CROATIA: CHANGES TO LAW ALLOW MOD APPROVAL OF

UNCLAS ZAGREB 000349

SIPDIS

STATE FOR EUR/SCE (NARDI)
DOD FOR JCS/J5 (EPPERSON); DIA (STEVENS AND LINDER);
OSD/ISP (SHOEMAKER)

UNCLASSIFIED

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E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PARM MOPS MARR PREL HR NATO
SUBJECT: CROATIA: CHANGES TO LAW ALLOW MOD APPROVAL OF
FORCE PROTECTION MEASURES FOR USN SHIP VISITS

REF: ZAGREB 284


1. ON FEBRUARY 6, THE CROATIAN GOVERNMENT PASSED A DECISION
TO MODIFY THE MARITIME LAW WHICH WILL GIVE THE MOD THE LEGAL
AUTHORITY TO APPROVE FORCE-PROTECTION MEASURES FOR WARSHIPS
ENTERING CROATIA'S INTERNAL WATERS. THIS ISSUE WAS RAISED
DURING U.S. - CROATIA BILATERAL DEFENSE CONSULTATIONS ON
FEBRUARY 5 AND BY DASD MIRA RICARDEL PERSONALLY IN HER
MEETING WITH DEFMIN ANTUNOVIC (REF).


2. THE NEW CHANGE TO THE MARITIME REGULATION STATES THAT
"THE MINISTER OF DEFENSE MAY, AT THE REQUEST OF THE COMMANDER
OF A FOREIGN WARSHIP, WITH THE ASSENT OF THE MINISTER OF
FOREIGN AFFAIRS, THE MINISTER OF INTERNAL AFFAIRS AND THE
MINISTER OF MARITIME AFFAIRS, APPROVE THE IMPLEMENTATION OF
ADDITIONAL MEASURES WHICH HAVE AS THEIR GOAL THE SECURITY OF
THE FOREIGN WARSHIP."


3. THIS DECISION WILL GO INTO EFFECT ON FEBRUARY 15, AND
WHILE IT WILL LIKELY PROVE CUMBERSOME TO IMPLEMENT, IT WILL
OVERTURN PROHIBITIONS ON POST-USS COLE FORCE PROTECTION
MEASURES WHICH HAD EFFECTIVELY HALTED USN SHIP VISITS TO
CROATIAN PORTS.
ROSSIN

UNCLASSIFIED

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UNCLASSIFIED

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