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