OPERATION BALKAN VICE IV: CROATIAN RESPONSE

C O N F I D E N T I A L ZAGREB 001228 SIPDIS STATE FOR EUR/SCE AND S/WCI TREASURY FOR OFAC E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/01/2014 TAGS: PREL MOPS EFIN ETTC KAWC BK HR SUBJECT: OPERATION BALKAN VICE IV: CROATIAN RESPONSE REF: STATE 142628 CLASSIFIED BY: ECONOMIC OFFICER ISABELLA DETWILER, REASONS 1.5 (B AND D ) ¶1. (C) ON JUNE 30, WE PRESENTED REFTEL DEMARCHE TO ANDREA BEKIC, HEAD OF THE AMERICA'S DEPARTMENT AT THE FOREIGN MINISTRY. BEKIC WELCOMED THE NEWS OF THE ANNOUNCEMENT OF THE HIGH REPRESENTATIVE, AND USG ACTION TO TARGET THE SUPPORT NETWORK OF PIFWCS. BEKIC SAID SHE WOULD IMMEDIATELY FORWARD THE INFORMATION TO THE MEMBERS OF THE ANTI-TERRORISM COMMITTEE, WHO ALSO WORK ON "BALKAN VICE" ISSUES. FOR FINANCIAL ASSET LOCATION AND SEIZURE ISSUE, THIS INCLUDES THE MINISTRY OF FINANCE'S FINANCIAL INTELLIGENCE UNIT, THE CENTRAL BANK, THE INTELLIGENCE AGENCIES, THE POLICE, THE STATE ATTORNEY, THE POLICE AND THE MINISTRY OF JUSTICE. IN THE CASE OF ATTEMPTING TO STOP THESE INDIVIDUALS AT THE BORDER, BEKIC SAID SHE WOULD CONTACT THE MINISTRY OF JUSTICE AND THE INTELLIGENCE SERVICES. ¶2. (C) ON JULY 1, WE FOLLOWED UP WITH DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF THE ANTI-MONEY LAUNDERING DEPARTMENT AT THE MINISTRY OF FINANCE, IGOR BARAC. HE HAD ALREADY INSTRUCTED HIS STAFF TO WORK ON THE BASIS OF THE OFAC LIST, WITHOUT WAITING FOR INSTRUCTIONS FROM THE MFA. WE ALSO DELIVERED REF POINTS TO STIPICA KUNA, DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF THE CROATIAN BORDER POLICE, URGING HIM TO TAKE MEASURES WITHIN THE LAW TO BLOCK THE SANCTIONED INDIVIDUALS' ACCESS TO CROATIA. KUNA SAID THAT HE WAS ALREADY FAMILIAR WITH THE ISSUE, BUT WELCOMED OUR PROVIDING HIM THE INFORMATION DIRECTLY. FRANK NNNN