TFIZ01: CROATIAN CABINET ORDERS HUMANITARIAN

UNCLAS ZAGREB 000754 SIPDIS SENSITIVE E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL PHUM HR IZ SUBJECT: TFIZ01: CROATIAN CABINET ORDERS HUMANITARIAN CONTRIBUTION FOR IRAQ ¶1. (U) ON APRIL 3, THE CROATIAN CABINET PASSED A DECISION (SEE TEXT AT PARA 4) TO SEND HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE WITH A VALUE OF JUST UNDER USD 3 MILLION TO IRAQ. THE ASSISTANCE SHOULD INCLUDE BLANKETS, SLEEPING BAGS, BED LINENS, FLOUR, SUGAR, AND WATER PURIFICATION AGENTS. THE CABINET ALSO DIRECTED THE GOC TO CONSIDER SENDING "EXPERT ASSISTANCE" TO SUPPORT HUMANITARIAN EFFORTS IN IRAQ. ¶2. (SBU) ON APRIL 4 WE MET WITH ANDREA BEKIC OF THE MFA'S NORTH AMERICAN DESK TO SEEK FURTHER DETAILS ABOUT THE CROATIAN CONTRIBUTION. BEKIC INSISTED THAT CROATIA WANTS TO BE SEEN -- PARTICULARLY BY THE U.S. -- AS DOING ITS PART FOR POST-WAR RECONSTRUCTION. THE MFA HAD BEEN TASKED BY THE SENIOR-LEVEL "CRISIS COMMITTEE" TO FIND WAYS TO TRANSPORT THE CARGO. GIVEN PAST DIFFICULTIES, WE MADE SURE SHE UNDERSTOOD THAT ORGANIZING AIRLIFT IS EXTREMELY DIFFICULT; THE GOC SHOULD NOT/NOT COUNT ON A POSITIVE RESPONSE IF IT APPROACHES THE USG WITH A REQUEST FOR AIRLIFT. ¶3. (SBU) BEKIC SAID THAT CROATIA'S MISSION TO NATO WAS MAKING ARRANGEMENTS WITH COLLEAGUES IN BRUSSELS FOR DELIVERY OF PART OF THE DONATION TO TURKEY. THE REST OF THE DONATION IS DESIGNATED FOR USE IN IRAQ. WE SUGGESTED THAT OTHER COUNTRIES INTERESTED IN MAKING AN IMMEDIATE IMPACT ON THE HUMANITARIAN SITUATION ARE MAKING MONETARY CONTRIBUTIONS TO NGO'S ALREADY ACTIVE IN THE REGION. CROATIA'S EMBASSY IN WASHINGTON SHOULD CONTINUE TO BE ENGAGED AT THE WEEKLY HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE MEETINGS. ¶4. (U) BEGIN TEXT OF THE GOC APRIL 5 DECISION (NOTE INTERNAL NUMBERING): (I) ABOUT 20 MILLION KUNA (USD 2.85 MILLION) WORTH OF HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE SHALL BE SENT TO THE WAR-AFFECTED POPULATION IN IRAQ. (II) THE HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE SHALL BE SENT AS NEEDED AND POSSIBLE TO DISTRIBUTE. (III) THE ASSISTANCE SHALL CONSIST OF BLANKETS, TENTS, SLEEPING BAGS, FLOUR, SUGAR, FIELD BEDS, BED LINEN, AND WATER-PURIFICATION AGENTS. (IV) THE CRISIS COMMITTEE OF THE GOVERNMENT OF CROATIA SHALL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THIS DECISION. (V) THE CRISIS COMMITTEE OF THE REPUBLIC OF CROATIA IS INSTRUCTED TO CONSIDER SENDING EXPERT ASSISTANCE AIMED AT ALLEVIATING THE CONSEQUENCES OF WAR IN IRAQ. END TEXT. ROSSIN NNNN