CROATIA TO PROVIDE MEDICAL TREATMENT TO IRAQI

UNCLAS ZAGREB 001024 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: HR IZ PREL SUBJECT: CROATIA TO PROVIDE MEDICAL TREATMENT TO IRAQI CHILDREN ¶1. FM ZUZUL AND SCIENCE MINISTER PRIMORAC DISCUSSED WITH THE AMBASSADOR ON JUNE 2 GOC PLANS TO PROVIDE MEDICAL TREATMENT FOR IRAQI YOUTH. PRIMORAC HAS BEEN IN DIRECT CONTACT WITH THE CPA ABOUT THE EFFORT. THE CROATIAN PRESS HAS REPORTED ON THE INITIATIVE. SOME 10 CHILDREN WITH VARIOUS AILMENTS (BUT NOT WAR INJURIES) WILL BE TRANSPORTED TO CROATIA NEXT WEEK. ¶2. THE IRAQ MINISTRY OF HEALTH THROUGH THE CPA PROVIDED THE CROATIANS WITH A LIST OF 20 CHILDREN, RANGING IN AGE FROM ONE TO 13. SOME ARE VICTIMS OF CANCER, OTHERS OF HEART AILMENTS, AMONG OTHER CONDITIONS. PRIMORAC TOLD THE AMBASSADOR THAT THE THE CROATIANS WILL REVIEW THE LIST TO DETERMINE WHICH THEY ARE BEST EQUIPPED TO HELP. THE GOC WILL MAKE LOGISTICAL ARRANGEMENTS IN TRANSPORTING THE CHILDREN TO CROATIA. ¶3. THE CROATIAN GOVERNMENT IS ALSO WORKING WITH CENTCOM TO PROVIDE FORENSIC EXPERTISE FOR THE NEW IRAQ GOVERNMENT. SANADER TOLD THE PRESS THAT, GIVEN THE WARTIME EXPERIENCE CROATIAN EXPERTS GAINED DURING THE 1990S, CROATIA WAS IN A GOOD POSITION TO OFFER TRAINING TO IRAQI FORENSIC EXPERTS. PRIMORAC, HIMSELF A FORENSICS SPECIALIST, TOLD THE AMBASSADOR THAT HE WOULD LIKE TO TRAVEL TO IRAQ EVENTUALLY TO HELP IN SETTING UP, IN COOPERATION WITH THE U.S. ARMY, FORENSIC LABS THERE. FRANK NNNN