MILETIC MANDATE RENEWED

C O N F I D E N T I A L SARAJEVO 000121 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/18/2017 TAGS: BK KCRM KJUS PGOV PREL PTER SUBJECT: MILETIC MANDATE RENEWED REF: 06 SARAJEVO 3185 Classified By: Judith B. Cefkin. Reasons 1.4 (b),(d) Summary -------------- ¶1. (C) On January 18 an independent personnel board reconfirmed its decision to appoint Zlatko Miletic as Federation Police Chief. The Federation parliamentary committee charged with administrative oversight upheld the legality of the decision thus overruling the opposition of Miletic opponents in the SDA and HDZ. This outcome is a welcome development for both USG law enforcement and rule of law objectives in Bosnia. The decision came after extensive mission advocacy with the Federation government urging a reappointment of Miletic. End Summary. ¶2. (U) Since last year Zlatko Miletic, Federation Police Chief and longtime mission law enforcement partner, has faced political opposition from SDA and HDZ officials in the Federation government, largely as a result of his active investigations into corruption within political parties. This conflict culminated in a November 28 vote by the Federation government opposing the renewal of Miletic's mandate. This action was taken despite the recommendation by the Independent Supervisory Review Board (ISRB),the organization charged with appointing law enforcement officials, to reappoint Miletic as the sole qualified candidate for the position. Miletic opponents in the SDA and HDZ, most notably Interior Minister Melvudin Halilovic, asserted that the ISRB mandate had expired and it was operating illegally. On January 10, Halilovic announced his intention to press unspecified "criminal charges" against the ISRB for its actions. ¶3. (C) Since the November 28 vote, post has been engaged in a vigorous outreach campaign with all relevant officials in the Federation government, parliament and political parties to emphasize USG expectations that the appointment of the Federation police Chief be carried out in accordance with the rule of law and underscore our support for Miletic as an apolitical and effective law enforcement executive. ¶4. (U) On January 17 the ISRB, as it had informed us previously, voted to again extend Miletic in his position over the opposition of the Federation Council of Ministers. The same day the Federation parliament Justice and Administration Board, the committee charged with oversight of administrative law in the Federation, ruled that the ISRB mandate was still valid and its recommendation was binding. The ruling by the Justice and Administration Board paves the way for Miletic to resume office immediately. Comment -------------- ¶5. (C) The decisions by the ISRB and the Justice and Administration Board, in the face of significant pressure from high-level members of the SDA and HDZ, is a positive development for rule of law in the Federation. The Miletic reappointment will ensure that the mission will continue to have an effective Federation counterpart willing to advance our law enforcement and counterterrorism equities. It also constitutes a victory over attempts by political parties to exert influence over a personnel system that was designed to ensure an apolitical and effective law enforcement system. End Comment. MCELHANEY