CROATIA CONCERNED ABOUT CLUSTER MUNITIONS

C O N F I D E N T I A L ZAGREB 000073 SIPDIS SIPDIS FOR PM/WRA AND EUR/SCE E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/23/2017 TAGS: PREL PGOV MOPS PARM HR SUBJECT: CROATIA CONCERNED ABOUT CLUSTER MUNITIONS REF: STATE 6667 Classified By: Deputy Chief of Mission Greg Delawie for reasons 1.4(b) and (d). ¶1. (C) Drawing from reftel, DCM discussed cluster munitions with MFA Assistant Minister for International Organizations and Security Pjer Simunovic January 22. ¶2. (C) Simunovic said he would be representing the GOC at the Oslo conference February 22-23. Simunovic said that given Croatia's experience during the Balkan Wars period of the 1990's, cluster munitions were not just a theoretical issue for the country; remaining cluster munitions and other unexploded ordinance are a threat even today, despite vigorous de-mining efforts by the GOC and the international community (including the USG),he said. They kill indiscriminately, he noted, sometimes years after they are deployed. ¶3. (C) Given these factors, he said, the GOC favors the development of a strong framework to restrict the use of cluster munitions. It has not yet fully developed its ideas on whether this framework would include a legally-binding treaty or some other instrument, he noted, but the GOC is serious about this issue. BRADTKE