Zagreb Daily Report - February 25, 2010

UNCLAS ZAGREB 000116 SIPDIS SENSITIVE E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV PREL HR SUBJECT: Zagreb Daily Report - February 25, 2010 ¶1. (U) Economy Ministry Releases Reports on Public Procurement: The Economy Ministry's department for the public procurement system and the State Commission supervising public procurement sent their reports on public procurements for 2009 to the National Council monitoring corruption this week. The Ministry announced that out of 83 cases alleging corruption received in 2009, motions for pressing misdemeanor charges were submitted for six. Nearly $8 billion was spent through public procurement procedures, with nearly 60 percent of that for public works. The Ministry announced that 80 percent of deals were completed through open procedures. The State Commission, however, noted an increase in the number of complaints it received, rising from 637 in 2007 to 1,422 in 2009. ¶2. (U) ICITAP Training for Police and Prosecutors in Demand: The Embassy's ICITAP program is conducting a series of seminars on major case management for the corruption on organized crime units (USKOK) of the national police and state prosecutors. More than 100 officials attended two days of trainings at the Ministry of Interior in Zagreb on February 24 and 25 to learn techniques and proper procedures for managing large cases. The course is offered to non-USKOK prosecutors as well, and more than 100 regular prosecutors have signed up. Additional training sessions will be offered in the cities of Rijeka, Osijek, and Split in March, and attendees have requested a follow-up course to further refine their ability to manage major cases. ¶3. (U) Union Cancels Planned Strike; Croatia Airlines to Resume Normal Schedule: Croatia Airlines and the Cabin Crew Trade Union reached an agreement February 24 that averted the planned strike in the national airline (reported yesterday). Croatia Airlines informed passengers that flights will operate as normal. Union President Suzana Artukovic Vuksan said the union and management "met halfway," but talks will continue. The union had called for a strike on February 26 in response to Croatia Airlines' decision to introduce a 10% pay cut and decrease per diem and other benefits. FOLEY