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Cablegate: Zagreb Weekly Activity Report - September 4, 2008

Published: Fri 5 Sep 2008 12:25 PM
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PP RUEHAG RUEHAST RUEHDA RUEHDF RUEHFL RUEHIK RUEHKW RUEHLA RUEHLN
RUEHLZ RUEHPOD RUEHROV RUEHSR RUEHVK RUEHYG
DE RUEHVB #0630 2491225
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 051225Z SEP 08 ZDK
FM AMEMBASSY ZAGREB
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 8599
INFO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC PRIORITY
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC PRIORITY
UNCLAS ZAGREB 000630
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FOR EUR/SCE, EUR/PPD, EUR/RPM AND EUR/ERA
OSD FOR POPOVICH
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PGOV HR
SUBJECT: ZAGREB WEEKLY ACTIVITY REPORT - SEPTEMBER 4, 2008
1. (SBU) RUSSIAN MINISTERIAL VISIT TO DISCUSS GAZPROM
CONTRACT AND DRUZBA ADRIA PROJECT:
On September 24 Croatia will meet with Russian Emergency
Situations Minister Sergey Shoigu to begin preparations for a
meeting of the Croatia-Russia Intergovernmental Commission
for Trade, Economic, Scientific, and Technical Cooperation.
This would be the first meeting of the Commission in four
years. Croatia is anxious to discuss the renewal of a gas
contract with Gazprom, which is set to expire in 2010.
Discussions of the contract have been reportedly delayed by
Gazprom in part because of Croatian indecision on the Druzba
Adria oil pipeline project. PM Sanader announced over the
summer new willingness to explore the project, and a Russian
Embassy spokesman said it is not too late for Druzba Adria.
(DWestfall)
2. (U) ROTATION OF ISAF FORCES CONTINUES:
The Croatian military began their rotation of ISAF forces
with advance party flights on August 22 and 28. The flights,
using U.S. military and contracted commercial airlift, were
coordinated through the European Command (EUCOM) Deployed
Distribution Operations Center (DDOC) Coalition Branch and
transported 37 short tons of cargo and approximately 70
personnel. (CDavis)
3. (U) CROATIA RECEIVES MILITARY TRAINING SIMULATION
SOFTWARE:
The Croatian military has received Joint Conflict and
Tactical Simulation (JCATS) software worth $500,000 to
support training at the Croatian Leader and Staff Simulation
Center (CLSSC). Over the course of 3 weeks in July and
August, CLSSC used the software in a recent training course.
The CLSSC is used by both the Croatian police and Croatian
Armed Forces. JCATS is an interactive simulation tool that
augments two software simulator packages already in use by
the Croatian military. JCATS is able to simulate operations
in urban terrain, supports non-lethal as well as conventional
weapons, and allows users to quickly assemble and disband
entities and units making it useful to police units as well
as all of the armed forces. (CDavis)
4. (U) TRAINING AMMUNITION DELIVERED TO CROATIA:
In August, Croatia also received a consolidated shipment of
ammunition purchased from USAREUR. This first time purchase
of ammunition from the USG allowed Croatia to buy M22 ATWESS
(Anti-Tank Weapon Effect Signature Simulation) cartridges
which they were unable to procure from other sources. These
cartridges are used in military training to simulate the
sound and appearance of the firing of an anti-tank weapon.
(CDavis)
Bradtke
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