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 NNNN