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.
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