CROATIA CONSIDERING INCREASE IN ISAF DEPLOYMENT BY

C O N F I D E N T I A L ZAGREB 000690 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/01/2019 TAGS: MARR PREL NATO MOPS AF HR SUBJECT: CROATIA CONSIDERING INCREASE IN ISAF DEPLOYMENT BY 5 PERCENT REF: STATE 120807 Classified By: Ambassador James Foley, Reasons 1.4 B/D ¶1. (C) Ambassador Foley conveyed points in reftel in November 26 meeting with Foreign Minister Jandrokovic emphasizing inter alia importance of increased troop contributions by Croatia to ISAF. Jandrokovic replied that the U.S. could count on strong public support from the GOC in the wake of the President's announcement. He also said that Croatia would endorse a unified alliance statement in support of the U.S. plan at the December 3-4 NATO ministerial, where Jandrokovic will represent the GOC. ¶2. (C) Regarding troop contributions, Jandrokovic said the Croatian Defense Council this week had decided to strengthen Croatia's ISAF contingent, which currently consists of 300 soldiers. A 5 percent increase (15 soldiers) had been discussed but was not formally determined. The reason for the hesitation was the GoC's fear of injecting Afghanistan into the ongoing Croatian presidential campaign (where voting will be held on December 27 and January 10). A two-thirds majority would be required in the parliament to approve a troop increase, and the GOC feared this could be jeopardized if presidential candidates decided to make Croatia's presence in Afghanistan an issue. ¶3. (C) Jandrokovic also noted that the Defense Council had authorized negotiations with the UK to implement London's request for a redeployment of Croatian forces in order to provide enhanced security at the Kabul airport. ¶4. (C) Finally, Jandrokovic reported that the Defence Council had approved deployment of POMLTs to Afghanistan, even within its current deployment. FOLEY