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
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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
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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