BLUE LANTERN UPDATE FOR CROATIA

UNCLAS ZAGREB 001846 SIPDIS DEPARTMENT FOR PM/DTCC-BLUE LANTERN COORDINATOR VIENNA FOR DHS - FLANAGAN E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: ETTC KOMC HR NATO SUBJECT: BLUE LANTERN UPDATE FOR CROATIA REF: STATE 205022 ¶1. Embassy Zagreb's principal Blue Lantern contact is Pol-Mil Officer Justin Friedman, tel 385-1-661-2341, fax 385-1-661-2178, email: friedmanj@state.gov. Friedman is expected to depart post in July 2006. ¶2. Embassy Zagreb uses a team approach for its Blue Lantern checks. Oversight of the Blue Lantern process is carried out by the DCM. Post's Defense Attache Office and Office of Defense Cooperation actively participate in Blue Lantern checks, as does the FCS office, when appropriate. DHS provides regional coverage out of Vienna. Post has a record of carrying out Blue Lantern checks within thirty days after receipt. ¶3. The environment in which post implements the Blue Lantern Program continues to improve. As a serious aspirant for an invitation to join NATO, the GoC has continued to improve official controls over the trade in weapons and munitions. Croatia is seeking membership in most of the formal major arms control mechanisms (MTCR, Waasenaar) while establishing interagency mechanisms to improve internal coordination and control over arms sales. Post's Office of Defense Cooperation maintains active relationships with most potential recipients of U.S. ) origin defense articles and services sold commercially. Legitimate dealers and several of Croatia's arms manufacturers have entered into cooperative commercial relationships with U.S. firms and are eager to cooperate with Blue Lantern checks. DELAWIE NNNN