Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07MOSCOW5224
2007-10-31 15:11:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Moscow
Cable title:  

BOSNIA: MOSCOW EVALUATES THE SITUATION DIFFERENTLY

Tags:  PREL BK RU 
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VZCZCXRO4360
PP RUEHDBU RUEHFL RUEHKW RUEHLA RUEHROV RUEHSR
DE RUEHMO #5224 3041511
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
P 311511Z OCT 07
FM AMEMBASSY MOSCOW
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 4964
INFO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L MOSCOW 005224 

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/29/2017
TAGS: PREL BK RU
SUBJECT: BOSNIA: MOSCOW EVALUATES THE SITUATION DIFFERENTLY

REF: SECSTATE 149183

Classified By: Minister-Counselor for Political Affairs Alice G. Wells

C O N F I D E N T I A L MOSCOW 005224

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/29/2017
TAGS: PREL BK RU
SUBJECT: BOSNIA: MOSCOW EVALUATES THE SITUATION DIFFERENTLY

REF: SECSTATE 149183

Classified By: Minister-Counselor for Political Affairs Alice G. Wells


1. (C) We delivered reftel demarche on October 29 meeting to
MFA Third European Department Counselor Ivan Gorbunov, who
told us that the U.S. and GOR evaluated the situation
differently in Bosnia, but had the same overall goal -- peace
and stability for the region (septel reports on the
Ambassador's discussion with Deputy Foreign Minister Titov).
Gorbunov said the GOR was disappointed that when High
Representative Lajcak was in Russia on October 5, he "did not
even hint" to the GOR about the measures, which the GOR felt
should have been presented to and agreed upon by the Steering
Board first.


2. (C) Gorbunov told us the GOR was worried about European
partners' "reservation" about replacing the Office of the
High Representative with full-scale EU representation. The
GOR believed that Bosnia should be integrated into the
European community, and felt the best way for that to happen
was the creation of an European Union Special Representative.
He said that the GOR was concerned about perceived loss of
EU enthusiasm, and worried that without the EU "carrot"
dangling visibly nearby, competing factions would have less
reason to cooperate. Conversely, he said the GOR believed
that a strong statement from Brussels that the Bosnians
themselves must find compromise would be more effective than
the OHR imposing reforms on disgruntled parties.


3. (C) Overall, Gorbunov said the GOR did not believe that
the Republika Srpska leadership would throw away the legal
protection it obtained with the Dayton Accords, but was
legitimately concerned that the international community was
disrupting the delicate system that governs Bosnia. The GOR
believed that the failure of police reform showed that no
decisions should be imposed, and opposed removing Dodik or
Silajdzic from power in any way. Gorbunov told us the GOR
believes there was no use engaging in state-building" if the
international community was going "to behave in this way."
Burns