TFUS01: CROATIA OFFERS HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE

UNCLAS ZAGREB 001458 SIPDIS STATE FOR KATRINA TASK FORCE STATE FOR EUR/SCE E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: AEMR EAID PREL HR SUBJECT: TFUS01: CROATIA OFFERS HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE REF: A. 1. STATE 163366 ¶B. 2. STATE 163278 ¶1. Croatian MFA State Secretary Gordon Bakota called in Charge on September 5 to inquire about ways in which Croatia could provide assistance for the relief effort following Hurricane Katrina. Charge gave him the list of priority items in ref 1, noting that private individuals could best help by making donations via the Red Cross. ¶2. In a follow up to the meeting, Foreign Minister Kolinda Grabar-Kitarovic phoned Charge to convey PM Ivo Sanader's personal condolences. Grabar-Kitarovic said that Croatia might be able to provide bottled water and emergency food rations from its stocks. She also asked about direct cash contributions. Drawing from guidance, Charge noted that, although direct government-to-government contributions were possible, donations via the American Red Cross were preferable. ¶3. Grabar-Kitarovic promised to contact Charge again later this week with Croatia's specific proposal for assistance. DELAWIE NNNN