SHIPBOARDING AGREEMENT RATIFIED, PSI EXERCISE IN

UNCLAS ZAGREB 000131 SIPDIS SIPDIS DEPT FOR EUR/SCE, ISN/CPI E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PARM PREL KNNP MNUC HR NON PROLIFERATION SUBJECT: SHIPBOARDING AGREEMENT RATIFIED, PSI EXERCISE IN 2008 REF: STATE 13901 ¶1. Parliament on February 2 ratified the Proliferation Security Initiative (PSI) Shipboarding Agreement that the GoC had signed with the USG in June 2005. The reciprocal agreement, which facilitates PSI cooperation by establishing contacts and procedures to expedite requests to board and search suspect vessels flying either a Croatian or U.S. flag in international waters, passed by a vote of 86 to 1 with 2 abstentions. ¶2. PolOff discussed GoC plans to host a PSI exercise with head of MFA's International Security Department Sanja Bujas-Juraga on February 5 and delivered reftel points. Juraga expressed appreciation for U.S. support of Croatian PSI efforts and concluded that the most realistic and productive date for the GoC's exercise would probably be in April or May of 2008. She told PolOff that she would recommend that her ministry begin working on this project this spring. ¶3. Juraga reported that the GoC is willing to participate in Slovenia's port interdiction exercise planned for May but has still not been approached by the GoS. BRADTKE