ZAGREB WEEKLY ACTIVITY REPORT - SEPTEMBER 4, 2008

UNCLAS ZAGREB 000630 SIPDIS SENSITIVE FOR EUR/SCE, EUR/PPD, EUR/RPM AND EUR/ERA OSD FOR POPOVICH E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL PGOV HR SUBJECT: ZAGREB WEEKLY ACTIVITY REPORT - SEPTEMBER 4, 2008 ¶1. (SBU) RUSSIAN MINISTERIAL VISIT TO DISCUSS GAZPROM CONTRACT AND DRUZBA ADRIA PROJECT: On September 24 Croatia will meet with Russian Emergency Situations Minister Sergey Shoigu to begin preparations for a meeting of the Croatia-Russia Intergovernmental Commission for Trade, Economic, Scientific, and Technical Cooperation. This would be the first meeting of the Commission in four years. Croatia is anxious to discuss the renewal of a gas contract with Gazprom, which is set to expire in 2010. Discussions of the contract have been reportedly delayed by Gazprom in part because of Croatian indecision on the Druzba Adria oil pipeline project. PM Sanader announced over the summer new willingness to explore the project, and a Russian Embassy spokesman said it is not too late for Druzba Adria. (DWestfall) ¶2. (U) ROTATION OF ISAF FORCES CONTINUES: The Croatian military began their rotation of ISAF forces with advance party flights on August 22 and 28. The flights, using U.S. military and contracted commercial airlift, were coordinated through the European Command (EUCOM) Deployed Distribution Operations Center (DDOC) Coalition Branch and transported 37 short tons of cargo and approximately 70 personnel. (CDavis) ¶3. (U) CROATIA RECEIVES MILITARY TRAINING SIMULATION SOFTWARE: The Croatian military has received Joint Conflict and Tactical Simulation (JCATS) software worth $500,000 to support training at the Croatian Leader and Staff Simulation Center (CLSSC). Over the course of 3 weeks in July and August, CLSSC used the software in a recent training course. The CLSSC is used by both the Croatian police and Croatian Armed Forces. JCATS is an interactive simulation tool that augments two software simulator packages already in use by the Croatian military. JCATS is able to simulate operations in urban terrain, supports non-lethal as well as conventional weapons, and allows users to quickly assemble and disband entities and units making it useful to police units as well as all of the armed forces. (CDavis) ¶4. (U) TRAINING AMMUNITION DELIVERED TO CROATIA: In August, Croatia also received a consolidated shipment of ammunition purchased from USAREUR. This first time purchase of ammunition from the USG allowed Croatia to buy M22 ATWESS (Anti-Tank Weapon Effect Signature Simulation) cartridges which they were unable to procure from other sources. These cartridges are used in military training to simulate the sound and appearance of the firing of an anti-tank weapon. (CDavis) Bradtke