INDEPENDENT NEWS

Cablegate: Croatia: 2008 Country Reports On Terrorism

Published: Mon 22 Dec 2008 02:35 PM
VZCZCXYZ0006
RR RUEHWEB
DE RUEHVB #0883 3571435
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 221435Z DEC 08
FM AMEMBASSY ZAGREB
TO SECSTATE WASHDC 8880
UNCLAS ZAGREB 000883
SIPDIS
FOR S/CT: RHONDA SHORE AND NCTC, INFO NCTC: RUEILB/NCTC
WASHINGTON DC
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PTER ASEC PREL HR
SUBJECT: CROATIA: 2008 COUNTRY REPORTS ON TERRORISM
REF: STATE 120019
1. Croatia has no indigenous terrorist threat and there have
been no recorded terrorist threats to the US Embassy or US
personnel. Croatia has a small Muslim community that is very
secular in their orientation and, in comparison with their
overall numbers, are well represented within the professional
and intellectual elite in the country.
2. Croatian law-enforcement institutions cooperate well with
US counterterrorism initiatives and have received training
from the International Law Enforcement Academy (ILEA) in
Budapest, Hungary; DS/ATA; DTRA; EXBS; FBI; DEA; ICITAP; U.S.
Marshals; and the International Visitors Program. Croatia is
also a strong partner in the global war on terror, and the
Croatian government has increased its contribution to the
International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan from
200 to 300 soldiers who serve as military police, medical
support, force security, and in liaison and training roles.
3. In December 2008, Croatia passed a new national strategy
for the prevention of terrorism which will enhance Croatia's
ability to cooperate in international counterterrorism
efforts. Also in December 2008, Croatia, in its Presidency
of the UN Security Council, chaired an open debate on
"Threats to International Peace and Security Caused by
Terrorism," which resulted in a UN Presidency Statement
condemning terrorist acts and advocating the advancement of
international efforts to combat terrorism.
4. Croatia is in the initial phases of introducing biometric
passports, but border security remains a challenge. Border
patrol forces are limited by a lack of personnel and training
to cover effectively a 750 mile border with Serbia,
Montenegro and Bosnia. Monitoring the country's 6,000 miles
of coastline poses similar problems. As Croatia prepares to
join the European Union it is engaged in ongoing reforms of
its judiciary to enhance the government's ability to arrest
and prosecute criminals of all varieties, including
terrorists.
5. Please contact PolOff Chris Rhoton (RhotonCJ@state.gov) or
RSO Robert Grech (GrechRF@state.gov) with questions/comments.
BRADTKE
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