Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07MOSCOW777
2007-02-22 16:00:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Moscow
Cable title:
BOSNIA: RUSSIANS NOT KEEN ON EXTENDING OFFICE OF
how-toVZCZCXRO4958 PP RUEHDBU RUEHFL RUEHKW RUEHLA RUEHROV RUEHSR DE RUEHMO #0777 0531600 ZNY CCCCC ZZH P 221600Z FEB 07 FM AMEMBASSY MOSCOW TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 7663 INFO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUEHOT/AMEMBASSY OTTAWA PRIORITY 2045 RUEHKO/AMEMBASSY TOKYO PRIORITY 4091 RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK PRIORITY 0308
C O N F I D E N T I A L MOSCOW 000777
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/22/2017
TAGS: PREL PGOV BK RS
SUBJECT: BOSNIA: RUSSIANS NOT KEEN ON EXTENDING OFFICE OF
HIGH COMMISSIONER
REF: STATE 20031
Classified By: D/Pol Colin Cleary. Reasons: 1.4(B/D).
C O N F I D E N T I A L MOSCOW 000777
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/22/2017
TAGS: PREL PGOV BK RS
SUBJECT: BOSNIA: RUSSIANS NOT KEEN ON EXTENDING OFFICE OF
HIGH COMMISSIONER
REF: STATE 20031
Classified By: D/Pol Colin Cleary. Reasons: 1.4(B/D).
1. (C) Vadim Gorelov, Chief of the MFA's Bosnia and
Herzegovina Affairs Section, told us February 21 that the GOR
would not be able agree to extend the mandate of the Office
of the High Commissioner (OHC) at the February 26-27 Peace
Implementations Council's Steering Committee meeting.
Gorelov said the GOR would be willing to consider extending
the mandate of the Office of the High Commissioner (OHC)
until November 21, 2007, when the Security Council considers
renewal of UNSCR 1722, but would not be willing to extend the
OHC until the end of 2007 or until June 2008 unless a
"compelling argument" to do so could be made at the PIC
meeting.
2. (C) Gorelov said the GOR viewed the process of reform in
BiH as well underway and challenged the U.S. assessment of
the situation. He said Russia would be willing to listen to
"clear and concrete" arguments for extending the OHC during
the February 26-27 meeting, but noted that the Russian
delegation would not be able to respond on the issue at the
meeting; the GOR would need more time ("days or weeks") to
consider a response.
3. (C) Gorelov said the GOR was not alarmed by the sharpened
rhetoric coming from the three main ethnic groups in BiH;
such exchanges would continue to be a factor in BiH politics
and were an improvement over the armed conflict in the
nineties. He rejected the argument that the need for police
reform was a reason to extend the OHC, as this was being
conducted under the purview of the European Union, not the
OHC. He added that Kosovo final status should not influence
the situation in BiH. In his view, a fair, negotiated
settlement on Kosovo -- one that Belgrade could accept --
would not upset the political equilibrium in BiH.
BURNS
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/22/2017
TAGS: PREL PGOV BK RS
SUBJECT: BOSNIA: RUSSIANS NOT KEEN ON EXTENDING OFFICE OF
HIGH COMMISSIONER
REF: STATE 20031
Classified By: D/Pol Colin Cleary. Reasons: 1.4(B/D).
1. (C) Vadim Gorelov, Chief of the MFA's Bosnia and
Herzegovina Affairs Section, told us February 21 that the GOR
would not be able agree to extend the mandate of the Office
of the High Commissioner (OHC) at the February 26-27 Peace
Implementations Council's Steering Committee meeting.
Gorelov said the GOR would be willing to consider extending
the mandate of the Office of the High Commissioner (OHC)
until November 21, 2007, when the Security Council considers
renewal of UNSCR 1722, but would not be willing to extend the
OHC until the end of 2007 or until June 2008 unless a
"compelling argument" to do so could be made at the PIC
meeting.
2. (C) Gorelov said the GOR viewed the process of reform in
BiH as well underway and challenged the U.S. assessment of
the situation. He said Russia would be willing to listen to
"clear and concrete" arguments for extending the OHC during
the February 26-27 meeting, but noted that the Russian
delegation would not be able to respond on the issue at the
meeting; the GOR would need more time ("days or weeks") to
consider a response.
3. (C) Gorelov said the GOR was not alarmed by the sharpened
rhetoric coming from the three main ethnic groups in BiH;
such exchanges would continue to be a factor in BiH politics
and were an improvement over the armed conflict in the
nineties. He rejected the argument that the need for police
reform was a reason to extend the OHC, as this was being
conducted under the purview of the European Union, not the
OHC. He added that Kosovo final status should not influence
the situation in BiH. In his view, a fair, negotiated
settlement on Kosovo -- one that Belgrade could accept --
would not upset the political equilibrium in BiH.
BURNS