VZCZCXRO9747
RR RUEHAG RUEHAST RUEHDA RUEHDF RUEHFL RUEHIK RUEHKW RUEHLA RUEHLN
RUEHLZ RUEHPOD RUEHROV RUEHSR RUEHVK RUEHYG
DE RUEHVB #0047 0240819
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 240819Z JAN 08
FM AMEMBASSY ZAGREB
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 8497
INFO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE
RUEAWJA/DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE WASHDC
UNCLAS ZAGREB 000047
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
DEPARTMENT FOR EUR/SCE, INL
JUSTICE FOR ICITAP/MHANSON
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KCRM AFIN SNAR HR
SUBJECT: Croatia's 2007 End Use Monitoring Report
REF: State 163708
1. As per reftel, Post is pleased to provide INL with its End Use
Monitoring Report. INL programs in-country during the year include
the ICITAP program and Post's War Crimes Project.
A. PROCEDURES
For provision of equipment ICITAP and the GOC's Ministry of Interior
jointly sign a donation letter which includes detailed equipment
information and the general purpose of the project. As of 2007, all
equipment donations are bar coded. Following donation, an ICITAP
employee conducts an annual physical inspection to ensure the
condition and use of the equipment. For Post's War Crimes Project,
Post and each court president jointly signed grant agreement letters
which included detailed equipment information and intended use. For
end use monitoring, a Post employee conducts either a physical
inspection or phone call to ensure the condition and use of the
equipment. Post is pleased to report that these procedures are
effective and efficient, and that the GOC fully cooperates with
equipment checks.
B. STATUS
ICITAP-provided commodities are currently employed in police
headquarters, police stations around the country, the Police
Academy, and the State Prosecutor's office. All are using the
equipment as intended.
Computers: Computer maintenance is adequate, although Post notes
that some computers, which were donated in 2002, are quite outdated.
Nevertheless, they are able to satisfy the basic performance needs
of police. Laptops, digital cameras are being used as intended.
The FRED computer forensics system is being utilized.
Communications equipment: cell phones ("throw phones") are being
used as intended by police. Post-provided video link equipment
provided to the Ministry of Justice and to four courts is being
utilized as intended. To date, equipment is being or has been used
in cases in Osijek, Zagreb, Split, and Vukovar courts. Rijeka has
not yet employed the equipment for cases. Equipment donated to the
Judicial Academy at the Ministry of Justice was stolen in November
2007 while on loan in Split during a narcotics-related case. Police
are investigating.
Vehicles: State prosecutors are using the donated vehicle as
intended.
Vessels/Aircraft/Canine Program/Lab equipment/Construction/Defense
Articles: N/A
Uniforms and Field Gear: Police using goggles and night vision
equipment as intended.
Miscellaneous Equipment: Police using FATS equipment as intended.
Occasional repairs have been needed, which the GOC has funded.
Endoscopes and VSC4 passport document readers have been utilized
properly. ICITAP reports that other office equipment provided to
headquarters is being utilized.
C. PROBLEMS
No problems have been reported.
D. IMPACT
Post has observed that the donations contributed to the overall
efficiency and modernization of the Croatian police administration.
Training and development at the Police Academy has visibly improved;
training at the language lab remains limited but active; and
internet resources are now available at the Academy. The
ICITAP-provided document reader has resulted in the apprehension of
at least one Interpol-wanted individual. Throw phones were employed
in a hostage situation this year. Video-link equipment has been
used in court cases to protect the identities of witnesses in war
crimes cases.
E. PROGRAM CHANGES.
As agreed between Croatia-based ICITAP staff and Post, all future
donations will be directly targeted to strengthen Croatia's fight
against organized crime and corruption. Equipment requests from the
Ministry of Interior must demonstrate a direct impact on these
programs and be vetted both by ICITAP and by Post. As the ICITAP
program and its donations wind down in Croatia, Post believes that
more targeted donations will focus the program's impact and will
bring it to a successful conclusion in the next year or two.
BRADTKE