BLUE LANTERN UPDATE FOR CROATIA

1. EMBASSY ZAGREB'S PRINCIPAL BLUE LANTERN CONTACT IS
POL-MIL OFFICER ANTHONY GODFREY, TEL 385-1-661-2260, FAX
385-1-661-2178, EMAIL: GODFREYA@STATE.GOV. GODFREY IS
EXPECTED TO DEPART POST IN LATE JUNE 2004.



2. EMBASSY ZAGREB USES A TEAM APPROACH AND TAKES BLUE
LANTERN CHECKS SERIOUSLY. OVERSIGHT OF THE BLUE LANTERN
PROCESS IS CARRIED OUT BY THE DCM. POST'S DEFENSE ATTACHE
OFFICE AND OFFICE OF DEFENSE COOPERATION ACTIVELY PARTICIPATE
IN BLUE LANTERN CHECKS, AS DOES THE FCS OFFICE, WHEN
APPROPRIATE. POST HAS A RECORD OF CARRYING OUT BLUE LANTERN
CHECKS WITHIN THIRTY DAYS AFTER RECEIPT.



3. THE ENVIRONMENT IN WHICH POST IMPLEMENTS THE BLUE LANTERN
PROGRAM CONTINUES TO IMPROVE. A LOOSELY-ENFORCED UN WEAPONS
EMBARGO FORCED CROATIA TO SEEK SOURCES OF WEAPONS OUTSIDE
NORMAL GOVERNMENT CHANNELS DURING ITS "HOMELAND WAR" THROUGH
MID-1995. CROATIA BEGAN TO IMPROVE CONTROLS OF DEFENSE TRADE
IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE WAR. NOW, AS A SERIOUS ASPIRANT FOR AN
INVITATION TO JOIN NATO, THE GOC HAS SHARPLY INCREASED
GOVERNMENT CONTROLS OVER THE TRADE IN WEAPONS AND MUNITIONS.
POST'S OFFICE OF DEFENSE COOPERATION MAINTAINS ACTIVE
RELATIONSHIPS WITH MOST POTENTIAL RECIPIENTS OF U.S. - ORIGIN
DEFENSE ARTICLES AND SERVICES SOLD COMMERCIALLY. LEGITIMATE
DEALERS AND SEVERAL OF CROATIA'S ARMS MANUFACTURERS HAVE
ENTERED INTO COOPERATIVE COMMERCIAL RELATIONSHIPS WITH U.S.
FIRMS AND ARE EAGER TO COOPERATE WITH BLUE LANTERN CHECKS.
FRANK

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