EXBS: CROATIA/SLOVAKIA/SLOVENIA ADVISOR

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 05 ZAGREB 000321 SIPDIS SIPDIS DEPT FOR NP/ECC PVANSON, ACHURCH, AMAGOULAS AND JMCCLELLAN; DEPT FOR EUR/ACE DMARTIN; CBP/INA FOR PWARKER; USDOE/NNSA FOR TPERRY; DOC FOR PETERSEN- BEARD E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: ETTC MNUC PARM PREL KSTC KNNP HR LO SI SUBJECT: EXBS: CROATIA/SLOVAKIA/SLOVENIA ADVISOR MONTHLY REPORTING CABLE - FEB 2006 ¶1. SITE ASSESSMENTS AND MEETINGS Croatia -------------- 6 Feb, met with the General Director and Department Head of the State Office for Nuclear Safety (SONS). The main focus of the meeting was to review responsibilities of the office (est. June 2005 per Art. 22 of the Nuclear Safety Act) and identify areas where EXBS assistance can contribute to professional capacity and effectiveness. In overview, the office is responsible for implementation of the Act and regulations, all related record keeping, issuance of all nuclear and related activity and equipment licenses, and conducting safety inspections, analysis and certification of facilities where any form of nuclear activity is conducted to ensure compliance with all applicable Act provisions and regulations. The office voiced an eager desire to receive any NRC sponsored training applicable and responsive to improving their professionalism and effectiveness. Although no personnel were available to attend the 2005 RADICAD training, members of this body have thus far, been included in WMD regulatory control training. It was further determined that their responsibilities dictate the need for radiation pagers and accompanying training. -------------- 7 and 14 Feb, met with Deputy Head of Border Police and Department Heads of Maritime Police to plan and coordinate the U.S. Coast Guard Assessment visit scheduled for 20-28 Feb. -------------- 7 Feb, met with representatives of Lockheed Martin (currently engaged in the development of Croatian MOD radars) to motivate discussion with the Coast Guard Assessment Team toward identifying technical problems and responsive solutions to MOD coastal radar support of MOI Maritime Police operations. -------------- 7 Feb, met with instructors for the U.S. Commerce sponsored Licensing Workshop scheduled for 8-10 Feb, to review training materials and verify arrangements for the session. -------------- 15 Feb, met with the Ministry of Finance Customs Directorate, Assistant Minister and Director General (DG) and the Assistant Director Generals (ADG) for International Cooperation and Anti-Smuggling to discuss the status of USG cooperation, particulary EXBS support. Talking points focused upon encouraging completion of their Strategic Plan and associated mechanisms necessary to meet assigned EU goals and strengthen Croatia's role in support of international export control regimes. The offering of capacity building assistance and support through donations of specialized nonproliferation training and technical detection equipment was again extended in support of those aims. The DG acknowledged that although these instruments had not yet been implemented, Customs did expect to meet that goal by the spring and would also welcome our equipment donation offerings. The point was made clear that any offering carried an expectation that Customs would willingly make a more concerted effort to demonstrate measurable goal progression through the linkage of tactical deployments of ZAGREB 00000321 002 OF 005 equipment with published strategic planning methodology. The DG's concluding remarks were limited to gratitude for any donations, a general declaration of good will through contined coordination and cooperation with no commitments directed toward the specific points addressed. This meeting was significant in that it revealed an observed distinction in attitude between the DG and the ADGs. This point was made clear in conversation at the conclusion of the meeting that the ADGs, unlike the DG, were predisposed toward a preference and desire for active EXBS cooperation and assistance but lacked the necessary decision making authority for any commitment. A subsequent meeting with the Regional Head of Customs in Rijeka presented a similar point of view. The Customs Rijeka official commented that he had been briefed on the content of the meeting with the DG in Zagreb. He basically agreed that integration of the suggested points could offer greater progressive opportunity for international and EU harmonization of Customs responsibilities. He stated he has long advocated adoption of a more progressive centralized enforcement and compliance driven Risk Management policy that offers more responsive and effective interdiction and revenue potential over the current decentralized revenue driven approach he sees as only marginally effective. Following a scheduled meeting with relevant EU representatives in Zagreb to discuss and coordinate joint ongoing MOF (Customs) international assistance, a subsequent meeting with Customs will be scheduled to address their commitment toward a plan for deployment of projected EXBS donations of technical equipment. -------------- 15 Feb, met with representatives of Safeworld, a contracting agency assigned by the EU to analyze arms export controls across the Stability Pact States and Croatia's contribution to that process. The representatives were given a briefing on the status of all EXBS initiatives ongoing in Croatia, an update on the progressive state of Croatian export controls initiatives, particularly in relation to their ongoing EU membership screening process, and the close relationship between the U.S. and EU in promoting Croatia's export control and border security capacity. -------------- 16 Feb, met with representatives of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to discuss their leadership role within Croatia's Export Control Coordinating Body. MFA concurred that one of their principal responsibilities is to encourage and promote cooperative support and cohesiveness among all the relevant member ministries and ensure their assigned delegates had the necessary backing and authority to contribute equally, responsibly and decisively to the licensing control process. In that role, MFA suggested the development and presentation of an Executive and Senior Management Export Control and Licensing Workshop. The workshop aim would be to engage, focus and challenge Ministers, their pertinent deputies, assistants and senior management staff toward the ZAGREB 00000321 003 OF 005 development and promotion of clear channels of understanding, communication and exchange between ministries (both internally and externally) to support the conduct of their assigned role responsibilities and participation in Croatia's export controls initiatives. Although MFA initially asked USG (EXBS) to develop, host and present the proposed workshop, it was subsequently agreed that MFA should more appropriately undertake these leadership responsibilities with EXBS support. It was further agreed that this concept should be studied in more detail prior to further discussion and development. -------------- 20-24 Feb, coordinated and hosted visit of the DOS NP/ECC Desk Officer for Croatia and Slovenia. The visit included attendance and guest speaker/panel member at the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) and EU sponsored Regional Dual-Use/Export Control Seminar and subsequent meetings with pertinent U.S. Embassy Zagreb staff, U.S. Coast Guard Assessment Team members and Croatian Ministry representatives in Zagreb and Split. -------------- 19-28 Feb, coordinated and hosted visit of the U.S. Coast Guard Assessment Team to support EXBS Program objectives. Team members initially meet with DOS U.S. Embassy Zagreb staff and Ministry officials of the MoI Border Police Maritime Division (BMP) and the Ministry of Sea, Tourism, Transport and Development (MOSTTD Port Authority and Harbor Masters) in Zagreb. The team subsequently traveled to Split, Vis, Ploce, Dubrovnik and Rijeka to evaluate the capacities, development and needs of the MoI BP and MOSTTD in the conduct of mission performance from operational patrols to port security, particularly in response to WMD and NP requirements. Regional meetings were held with Ministries representing the Coordinating Body to include MoI BMP, MOSTTD, MoF Customs Directorate and MOD Navy to discuss mission roles, coordination, and radar access, operational capacities and identify collective and individual limitations and needs. The visit was concluded with an out brief of findings to both U.S. and Croatian officials. Slovenia. -------------- 17 Feb, attended country team and coordination meetings at Embassy Ljubljana to discuss status of Slovenian MoE continuing support of ICP workshops. Slovenian MoE licensing officials have been unwilling to schedule any working meetings during Feb, pending the completion of their response to the Ambassador's letter dated 10 Feb. The letter inquired about MoE's continued support of ICP, Tracker and the Wisconsin Project. One MoE official contacted expressed some optimism (somewhat wishfully),that the forthcoming official response might be constructive. A meeting with the MoE Undersecretary for Licensing is scheduled for 9 Mar to verify their continued support of the remaining EXBS program initiatives. 2.TRAINING Croatia ZAGREB 00000321 004 OF 005 -------------- 01 Feb, EU and SIPRI, in coordination with EXBS participation, sponsored a one day Industry Outreach Seminar with a variety of guest speakers providing advise and knowledge in the development of a viable industry outreach program. Attendees included the MoE, MFA, MoD, the Chamber of Commerce and private industry. -------------- 07-08 Feb, MoE Division for Trade and Licensing sent two delegates to attend a UNDP SEESAC conference in Belgrade to discuss development of a regional annual report on small arms controls. -------------- 08-10 Feb, MoE hosted a USDOC sponsored Licensing Procedures and Practices Workshop in Zagreb. Speakers included two USDOC contract specialists, two U.S. and two EU licensing officials. Attending GOC officials represented the Ministries of Foreign Affairs, Economy, Defense, Finance (Customs) and the State Office for Nuclear Safety along with representation from the Croatian Chamber of Commerce and private industry. -------------- 20-22 Feb, EU and SIPRI sponsored a Regional Dual-Use/Export Control Seminar in Zagreb attended by Croatian MoE delegates. The USDOS NP/ECC Desk Officer for Croatia and Slovenia also attended a day session as a guest speaker and discussion panel member. Slovenia -------------- 31 Jan - 01 Feb, the second portion of the DOC sponsored Internal Control Program (ICP) training was held in Ljubljana. Attendees included MoE officials and representatives from private industry coordinated through the Slovenian Chamber of Commerce. DOC endorsed the request for inclusion of a EU speaker (formerly Estonian MoE and current EU consultant) to address issues of concern to Slovenian MoE. The speaker explained the EU position on the use of denial lists, government-industry outreach roles and responsibilities and other export control related issues. This participation appeared to have a positive impact and lent greater credibility to the training effort. If this workshop is to continue this approach should be considered for the next session. 3.EQUIPMENT STATUS Slovakia. -------------- In Feb Slovak Customs requested repair of their X-Ray van monitors. Coordination with Bechtel Nevada Corp. (DOE/NNSA) determined repairs would be carried out during regular scheduled maintenance in Aug 2006. EXBS Bratislava coordinated a similar repair through LATA/L3 at the request of U.S. Embassy Budapest and Hungarian Customs. -------------- Feb status update on Portal Monitor Upgrades at Slovakian POE's, along the Ukrainian border, continuing in coordination with DOE. DOE is currently assisting Slovak Customs in modification of the required MOU in ZAGREB 00000321 005 OF 005 accordance with EU Commission instruction. The portal monitors at Vysne Nemecke POE must be relocated due to extensive facility reconstruction to accommodate an increase in border traffic. Selection of a new site for the monitors will be done subsequent to the awarding of the contract and submission of the project plan draft by Apr 06. The proposed project completion date is Dec 06. The portal monitors and checkpoint at Cierna nd Tisou Railway POE must be relocated closer to the border in compliance with Schengen requirements. Attendees included representation from both industry and government. FRANK