BOSNIA - AMBASSADOR PRESSES USG LAW ENFORCEMENT

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 SARAJEVO 001822

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR EUR DICARLO, EUR/SCE, NSC FOR BRAUN, USNIC FOR
WEBER

E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/23/2017
TAGS: PREL PGOV PTER SENV HR BK
SUBJECT: BOSNIA - AMBASSADOR PRESSES USG LAW ENFORCEMENT
AND DEFENSE AGENDA WITH PM SPIRIC

REF: A. SARAJEVO 1766


B. SARAJEVO 1563

C. SARAJEVO 1663

Classified By: Ambassador Douglas McElhaney for reasons 1.4 (b),(d)


1. (C) Summary: Ambassador August 22 raised the issues of
civil protection, our upcoming law enforcement agenda,
defense reform, and the increase in nationalist rhetoric
during an August 22 meeting with Council of Ministers (CoM)
Chair Nikola Spiric. Using recent fires as an example,
Ambassador highlighted the need for better internal and
international cooperation to handle national emergencies.
Ambassador made clear our equities in the upcoming selection
of the next director of the State Investigation and
Protection Agency (SIPA) as well the need to adopt amendments
to the SIPA law currently in front of the CoM. Ambassador
urged prompt action on a defense property transfer agreement
and discussed prospects for police reform as well an increase
in divisive political rhetoric coming out of Banja Luka. End
Summary

Fires highlighted need for Civil Protection Reform
-------------- --------------


2. (SBU) Ambassador met with Prime Minister Nikola Spiric on
August 22 for a wide-ranging discussion of bilateral and
reform-related issues. Ambassador emphasized that the latest
series of forest fires along the Bosnian/Croatian/Montenegrin
border had highlighted the glaring lack of civil defense
cooperation between the entities and with international
partners, especially Croatia (Ref A). Spiric pointed out the
effective emergency response role played by the Bosnian armed
forces but acknowledged that politics hindered effective
cooperation between entities. Spiric claimed his office
(rather than the state-level civil protection department) was
in constant contact with entity civil protection authorities
to keep abreast of the fire situation. In order to prevent a
repeat of the disaster next year, Ambassador encouraged
Spiric to support draft legislation, prepared by NATO
Sarajevo HQ, establishing a state-level coordination network
(Ref A). Spiric claimed he would welcome legislation, such
as NATO's draft Law on Protection and Rescue, that defines
state level authorities. Spiric warned however that
legislating formal transfers of competencies would open a
divisive political battle.


3. (C) Spiric stated that protocols for bilateral emergency
response cooperation with Croatia are in place but admitted
that they had not been used effectively during the recent
fires. Spiric was unhappy about the approach taken by
Croatian PM Ivo Sanader who he accused of politicizing the
disaster by sending him a letter soliciting information on
the fire emergency with a copy to the EU in Brussels. Spiric
claimed he responded immediately to Sanader in writing
suggesting they meet but received no response. However,
Spiric restated his willingness to meet at any time with
Sanader as well as with his Serbian and Montenegrin
counterparts to prepare a more coordinated fire response in
the future.

SIPA Director Selection Process
--------------


4. (C) Spiric and Ambassador discussed the upcoming selection
process for a new State Investigation and Protection Agency
(SIPA) Director. Ambassador stressed that the CoM must
ensure a transparent process based on professional policing
criteria without regard to nationality. As the largest
bilateral donor to SIPA, Ambassador expressed our keen
interest in the selection process and asked that a US
observer be present on the selection board. Ambassador told
Spiric that the USG expects a highly qualified SIPA director
with demonstrated management skills. The new Director must
also be free of political influence with the independence to
investigate even high-level politicians. Ambassador noted
that several observers have cited Federation Police Director
Zlatko Miletic as a law enforcement executive with such
qualities.

Legislative Agenda
--------------

SARAJEVO 00001822 002 OF 002




5. (C) Ambassador raised draft amendments to the Law on SIPA
due to be reviewed by the CoM on August 23. The amendments
would strengthen the authority of the SIPA Director and help
the organization attract and retain personnel. Ambassador
reminded Spiric that the U.S. Embassy worked closely with the
Ministry of Security and the Office of the High
Representative on the amendments and urged Spiric to approve
them. Ambassador also raised pending amendments to the Law
on the Foreigners Affairs Service and new draft of the Law on
Movement and Stay of Aliens. The draft legislation would
strengthen Bosnia's ability to monitor aliens residing in the
country and remove those who pose a threat to public safety.
Ambassador urged Spiric to ensure that these draft laws,
recently submitted by the Ministry of Security, be placed
expeditiously on the CoM agenda and adopted.

Defense Property
--------------


6. (C) Turning to defense reform, the Ambassador noted that,
although the process has been generally successful, Bosnia
must now develop a formal defense property transfer agreement
(Ref B). Ambassador emphasized the urgency of concluding such
an agreement and raised the need for a Ministry of Defense
(MoD) representative in the property transfer working groups.
Spiric said his office had asked the MoD to nominate a
working group representative and was waiting for a response.

Prospects for Police Reform
--------------


7. (C) Ambassador raised High Representative Miroslav
Lajcak,s initiative to break the police reform deadlock (Ref
C). Spiric echoed RS views on the importance of local
decision making in police work hinting at some opposition to
plans for centralization. Ambassador reminded Spiric that in
the course of two-year negotiations on police reform, RS PM
Milorad Dodik has been presented with very favorable terms
and a politically acceptable agreement is possible.
Ambassador predicted that Lajcak will put pressure on all
sides to reach a deal this time. Spiric declined to comment
further and expressed his hope that a deal could be reached.

Politics and Rhetoric
--------------


8. (C) Spiric complained that Bosniak politicians were
currently taking their lead from Islamic Community Head
Reisu-l-Ulema Mustafa effendi Ceric. Spiric asserted that
the prominent role of the Reis in Bosniak politics showed
Bosnia-Herzegovina to be a religious rather than secular
state. Ambassador reminded Spiric of the political role
played by leaders of all religious groups, including Catholic
and Orthodox leaders. Ambassador expressed his strong
disappointment at Dodik's recent divisive nationalist
rhetoric, particularly regarding Kosovo final status. Spiric
recalled his efforts over the last seven months to calm
political rhetoric and promote dialogue.

Comment
--------------


9. (C) Spiric seemed amenable to several of our requests,
including a U.S. observer on the SIPA Director Selection
Board and support for SIPA and immigration-related
legislation. His comments on police reform suggest SNSD will
be looking for additional concessions from OHR during the
renewed push for an agreement in September. Spiric's support
of a civil protection law that does not involve any transfer
of competencies is in line with Dodik's current push to stall
or reverse transfers of competencies from entities to the
state. Spiric was regrettably unconcerned with Bosnia's
abysmal response to the recent fires. Although prospects for
active inter-entity civil defense cooperation is a long way
off, meaningful bilateral cooperation with Croatia must be a
near-term priority to ensure regional security. End Comment
MCELHANEY