CROATIA DELIVERS WASSENAAR ARRANGEMENT ASSURANCES

1. (U) This is an action request. See para 2.



2. (C) On March 4 State Secretary for Foreign Affairs
Hidajet Biscevic delivered the diplomatic note (para 3) to
Ambassador Frank in response to our demarche per reftels on
support for Croatia's Wassenaar Arrangement Membership.
Request Department approval to send the response dipnote per
ref A.



3. (C) Begin text of Croatian MFA Diplomatic Note No. 1145:

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and European Integration of
the Republic of Croatia presents its compliments to the
Embassy of the United States of America in the Republic of
Croatia and has the honor to draw to its attention to the
candidature of the Republic of Croatia for the Wassenaar
Arrangement on Export Controls for Conventional Arms and
Dual-Use Goods and Technologies, what will be decided in
March 2005.

The Government of Croatia is fully prepared to undertake the
responsibilities indicated in the criteria for membership in
the Wassenaar Arrangement on Export Controls for Conventional
Arms and Dual-Use Goods and Technologies (hereinafter the
"Wassenaar Arrangement"). The Government of Croatia is
committed to implementing effective export controls on
munitions and dual-use goods and technologies. The
Government of Croatia also confirms its commitment to prevent
the transfer of munitions or sensitive dual-use goods and
technologies for military end uses to states which are
currently under UN embargo or whose behavior is or becomes a
cause of serious concern, in particular state sponsors of
terrorism, unless otherwise agreed with the Untied States.

This understanding will not apply to the transfer of
non-lethal military equipment or services to Libya. However,
as long as Libya is deemed to be a state sponsor of
terrorism, it will be the policy of the Government of Croatia
not to transfer to Libya: lethal military equipment; items
related to WMD or rocket or unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV)
systems; or U.S.-origin parts, components or systems
controlled on the U.S. munitions List (USML) or the Commerce
Control List (CCL).

It is the understanding of the Government of Croatia that
this note's confirmation of the export control policies of
Croatia, and its satisfaction of the criteria established for
membership, will enable the United States of America to
support the participation of Croatia in the Wassenaar
Arrangement in 2005.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and European Integration of
the Republic of Croatia avails itself of the opportunity to
renew to Embassy of the United States of America in the
Republic of Croatia the assurances of its highest
consideration.

Zagreb 3, March 2005. End text.

FRANK


NNNN