EUROPEAN COMMISSION: WILLING TO SUPPORT BIH WAR

UNCLAS BRUSSELS 000716 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: EAID PREL PGOV BK EUN USEU BRUSSELS SUBJECT: EUROPEAN COMMISSION: WILLING TO SUPPORT BIH WAR CRIMES CHAMBER; EVENT IS NOT A "DONORS' CONFERENCE" REF: STATE 31612 We presented demarche (ref) on support for the War Crimes Chamber in BiH to Commission BiH deskoff Jose Luis Sanchez March 3. Sanchez said that the Commission will be a "partner" and continue to support the War Crimes Chamber. That said, he stressed that the Commission does not view the March 31 conference as a donors' conference. Rather, the Commission views it as a BiH-led conference that will present the current state of the judiciary in BiH, including progress on judicial reforms, and outline needs for support from the international community. The Commission, he reiterated, will not be ready to commit funds at the conference. MCKINLEY .