BOSNIA: HARRIERS HIT POLITICAL TARGET

C O N F I D E N T I A L SARAJEVO 001473 SIPDIS SIPDIS DEPT FOR EUR (DICARLO, FRIED, VOLKER),D (SMITH),P (BAME), EUR/SCE (ENGLISH, SAINZ, FOOKS),NSC FOR BRAUN, USNIC FOR WEBER, GREGORIAN, OSD FOR FLORY E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/28/2016 TAGS: MARR MASS PREL BK SUBJECT: BOSNIA: HARRIERS HIT POLITICAL TARGET REF: SARAJEVO 1275 Classified By: Ambassador Douglas L. McElhaney for Reasons 1.4 (B) and (D) ¶1. (SBU) Two U.S. AV-8B Harrier jump jets assigned to the USS Iwo Jima visited Sarajevo on June 26 as part of a coordinated Embassy-NATO HQ effort to increase the visibility of U.S. bilateral engagement with Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH). The Ambassador and NATO HQ Commander Brigadier General Weber offered short remarks highlighting the first ever U.S. fighter jet visit as evidence of both a continued U.S. commitment to Bosnian defense reform, and the U.S. ability to quickly react to any crisis. Bosnian Defense Minister Radovanovic, Chief of the Joint Staff Major General Podzic, other invited guests, and the media enjoyed an up-close view of the Harriers while on static display at the Sarajevo International Airport. Afterward, the Harriers made several low-speed passes of the city to provide the locals with an eagerly awaited view of the jets in action. ¶2. (C) The Bosnia public understood the intended message loud and clear: the U.S. remains engaged in BiH. All major Bosnian media gave extensive and overwhelmingly positive coverage to the visit. The three major Bosnian dailies positively highlighted that the visit was U.S. recognition of Bosnian progress on defense reform. Defense Minister Radovanovic publicly stated that, in terms of military diplomacy, the jets were an "extended hand of friendship." In a private comment to the Embassy, BiH Parliament Deputy Speaker Dzaferovic applauded the demonstration that the U.S. military can "get here in minutes," saying that message was well understood in the Republika Srpska as well as the Federation. ¶3. (C) Summary: Judging from the enthusiastic public reaction, the visit will contribute to mollifying public (especially, but not exclusively, Bosniak) concerns about the potential lessening of U.S. engagement in BiH. Building on this initial success, similar displays of U.S. military capabilities in other major Bosnian cities (specifically Banja Luka and Mostar) during the months leading up to the October elections would greatly dilute political rhetoric aimed at pandering to nationalistic fears of vulnerability or abandonment. End Summary. ¶4. (U) Our thanks to the USS Iwo Jima, the Sixth Fleet, and Allied Joint Force Command Naples for making this possible. MCELHANEY