Cablegate: Zagreb Daily Report - February 25, 2010

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INFO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE PRIORITY

UNCLAS ZAGREB 000116

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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

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