Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07USNATO545
2007-10-05 10:13:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Mission USNATO
Cable title:  

CROATIA'S ANNUAL NATIONAL PROGRAM RECEIVES GOOD

Tags:  NATO PGOV PREL CR 
pdf how-to read a cable
C O N F I D E N T I A L USNATO 00545

SIPDIS
O 051013Z OCT 07

FM USMISSION USNATO
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 1253
INFO RUEHZG/NATO EU COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RUCNOSC/ORG FOR SECURITY CO OP IN EUR COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC PRIORITY
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHDC PRIORITY
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC PRIORITY
RHMFISS/USNMR SHAPE BE PRIORITY
RUEHNO/USDELMC BRUSSELS BE PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 USNATO 000545 

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/03/2017
TAGS: NATO PGOV PREL CR
SUBJECT: CROATIA'S ANNUAL NATIONAL PROGRAM RECEIVES GOOD
MARKS AT SEPTEMBER 18

REF: A. STATE 129867


B. NATO 0500

C. CROATIA'S ANP (E-MAILED TO EUR/RPM)

Classified By: DCM W. Scott Reid for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 USNATO 000545

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/03/2017
TAGS: NATO PGOV PREL CR
SUBJECT: CROATIA'S ANNUAL NATIONAL PROGRAM RECEIVES GOOD
MARKS AT SEPTEMBER 18

REF: A. STATE 129867


B. NATO 0500

C. CROATIA'S ANP (E-MAILED TO EUR/RPM)

Classified By: DCM W. Scott Reid for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).


1. (C) SUMMARY: NATO's Senior Political Committee
(Reinforced) (SPC/R) met with a Croatian delegation on
September 18 to review their latest Annual National Program
(ANP) for this year's abbreviated Membership Action Plan
(MAP) cycle before the April 2008 summit in Bucharest.
Allies were generally pleased with the progress made over the
previous MAP cycle. Croatia received specific commendation
for its Communications Management Strategy and continued
contributions to NATO-led military operations. Allies urged
Croatia to continue the fight against corruption and reform
of the judicial system. Finally, some Allies raised
questions regarding Croatia's military transformation process
and associated challenges. END SUMMARY.

-------------- --------------
CROATIA: TRANSFORMATIONS IN ANTICIPATION OF BUCHAREST
-------------- --------------


2. (C) Pjer Simunovic, Croatia's National Coordinator for
NATO and Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs, presented
Croatia's ANP to NATO Allies on September 18, 2007.
Simunovic stressed Croatia's awareness of the short time
remaining before Bucharest and its commitment to further
preparation to meet the standards required for NATO
accession. Simunovic briefed on Croatia's participation in
ISAF, reminding Allies that Croatia's troop commitment is
planned to increase from 200 to 300 by 2008. Simunovic
reiterated Croatia's commitment to democratic reforms, noting
that in the nine months from June 2006 through March 2007,
the backlog of court cases in Croatia dropped by over 16% and
unresolved cases within the land registry declined by almost
62%. Results from the National Anti-Corruption Program are
being seen and include participation from fifteen government
bodies including an independent National Council made up of
individuals from within and outside the government monitoring
their work. Continued democratic reforms, engagement in
international security operations, security reform and
classified information regulation elaboration were
highlighted as being critical to Croatia's continued growth
and democratization.


3. (C) Assistant Minister of Defence Igor Pokaz discussed
the transformation of Croatia's military. He emphasized the
modernization of Croatia's military into a smaller, more
mobile force (Army, Navy, and Air Force) through continued
downsizing of its armed forces and modernization of equipment
and training procedures. The transformation will be a
gradual, phased-approach with the first phase focused on
achieving force readiness for NATO/PfP-led operations. The
reorganization of the command structure should be complete by
the end of 2009.

--------------
ALLIES VOICE APPRECIATION AND CONCERNS
--------------


4. (C) USNATO POLAD thanked Croatia for its participation,
congratulated Zagreb for its troops' performance in ISAF, and
inquired as to how it planned to raise in-theater forces to
300 in 2008. He emphasized that while Croatia had made
significant strides toward NATO membership, time was short
with much to do before April's Bucharest Summit. He pointed
to the need for a continued public information campaign in
the run-up to elections, further progress on property
restitution or associated tenancy equivalents, support for
refugee return, and easing inter-ethnic tensions. Finally,
the POLAD noted disappointment over the delays in Croatia's
elaboration of its MiG replacement strategy and asked for
clarification of the overall plan.


5. (C) A number of Allies seconded U.S. points on the
importance of a continued public information campaign, as
well as Zagreb's pressing through judicial and other reforms
over the shortened MAP period. All voiced appreciation for
Croatia's engagement in international security operations,
such as in ISAF. They cited concerns over the military's
ability to continue transformation into a professional
volunteer force at its current pace. Several Allies noted
the likely challenges of recruitment and retention in the
context of a rapidly growing Croatian economy.

--------------
ABBREVIATED RESPONSE
--------------


6. (C) Simunovic promised to "keep his eye on the ball" of
the communications strategy in the run-up to elections and
commented that Croatia was committed to former tenancy
owner's rights and hoped to have all cases resolved be 2009.
Due to time constraints and the length of Simunovic and
Pokaz's initial presentations, he promised to provide written
responses to other Allied questions.
NULAND