BOSNIA - OIC AMBASSADORS SUPPORT HIGH

C O N F I D E N T I A L SARAJEVO 002570 SIPDIS SIPDIS EUR/SCE (HOH, FOOKS, STINCHCOMB) E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/29/2017 TAGS: PREL PGOV PINR BK SUBJECT: BOSNIA - OIC AMBASSADORS SUPPORT HIGH REPRESENTATIVE Classified By: Ambassador Charles English for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) Summary -------------- ¶1. (C) The Ambassador hosted a November 27 lunch for key Organization of Islamic Council (OIC) Ambassadors and Charges in Sarajevo. The OIC Ambassadors expressed support for High Representative Lajcak and his October 19 measures. They also endorsed the Ambassador's Dayton anniversary message that all three constituent peoples must be prepared to compromise and that no single group is solely at fault for the current crisis. OIC Ambassadors reiterated their support for Bosnia's eventual European Union (EU) accession and believed this would require measures that were firm in substance but flexible in implementation. Only the Egyptian Ambassador asserted that the IC was being too lenient with the Serbs while the Bosniaks had almost always been cooperative. The Ambassador, with agreement from the Turkish and Saudi Ambassadors, pointed out that the Serbs have actually made significant compromises. Additionally the Bosniaks, in the form of Haris Silajdzic, were also to blame for inflaming the situation. The Ambassador stated that the ultimate resolution of the current crisis will be up to the Bosnian people and that in the longer term the United States will accept any solution on the internal organization of BiH that the Bosnians agree to as long as it does not involve changes to Bosnian borders. End Summary. OIC Ambassadors -------------- ¶2. (C) The Ambassador hosted a lunch on November 27 for the Ambassadors and Charge d'Affaires of key OIC member states in Sarajevo. The attendees included Ambassador Fahad Al Zeid of Saudi Arabia, Ambassador Ahmed El Sayed Khattab of Egypt, Ambassador Bulent Tulun of Turkey, Charge d'Affaires Khairul Nazran Abd Rahman of Malaysia, Charge d'Affaires Ayad S.S. Shawish of Libya and Charge d'Affaires Ibrar Hussain of Pakistan. The Saudi and Turkish Ambassadors dominated the discussion. With the exception of the Egyptian Ambassador, the Ambassadors tended to speak as OIC representatives rather than their individual capitals. OIC Supports HighRep -------------- ¶3. (C) The Saudi Ambassador opened the discussion by stating that the OIC supports Bosnia's European integration. He added that the OIC supports High Representative Lajcak and his 19 October measures. The Saudis believed that it was the International Community's (IC) responsibility to be honest about its Bosnian policy, and that the fundamental question is what is the vision for what kind of Bosnia we will have in ¶2020. He ask rhetorically whether the goal of a single multiethnic state is sustainable in the long-term. The Turkish Ambassador added that part of the problem is that there has never been consistency among the positions of different High Representatives. The Ambassador noted that the USG insists on is respect for the territorial integrity of Bosnia within its current borders. Assuming the state respects rule of law, internationally-recognized human rights and is democratically governed the U.S. will support any solution the Bosnians ultimately choose to arrange and govern themselves within those boundaries. Bosniak SAA Grievances -------------- ¶5. (C) The Saudi Ambassador expressed surprise that the Russians had acquiesced to the extension of the EUFOR mandate at the UNSC, particularly after strong Russian comments at the UN. The Egyptian Ambassador asked if the United States and the EU were waiting to observe the fallout from the Kosovo final status process before determining the way forward in Bosnia. The Ambassador replied that it would be important to avoid an unnecessary confrontation in the wake of a determination of Kosovo status. To that end the Ambassador suggested OIC Ambassadors could encourage Bosniak political leaders to continue the dialogue on the OHR measure on voting in the House of Representatives and, if necessary, to support a delay in the implementation of this measure to provide more time to seek a solution. The Turkish Ambassador said the OIC did not oppose engaging the Bosniaks accordingly but would not do so immediately and would wait to see if they came to this conclusion on their own. The Egyptian Ambassador asserted that the Bosniaks were rarely obstructionist or intransigent and that it was always the Serbs who provoked political crises. Bosniaks believe Serbia was rewarded with the initialing of an EU Stabilization and Association Agreement (SAA) despite incomplete ICTY cooperation while an SAA was withheld from Bosnians because of Serb obstructionism in the RS. He added that it is important for the EU to initial an SAA with Bosnia as soon as possible and to that end pressure needs to be put on the Serbs. Serbs Not the Only Problem -------------- ¶6. (C) The Ambassador noted that Serbs have made many compromises over the past decade to this approach with defense reform being just one example. The Turkish and Saudi Ambassadors also disagreed with the Egyptian Ambassador. The Ambassador characterized the Serbs as tough bargainers who, up until now, have been amenable to some level of compromise. The Turkish Ambassador added that the Bosniak leaders are just as guilty of resisting compromise and gave as an example the fact that Haris Silajdzic reacts wildly every time he even sees the letters RS together in a sentence. 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