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Croatia Signs Mutual Shipboarding Pact with United States

01 June 2005

Agreement is component of the Proliferation Security Initiative

A mutual shipboarding agreement signed June 1 by Croatia and the United States adds another tool to the toolbox available to both countries under the Proliferation Security Initiative (PSI), according to the State Department.

The agreement will help prevent the seaborne transfer of outlawed weapons and weapons-technology shipments by allowing for rapid approval of requests to board and search U.S.- or Croatian-flagged vessels if suspected of carrying proliferation-related cargo.

The PSI aims to establish "cooperative partnerships worldwide to prevent the flow of weapons of mass destruction, their delivery systems, and related materials to and from states and non-state actors of proliferation concern," according to the department.

Croatia is the fourth government to sign a bilateral shipboarding agreement with the United States, joining Liberia, Panama and the Marshall Islands -- all of which have extensive commercial shipping registries.

Following is the text of the announcement:

(begin text)

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE
Office of the Spokesman

For Immediate Release
June 1, 2005
Press Release

The United States and the Republic of Croatia
Proliferation Security Initiative
Shipboarding Agreement

On Wednesday, June 1, 2005, the United States and the Republic of Croatia signed a reciprocal Proliferation Security Initiative (PSI) Shipboarding Agreement.  Croatian Ministry of Foreign Affairs Assistant Minister, Division for Multilateral Affairs & International Organizations Tomislav Vidoševic signed the agreement on behalf of Croatia.  Assistant Secretary of State for Arms Control Stephen G. Rademaker signed on behalf of the United States.

The Proliferation Security Initiative was announced by President Bush on May 31, 2003, and is aimed at establishing cooperative partnerships worldwide to prevent the flow of weapons of mass destruction, their delivery systems, and related materials to and from states and non-state actors of proliferation concern.  Proliferation Security Initiative partners marked the second anniversary of the Initiative through a series of recent activities, including an ongoing exercise in Poland and an event hosted by Secretary Rice on May 31 for the Washington diplomatic corps.

The shipboarding agreement signed by the U.S. and Croatia will facilitate cooperation between the two countries to prevent the maritime transfer of proliferation-related shipments by establishing points of contact and procedures to expedite requests to board and search suspect vessels in international waters.  If a U.S.- or Croatian-flagged vessel is suspected of carrying proliferation-related cargo, either Party to this agreement can request the other to confirm the nationality of the ship in question and, if needed, to authorize the boarding, search, and possible detention of the vessel and its cargo.

Croatia is the fourth state -- following Liberia, Panama, and the Marshall Islands -- to sign a Proliferation Security Initiative Shipboarding Agreement with the U.S.  Signing the shipboarding agreement demonstrates the commitment of Croatia and the United States to ensuring the highest standards of security for their flag registries.  Furthermore, the agreement recognizes Croatia's ability and willingness to suppress proliferation in the Adriatic Sea.  This reciprocal agreement also sends a clear message to proliferators that neither the U.S. nor Croatia will tolerate the involvement of their vessels in the trade of proliferation-related cargoes.  We believe that Proliferation Security Initiative shipboarding agreements simultaneously deter proliferators and attract legitimate commercial shipping interests that want to ensure their goods are transported under a reputable and responsible flag, which is not "misused" to transport illicit proliferation-related shipments.

For additional information on the Proliferation Security Initiative, please see http://www.state.gov/t/np/c10390.htm

(end text)

(Distributed by the Bureau of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)