CROATIA SUPPORTS US WMO POSITION

UNCLAS ZAGREB 000444 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: SENV TPHY WMO HR SUBJECT: CROATIA SUPPORTS US WMO POSITION REFTEL STATE 47359 ¶1. Summary: The Croatian Meteorological and Hydrological Service (DHMZ) is actively involved with the World Meteorological Organization, plans to attend the upcoming Congress and supports the US position on strengthening the WMO in its intended capacity. End Summary. ¶2. Econoff spoke with Ivan Cacic, director, and Kreso Pandzic, assistant director of Croatia's Meteorological and Hydrological Service (DHMZ) regarding reftel. Both said they are attending the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) Congress in Geneva. ¶3. After reviewing the USG position, the Croatian officials said they are grateful the USG is encouraging WMO members to improve the organization's capacity building and training programs as well as its Disaster Preparedness and Mitigation Program, particularly regional disaster preparedness plans and WMO Information System (WIS). One of Croatia's goals is to establish a Sub-Regional Marine Meteorological Center for the Eastern Adriatic, also considered a WIS entity. ¶4. DHMZ officials said they are happy to cooperate with the USG, noting that the US Trade and Development Agency acknowledged their proposal to perform a feasibility study of the organization's infrastructure. ¶5. The DHMZ officials added that Croatia welcomes all activities that increase transparency of the WMO mandate, governance and internal controls as well as harmonizing WMO's role in working with other UN entities. BRADTKE