BOSNIA WAR CRIMES CHAMBER CONFERENCE: 9.25

UNCLAS BRUSSELS 001165 SIPDIS SENSITIVE E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL EAID PHUM BK EUN USEU BRUSSELS SUBJECT: BOSNIA WAR CRIMES CHAMBER CONFERENCE: 9.25 MILLION EUROS PLEDGED; MORE NEEDED THIS IS A JOINT EMBASSY SARAJEVO - USEU MESSAGE. SUMMARY - - - - ¶1. (SBU) A March 31 conference in Brussels on the Bosnia judicial system raised 9.25 million euros for the War Crimes Chamber (WCC) for 2007-09. BiH PM Terzic and BiH finance and justice ministers presented the case for additional funding needs and noted that the cost of trying cases in BiH's system was a small fraction of the cost of a case tried by the International Tribunal in The Hague. The European Commission expressed support for BiH efforts but noted that it could not pledge additional funds until the EU's multi-year budget is finalized. Some donors voiced reluctance to pledge additional funds absent a BiH comprehensive judicial sector development plan. Representatives from Qatar and the UAE indicated privately that their governments were considering financial support for the WCC. None of the funds pledged March 31 was designated for construction of a state prison. END SUMMARY ¶2. (U) The European Commission hosted a March 31 conference on the Bosnia-Herzegovina judicial system. BiH PM Terzic, his ministers of finance and justice, and several other BiH officials addressed the conference. BiH themes included BiH commitment to the rule of law, European integration, and the goals of stability and "ownership" of the process via gradual assumption of the costs of the judiciary. European Commission Unit Head for the Western Balkans Reinhard Priebe noted that there could be no peace without justice in the region and praised the "considerable process" BiH has made. He called for continued coordination among donors to avoid both duplication as well as providing BiH contradictory advice. ¶3. (U) Donors expressed political support for the WCC, including the general idea of construction of a state prison. EUR/ACE Director Adams noted that ethnic reconciliation and constitutional reform could not proceed in BiH without fair, impartial, but certain justice for war criminals. Several delegations indicated continued support for secondments of judges and prosecutors to BiH institutions. Several donors noted that BiH should draft a more comprehensive and forward-leaning reform strategy covering the entire judicial system. Austria noted its expectation that BiH would provide a new financial model outlining how BiH would increasingly assume responsibility for financing the judiciary. The Netherlands raised the issue of extradition and noted that neither Croatia nor Serbia is obligated to extradite its citizens (including those who have dual nationality) to BiH. The Dutch representative noted that the Netherlands is prepared to raise this issue with Zagreb and Belgrade, as well as to seek a common EU approach to the issue. The Dutch representative also noted BiH's tight trial deadlines (cases must be resolved within one year or the accused is released) as a problem in bringing the guilty to justice. ¶4. (U) Initial breakdown of donor contributions: Austria: 1.0 million euro. Cyprus: 5,000 euro. Germany: 1.8 million euro Ireland: 350,000 euro. Netherlands: 1.0 million euro Norway: 1.0 million euro Spain: 1.0 million euro U.K.: 1.3 million euro (pre-existing pledge) U.S.: 2.0 million dollars (approx. 1.66 million euros) ¶5. (SBU) None of the OIC nations present pledged financial assistance, although representatives from Qatar and the UAE said privately that their governments were seriously considering support. GRAY .