIA MINIMIZE CONSIDERED.
FRANK


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