MONTENEGRO ASSURES COOPERATION ON WAR CRIMES

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 BELGRADE 001509

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PHUM PREF KAWC PGOV MW
SUBJECT: MONTENEGRO ASSURES COOPERATION ON WAR CRIMES


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SENSITIVE BUT UNCLASSIFIED - PLEASE HANDLE ACCORDINGLY

Ref: 2005 Belgrade 0057

This is a Podgorica cable. It has not been cleared with
Embassy Belgrade.


1. (U) Summary: Ambassador Williamson, Special Envoy for
War Crimes Issues, met on September 14 with PM Djukanovic,
President Vujanovic, the Chief State Prosecutor, the head
of the security service, and a private lawyer handling
claims for compensation of war crimes. The meetings went
well, with Montenegro promising its continued full support
to ICTY and to regional efforts to prosecute war criminals.
End summary.

Overview of USG Initiative
--------------


2. (U) Ambassador Williamson told interlocutors that "there
are no difficult war crimes issues with Montenegro." He
gave each an overview of the USG's new initiative to bring
closure to the war crimes issues in the Balkans. First was
a new focus on regional cooperation in domestic war crimes
trials. He noted with approval recent agreement between
Croatia and Montenegro to allow prosecution in Montenegro
of its citizens suspected of war crimes in Croatia in 1992.
He explained that a series of meetings and seminars will be
held in the region to increase cooperation among
governments, including prosecutors, judges, and security
services, noting that S/WCI's regional representative will
play a key role in those meetings. This will be the
primary focus for Montenegro, he added. Second is an
effort to conclude the ICTY trials by arresting six
fugitives, particularly Ratko Mladic and Radovan Karadzic.

Meetings with President and Prime Minister
--------------


3. (U) Prime Minister Djukanovic, having specifically
requested to meet with Ambassador Williamson, gave his
strong assurance that the GoM would continue to give its
full support to the ICTY. He warmly welcomed the USG
initiatives to increase regional cooperation on domestic
war crimes trials, saying that he hoped that Montenegro
could use its example and influence to advance the
initiative. President Vujanovic gave similar support to
the plan. Ambassador Williamson stated that the USG would
look to Montenegro to take a leading role in cooperation
between security services in the hunt for the ICTY
fugitives. They also discussed the political climate in
Serbia relating to the apprehension of these fugitives.
Speaking specifically about President Boris Tadic,
Vujanovic noted that leaders should shape public opinion,
not the other way around.

Meeting with Security Service
--------------


4. (SBU) Dusko Markovic, head of the National Security
Agency, assured the Ambassador that his service would
continue to support efforts to locate PIFWCs and support
the prosecution of war criminals, as an integral part of
his extant program of cooperation with the USG.

Meeting with State Prosecutor
--------------


5. (U) Vesna Medenica, the Chief State Prosecutor, assured
Williamson of her office's continued support to ICTY, and
that it was ready to handle domestic war crimes trials.
She noted that her office was "actively" pursuing the 1992
deportations to Bosnia and Herzegovina (reftel),but that
the courts were slow to implement investigative procedures.
She added that the prosecutor in the case (also attending
the meeting) had filed motions to accelerate the cases. On
regional cooperation, she said she had good relations with
the prosecutors in Croatia, Bosnia, and Serbia, but that
differences in the legal systems created problems, and that
she had no contact with the courts of states in the region.

Meeting With Lawyer Dragan Prelevic
--------------


6. (U) Dragan Prelevic families of 36 victims, including
six survivors, who were deported from Montenegro to Foca in
Republika Srpska in April-May 1992. Prelevic estimated a
total of 85 to 100 persons, mainly male Muslims from
Bosnia, were deported, the majority being killed by RS
security forces. The cases were filed in Montenegro at the

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end of 2004 (reftel) seeking monetary compensation (Euros
300,000 per victim) from the GoM . Prelevic complained of
stalling tactics by the Chief Prosecutor's Office, who is
charged with defending the state of Montenegro in cases
like these, in which Government officials are implicated in
misconduct. Prelevic clarified that the victims are most
interested in the Government admitting its errors and
fault, and less in the amount of compensation. To date,
only one case has reached a verdict, with the victim's
mother and sister awarded a total of Euros 45,000. (Note:
Local media reported on September 16 that a local judge had
dismissed the judgment, asserting the case had been filed
late. Information available to post indicates that the
request for compensation was filed correctly and on time.
End note.) Williamson underscored his ongoing interest in
the cases, and his support for Prelevic's efforts.


7. (U) This cable was cleared by Ambassador Williamson
after his departure.

POLT