SCENESETTER FOR COMMANDER, U.S. EUCOM'S Visit to

C O N F I D E N T I A L ZAGREB 000558

NOFORN
SIPDIS
C O R R E C T E D COPY CAPTION
COMMANDER, U.S. EUROPEAN COMMAND FROM DATT
DEPARTMENT FOR EUR/SCE
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/11/2019
TAGS: PREL PGOV KPAO MOPS MARR NATO HR DEFENSE
REFORM
SUBJECT: SCENESETTER FOR COMMANDER, U.S. EUCOM'S Visit to
Croatia

Classified By: COL Brendan McAloon, DATT/ARMA, for
reasons 1.4 (b) & (d).


1. (C/NF) Sir, your visit to Exercise JACKAL STONE 09
comes at a time when the excellent security relationship
between Croatia and the United States continues to grow
stronger. Croatia appreciated the United States being
one of earliest countries to ratify Croatia's NATO
accession protocol and the Croatian Armed Forces (CAF)
see the U.S. in general and U.S. EUCOM in particular as
friends and allies with no hidden agendas. You will have
the opportunity to meet the Chief of the General Staff,
GEN Josip Lucic (Lootz-itch). Lucic was unexpectedly
reappointed for an unprecedented second five-year term as
CHOD in January 2008. Lucic is President Mesic's closest
military advisor and thus may not last in his position
much longer after Mesic's second term ends in February of

2010. Although he participated in three months of
language training in the United States, his ability to
speak English remains rudimentary. Your visit will also
give you a chance to meet the new U.S. Ambassador to
Croatia, James Foley, during his first few weeks on
station.


2. (C) OMLTs/ISAF. Prior to joining NATO in April,
Croatia had the only self-funded, non-NATO OMLT in
Afghanistan as part of its almost 300 troops in ISAF.
Croatia has since deployed two more OMLTs: one garrison
OMLT and one Combined Combat Support OMLT with their
state partner, the Minnesota National Guard (NGMN). The
OMLTs are deployed with the 209th ANA Corps and are based
in Mazar-e Sharif (MeS). Croatia paid all expenses for
the initial OMLT with the exception of U.S.-provided
stratlift. They have no operational limitations on
deployment or ROE, but do have two caveats: no CT and no
Counter-narcotics operations. The combined NGMN-CRO
Combat Support OMLT has not been smooth sailing.
Planning and equipment shortfalls exacerbated by poor
team-building made its initial entry into theater
difficult. We have conducted an extensive lessons
learned process and have submitted a 1206 proposal for
training equipment support to improve the quality of this
OMLT's efforts and ensure that future combined OMLTs are
better prepared for deployment. The NGMN is addressing
the training equipment shortfalls in the near-term. The
deployment with U.S. Soldiers is a point of pride for the
Croatian Army. The Minister of Defense has announced the
intention to deploy two additional Police OMLTs in 2010,
raising Croatia's ISAF contribution to 330. Currently
their contingent is dispersed in four locations
throughout RC-N, RC-W, and RC-Capital. Croatia has
expressed a desire to consolidate its forces to
facilitate logistical support. There is also a U.K.
proposal at SHAPE for Croatia to take the ISAF
Headquarters security mission. Without an additional
increase in the ISAF contingent, the HQ security mission
would require a decrease in Croatia's commitment of 131
soldiers securing the German base in MeS. The CAF is
attracted to the ISAF HQ security mission and Lucic may
ask you your thoughts on this proposal.


4. (C/NF) KFOR/Croatian Air Force: The Croatian Air
Force deployed two new MI-171Sh lift helicopters and 20
airmen to Camp Bondsteel in July 2009. This was the
first deployment outside of Croatia for the Air Force.
Croatia sees this as a test run deployment for the Air
Force and has not closed the door on deployment of
helicopters in support of ISAF in the future.
Additionally, SOCEUR has expressed keen interest in
working with the Croatian Air Force to develop
partnership capacity to support SOF operations. We have
recently submitted a 1206 proposal for funding this
program.


5. (SBU) Peacekeeping: Croatia prides itself on its
transition from a security consumer with UN Peacekeepers
on its territory as recently as 1998 to a security
provider with CAF elements involved in numerous UN
peacekeeping operations around the globe, to include 98
CAF personnel on the UN mission in the Golan Heights and
15 of its Special Forces soldiers to the UN mission in
Chad. With these deployments Croatia is in the process
of implementing its plans to increase and sustain its PKO
contributions from 250 soldiers in 2007 to 600 soldiers

in 2010.


6. (C) ASPA: The U.S. FMF and IMET programs were
suspended in July 2003 due to American Serviceman
Protection Act (ASPA) sanctions. As a result, the CAF
depended entirely upon national resources to accomplish
its NATO partnership goals and to equip its forces for
ISAF. Croatia is the only ISAF partner and new NATO
member that accomplished its transformation and financed
its ISAF commitments without FMF or Coalition Support
Funding. The suspension of IMET has had a telling impact
throughout the CAF that we still see today. Most notable
is the lack of U.S.-educated staff officers at the senior
and mid-grade officer level to fill critical billets on
the MOD, CAF, and NATO Staffs.


7. (SBU) FMF/IMET levels. Croatia did not receive any
FMF in FY08, and only one million dollars in FMF and 500K
in IMET in 2009. We recently received the good news that
an additional 110k of end of year IMET will be added to
this year's numbers after approval. The proposed budget
numbers trend better in FYs 10 and 11, but still far
short of what is needed to properly train and equip
Croatia for its ISAF mission.


8. (C) Procurement Priorities. The financial crisis has
forced two budget cuts already with another expected
soon. While there was initially enough fat to cut
without too much pain, the latest budget cuts have
started to impact longstanding procurement cases. The
contract for the new Patria Armored Personnel Carrier
will be changed to lengthen the delivery and payment
timelines. The contract for ten new coastal patrol
vessels for the Navy will be adjusted so that four will
be delivered and then the need for the other six will be
reevaluated. Replacement for the aging MiG-21 fighters
remains on the agenda, though the high price has delayed
the decision. U.S. FMF funding will be directed at
obtaining the necessary NATO-compatible JTAC equipment,
radios, night vision devices, weapon sights, and GPS
required to sustain Croatia's forces in ISAF. USAREUR
assisted Croatia by leasing two HMMWVs for use in pre-
deployment drivers training. We provided through no-cost
lease 30 up-armored HMMWVs in ISAF to make the deployed
Croatian soldiers more survivable and have encouraged
Croatia to request an additional 30 up-armored HMMWV's.
FOLEY