CROATIA PROVIDES VIEWS ON NUCLEAR NONPROLIFERATION

C O N F I D E N T I A L ZAGREB 000105 SIPDIS DEPARTMENT PASS TO NPT COLLECTIVE ISN/MNSA FOR SCOTT DAVIS UNVIE FOR IAEA GENEVA FOR CD DELEGATION UNSUN FOR POL USNATO FOR POL USEU FOR POL E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/23/2019 TAGS: AORC CDG ENRG KNNP MNUC PARM PGOV PREL UNGA IAEA NPT HR SUBJECT: CROATIA PROVIDES VIEWS ON NUCLEAR NONPROLIFERATION TREATY REF: SECSTATE 06970 Classified By: Christopher J. Rhoton for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) ¶1. (C) SUMMARY: Andrej Dogan, Head of the Department for International Security at the Croatian MFA, responded to reftel during a 23 February meeting. The GOC approaches the review process with its own three pillars in mind: universality, commitment to strengthening non-proliferation regimes, and transparent, peaceful use of nuclear technology. It recognizes the value of reaching consensus on substantive issues, but does not believe an intransigent country or group of countries should be allowed to impede progress. The GOC views the United Nations as the best forum for dealing with issues of non-compliance. END SUMMARY. ¶2. (C) The GOC hopes to see as many countries as possible become signatories to the NPT as well as the Additional Protocol. It believes in the right of all nations--and here Dogan emphasized all--to pursue nuclear technology to peaceful ends insofar as it is carried out in a fully transparent manner. Just last year the GOC gave its full support to the India-IAEA Safeguards Agreement; Dogan said that though such an arrangement lies outside the scope of the NPT, it is a useful mechanism which demonstrates to India and other countries the benefits of participating in an NPT-like regime. He believed such engagement could evolve over time and eventually lead a country like India to become a NPT signatory. ¶3. (C) Dogan spoke of consensus on two levels. He emphasized the need for it among the five treaty-defined nuclear weapon states as a natural starting point for discussion of any substantive issue. He viewed the broader consensus as an ideal to be sought but recognized the inherent difficulties. He believed issues covered by the NPT were too important to all nations for progress on them to be impeded by an intransigent country or small group of countries. ¶4. (C) The GOC is an ardent supporter of worldwide non-proliferation efforts. Dogan noted this during his meeting with PolOff, and Croatia has demonstrated its commitment to the issue through its actions in recent years. Croatia has been quick to draft national legislation implementing UNSC sanctions against Iran. The country has worked closely with the Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA),State's EXBS program, and the Department of Energy to improve detection capabilities along its borders and develop a region-leading export control system. The GOC hopes to become one of the first countries to develop a national counterproliferation strategic plan later this year. ¶5. (C) Finally, the GOC regards the five treaty-defined nuclear weapon states as having a "little bigger" responsibility in the area of transparency, both in their civilian and military nuclear programs. Dogan was quick to dispel the notion that the GOC was offering the comment in response to a particular issue; the GOC merely wanted to emphasize the point and express its hope that such transparency efforts will, where possible, expand. BRADTKE