AMBASSADOR'S INTRODUCTORY CALL ON PM SPIRIC

C O N F I D E N T I A L SARAJEVO 002180

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/09/2017
TAGS: BK PGOV PREL
SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR'S INTRODUCTORY CALL ON PM SPIRIC

Classified By: Ambassador Charles English. Reasons 1.4 (b),(d)

Summary
--------------


1. (C) Ambassador English paid an introductory call on Prime
Minister Nikola Spiric on October 9. Ambassador emphasized
abiding U.S. interests in developments in Bosnia and a
commitment to work with forward-looking Bosnian leaders who
are focused on the future to realize the goal of
Euro-Atlantic integration. Ambassador informed Spiric that
the High Representative would soon be proposing changes to
state level institutions to increase their effectiveness and
urged Bosnian leaders to accept them. PM Spiric complained
that the current poisoned political atmosphere did not lend
itself to the success of the state or the reform agenda and
that calls for the dissolution of the country are now being
heard. He acknowledged that the success or failure of a
police reform agreement this week would determine the speed
at which Bosnia will move towards the EU and NATO. However,
Spiric repeated familiar complaints that he is a largely
powerless prime minister and can do little to influence the
outcome of events within his government. The Ambassador
urged Spiric to ensure that the SIPA Director selection
process was fair and transparent. Spiric promised to work
towards the appointment of a Director who can work well with
the U.S. Embassy to serve Bosnia's interests. Spiric also
acknowledged the need to make concrete progress on defense
reform in order to meet NATO standards. End Summary.


2. (C) Ambassador, on October 9, paid an introductory visit
to Council of Ministers Chairman Nikola Spiric. In his
opening remarks the Ambassador emphasized that the U.S.
government maintains deep and abiding interest in events in
Bosnia and the success of Bosnia's Euro-Atlantic integration
processes. Spiric promised to be a frank and honest
interlocutor and pledged he would do his best to avoid
increasing tensions in the current difficult political
environment.

Political Atmosphere
--------------


3. (C) PM Spiric noted that the failure of the April package
of constitutional amendments had caused great damage to
Bosnia and Herzegovina and the political climate had
deteriorated consistently since then. The current poisoned
political atmosphere did not lend itself to the success of
the state or the reform agenda. On the contrary there has
been an increase in the number of voices calling for the
dissolution of the country. Bosnian political leaders are
incapable of countering this rhetoric with a coherent and
compelling vision of the future, Spiric said. Compounding
this "political disaster" is the fact that the mechanisms for
meaningful dialogue have never been created in Bosnia. While
individual political leaders are adept at discussing reform
with the international community there is a complete lack of
substantive dialogue between Bosnians.


4. (C) The Ambassador replied that the United States is
committed to continuing to work with Bosnia to lay the
groundwork for progress in its path to Euro-Atlantic
integration. He noted that Bosnia must meet its destiny as
part of Europe and NATO. This week represents a crucial time
in that process and the USG supports High Representative
Lajcak in his efforts to achieve an agreement on police
reform and pave the way for the initialing of a Stabilization
and Association Agreement. The Ambassador praised Spiric's
recent comments in support of Bosnian civic identity as the
mark of a leader who could move Bosnia's state institutions
forward. The Ambassador informed Spiric that the High
Representative would soon be recommending some changes
intended to make state level institutions more effective.
The USG hopes Bosnian political leaders will accept the
changes. Spiric asserted that, despite his best intentions,
he is largely powerless to change this state of affairs. He
inherited an essentially powerless office noting that he is
the only Prime Minister in Europe who is unable to fire any
of the Ministers in his Cabinet.

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


5. (C) Spiric noted that the Ambassador arrived at a
particularly crucial time and in a completely dysfunctional
political environment. Spiric agreed that this week would
determine the speed at which Bosnia will move towards the EU
and NATO. The initialing of an SAA this year would be of
immense significance for Bosnia. Clearly, police reform is a
key to that goal, Spiric said, but added that it is important
to remember that police reform is a process. It would be
simple to draft an ideal police reform agreement but such a
document would be meaningless without a real commitment to
implementation. Nonetheless, if the High Representative is
able to broker a police reform agreement would be invaluable
in refocusing political leaders on the internal situation and
away from their current preoccupation with the international
community.


6. (C) PM Spiric agreed that the prospects for a police
reform agreement were increasingly dim unless concluded by
the OHR deadline of October 15. The Republika Srprska would
soon be engaged in a special elections campaign for the
Presidency, a situation that would not lend itself to reform.
Next year would see municipal elections and a continuation
of campaign rhetoric that would not promote compromise and
dialogue. Now is the time for an agreement that meets the
three EU principles, Spiric concluded. Spiric lamented that
without a minimum of state-level patriotism it would be
impossible to reach a police reform agreement. He complained
that the media have contributed to this state of affairs
noting that he had never seen any objective coverage of the
substance and merits of police reform. Bosnia must abandon
this "politics of negation" but that it is hard to believe
that interest groups will relent and allow the country to
function.


7. (C) The Ambassador pointed out that the vast majority of
Bosnian citizens support Bosnia's EU accession but their
aspirations are frustrated by the lack of vision of their
political leaders. He urged Spiric to reach out to
colleagues in government and his political party to reach a
compromise at this important juncture in the history of the
country. Dayton allowed Bosnia and Herzegovina to break with
the past. The SAA would allow the country to connect with
its future. It would represent a great step forward and to
lose this opportunity would be a tragedy.

SIPA
--------------


8. (C) The Ambassador raised the selection process for a
Director for the State Investigation and Protection Agency
(SIPA). He highlighted USG interest in seeing a transparent
and fair process based on professional criteria. An
effective SIPA is a USG priority and in selecting a qualified
Director will greatly advance Bosnia's role as a country that
values the rule of law.


9. (C) Spiric agreed that Bosnia needs a professional
approach to the SIPA Director selection process. He
regretted that the failure of the first selection panel had
damaged the credibility of the process. Nonetheless, Spiric
said he would never accept the appointment of a SIPA Director
who would work against U.S. interests. He also noted that if
the U.S. had a preferred candidate he would welcome an
explicit declaration of that support. Spiric promised that
the process would be transparent and that he would act within
the law to seek the appointment of a SIPA Director who served
Bosnia's interests and would work well with the U.S. Embassy.

Defense Reform
--------------


10. (C) The Ambassador raised defense reform and the need for
resolution of defense property issues. As the primary
brokers of defense reform, the U.S. is keenly interested in
the completion of defense reform as the key to advancing
Bosnia along the path to NATO. The U.S. looks forward to
welcoming Bosnia into NATO but Bosnia must first take steps
to help itself, beginning by concluding the defense property
working group process, the Ambassador said.


11. (C) Spiric agreed that Bosnia's progress towards NATO
would contribute to EU accession process and acknowledged the
need to meet NATO HQ Sarajevo standards in defense property,
the national defense budget and other areas. He promised to
continue to do all in his power to reach an agreement and
noted that the defense property working group had met in its
first session on October 8. An agreement on movable
property, such as arms and equipment, was clearly the first
priority and must be reached quickly in order to reach NATO
standards. Spiric asked for U.S. assistance in preventing
the politicization of the process noting that both Bosnian
politicians and some members of the international community
have contributed to the problem. Spiric suggested that
possible solutions could include a liquidation process,
controlled by the state Ministry of Foreign Trade, with
revenues going either to service entity defense debts or to
supplement the state defense budget.

ENGLISH