CROATIA CONTINUES ACTIVE INVOLVEMENT IN

UNCLAS ZAGREB 001665

SIPDIS


E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: MARR HR NATO
SUBJECT: CROATIA CONTINUES ACTIVE INVOLVEMENT IN
NATO PREPARATIONS THROUGH ADRIATIC CHARTER


1. CROATIA HAS ENGAGED ACTIVELY IN A NUMBER OF
NATO-RELATED ACTIVITIES DURING ITS CHAIRMANSHIP OF
THE ADRIATIC PARTNERSHIP COMMISSION (JULY-DECEMBER
2004) AND HAS A FULL CALENDAR PLANNED FOR THE
REMAINDER OF THE YEAR (SEE PARA 2 BELOW). THE GOC
KICKED OFF ITS CHAIRMANSHIP WITH AN INFORMAL
PARTNERSHIP COMMISSION MINISTERIAL IN JULY (ATTENDED
BY EUR DAS STEPHENS). DESPITE THE EUROPE-WIDE
AUGUST "LULL," THE GOC SENT PARTICIPANTS TO A LATE
AUGUST " NATO AND SE EUROPE" SEMINAR ORGANIZED
JOINTLY BY THE CROATIAN ATLANTIC COUNCIL AND THE
NATO INFORMATION CENTER. WORK CONTINUED THROUGHOUT
THE SUMMER ON CROATIA'S STRATEGIC DEFENSE REVIEW,
WHICH IS EXPECTED TO BE COMPLETE BY THE END OF THE
YEAR. IN ADDITION, THE DEFENSE MINISTRY CONTINUES
TO PLAN FOR A-3 EXERCISES TO BE HELD IN FALL 2004
AND 2005.


2. CALENDAR OF NATO/ADRIATIC CHARTER RELATED EVENTS
THROUGH DECEMBER 2004:

-- 30 SEP NATO TEAM IN ZAGREB TO REVIEW AND COMMENT
ON STRATEGIC DEFENSE REVIEW

-- 30 SEPT - 2 OCT U.S.-ADRIATIC CHARTER DEFENSE
CHIEFS OF STAFF ON BRIUNI JOINED BY DEFENSE CHIEFS
OF STAFF OF ITALY, HUNGARY, SLOVENIA, BOSNIA-
HERZEGOVINA AND SERBIA-MONTENEGRO

-- 3-15 OCT ADRIATIC PHIBLEX NAVAL EXERCISE IN
CROATIAN WATERS WITH A-3 PARTNERS

-- 15 OCT U.S.-ADRIATIC CHARTER FOREIGN AFFAIRS
MINISTERS MEETING, JOINED BY FOREIGN AFFAIRS
MINISTERS OF BOSNIA -HERZEGOVINA AND SERBIA-
MONTENEGRO IN OHRID, MACEDONIA

-- 18-29 OCT ADRIATIC SHIELD AIR EXERCISE IN CROATIA
WITH A-3 PARTNERS

-- 21 OCT ANNUAL NATIONAL PLAN REVIEW IN BRUSSELS
BY SENIOR POLITICAL COMMITTEE- REINFORCED

-- 29-31 OCTOBER U.S.-ADRIATIC CHARTER /NATO PUBLIC
RELATIONS STRATEGIES DEVELOPMENT WORKSHOP (DETAILS
STILL BEING WORKED OUT BY MFA)

-- 12-14 NOV U.S.-ADRIATIC PARTNERSHIP COMMISSION
MINISTERIA IN OPATIJA (MINISTERS OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS
OF THE CHARTER COUNTRIES),JOINED BY NATO SECRETARY
GENERAL, THE FOREIGN MINISTERS OF
NEIGHBORING/REGIONAL NATO MEMBER-COUNTRIES (ITALY,
SLOVENIA, HUNGARY, ROMANIA, BULGARIA, GREECE,
TURKEY) AND FOREIGN MINISTERS OF BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA
AND SERBIA-MONTENEGRO (A FULL LIST OF PARTICIPANTS
TBC)

NOVEMBER/DECEMBER IN ZAGREB: MEETING OF THE
PRESIDENTS AND MEMBERS OF THE PARLIAMENTARY
DELEGATIONS TO THE NATO PARLIAMENTARY ASSEMBLY

13-17 DECEMBER IN SKOPJE: A-3 JOINT CONTACT TEAM
PROGRAM EVENT

FRANK


NNNN