PM/WRA VISIT REINFORCES CROATIAN COMMITMENT TO

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 ZAGREB 000334 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS DEPARTMENT FOR EUR/SCE, PM/WRA NSC FOR BRAUN OSD FOR POPOVICH DEPARTMENT ALSO PLEASE PASS TO DTRA SALW PROGRAM - REYNO E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/23/2018 TAGS: MASS PREL PGOV PTER MARR PARM HR DEFENSE REFORM SUBJECT: PM/WRA VISIT REINFORCES CROATIAN COMMITMENT TO MANPADS DESTRUCTION REF: A. ZAGREB 322 ¶B. STATE 30482 Classified By: PolOfficer TOM SELINGER, Reasons 1.4 (B/D) ¶1. (C) SUMMARY AND COMMENT: PolOff and PM/WRA Senior Advisor Mark Adams on April 15-16 visited key Croatian Army logistics facilities to discuss possible assistance for destruction of the military's excess Man-Portable Air Defense Systems (MANPADS). During meetings and site visits at Velika Buna logistics base outside Zagreb and the Slunj training range south of Karlovac, Adams heard from senior military and MOD officials about Croatia's intent to destroy 929 of the approximately 2,900 Strela-2 (1980's era SA-7 variant) missiles in military stockpiles and 284 of the corresponding gripstocks. Additional missiles from this inventory are likely to be designated for destruction in coming years. At a final meeting at the MFA, Asst Min for International Organizations and Security Pjer Simunovic expressed the GoC's complete agreement with our goal of eliminating excess MANPADS and keen interest in USG assistance to accelerate the process. MOD Senior Advisor for Development, Acquisition and Modernization Sanko Bakija committed to delivering a formal letter of request for assistance to the Embassy within two weeks. ¶2. (C) Security at missile storage sites was effective but low-tech, lacking alarms or video surveillance. Post intends to use MANPADS destruction assistance as an incentive to secure GoC participation in the Defense Threat Reduction Agency's Physical Security and Stockpile Management program for Small Arms and Light Weapons. END SUMMARY AND COMMENT. AMMUNITION DESTRUCTION PROCEEDING AT SLOW RATE -------------- - ¶3. (C) Brigadier General Mate Ostovic, Commander of the Croatian Army's Logisitics Command, described current weapons and ammunition destruction efforts, which he stressed he could only initiate upon direction from the MOD. The military destroyed 8,000 excess SALW with UNDP/EU assistance in early 2008 and is currently destroying 17,000 anti-tank missiles. Ostovic does not currently have a budget to destroy the 929 Strela-2 missiles already designated as excess by the MOD, and ministry officials have indicated that assistance from the Norwegian government will make destruction of cluster munitions a higher priority. ¶4. (C) The military also routinely destroys approximately 1,000 tons of obsolete ammunition each year, according to Ostovic. Bakija told PolOff that a total of 11,000 tons of ammunition has already been designated for destruction, with a potential for designation of another 27,000 tons in coming years if the MOD succeeds in its plan to completely renew its aging munitions stocks by 2015. Croatia's newest ammunition is at least 25 years old, according to Bakija. A weapons and ammunition tracking system currently under development will enable the military to follow the entire life cycle of each individual munition and weapon, increasing efficiency in identifying items for destruction. "CLASSIC" SECURITY MEASURES FOR MANPADS INVENTORY -------------- -------------- ¶5. (C) BG Ostovic also outlined what he called "classic" security practices at Croatian weapons and ammunition storage facilities, including inventory controls, locked and guarded bunkers, roving patrols, and perimeter fencing. Site visits confirmed his description: a concrete, climate-controlled bunker guarded in a remote section of the Slunj training range housed 1,052 perfectly stacked and packed Strela-2 missiles. Additional serviceable missiles are stored at a facility in northeastern Croatia. The 929 Strela-2 missiles designated for destruction are currently stored at the Golubic base near Knin but may ultimately be destroyed by open detonation at the Slunj range. Fourteen Igla missiles (a newer SA-7 variant) have also been designated as excess along with 13 corresponding gripstocks, but these may be kept for research and training, according to Bakija. ¶6. (C) Ostovic's command has plans to add increased technology (i.e. video surveillance and alarms) at one facility this year and expand in the future depending on resources. He noted that international assistance to ZAGREB 00000334 002 OF 002 accelerate security upgrades would be welcome. Bradtke