Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07SARAJEVO442
2007-02-23 15:59:00
SECRET//NOFORN
Embassy Sarajevo
Cable title:
BOSNIA: SENIOR VENEZUELAN DELEGATION TO PROTEST
how-toVZCZCXYZ0014 PP RUEHWEB DE RUEHVJ #0442 0541559 ZNY SSSSS ZZH P 231559Z FEB 07 FM AMEMBASSY SARAJEVO TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 5530 INFO RUEHBW/AMEMBASSY BELGRADE PRIORITY 0345 RUEHCV/AMEMBASSY CARACAS PRIORITY 0003 RUEAIIA/CIA WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY RHEFDIA/DIA WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY RUEKJCS/JCS WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY RHMFISS/COMUSNAVEUR NAPLES IT PRIORITY RUFOAOA/USNIC SARAJEVO PRIORITY RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC PRIORITY RUEKJCS/OSD WASHDC PRIORITY
S E C R E T SARAJEVO 000442
SIPDIS
NOFORN
SIPDIS
PM/RSAT, EUR/SCE (DICARLO, FOOKS, HOH),ISN/CATR, WHA, L,
EUR/RPM (BROTZEN),P (BAME),D(SMITH),NSC FOR BRAUN, USNIC
FOR WIGHTMAN AND MCLANE, USNATO FOR SHAFFER
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/23/2017
TAGS: EUN MARR MASS PARM BK VE
SUBJECT: BOSNIA: SENIOR VENEZUELAN DELEGATION TO PROTEST
AMMO SALE REJECTION
REF: A) 06 STATE 132053 B) 06 SARAJEVO 2674 C) 06
SARAJEVO 1974
Classified By: Ambassador Douglas McElhaney for reasons
1.4 (b) and (d)
S E C R E T SARAJEVO 000442
SIPDIS
NOFORN
SIPDIS
PM/RSAT, EUR/SCE (DICARLO, FOOKS, HOH),ISN/CATR, WHA, L,
EUR/RPM (BROTZEN),P (BAME),D(SMITH),NSC FOR BRAUN, USNIC
FOR WIGHTMAN AND MCLANE, USNATO FOR SHAFFER
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/23/2017
TAGS: EUN MARR MASS PARM BK VE
SUBJECT: BOSNIA: SENIOR VENEZUELAN DELEGATION TO PROTEST
AMMO SALE REJECTION
REF: A) 06 STATE 132053 B) 06 SARAJEVO 2674 C) 06
SARAJEVO 1974
Classified By: Ambassador Douglas McElhaney for reasons
1.4 (b) and (d)
1. (S/NF) Assistant Minister of Foreign Trade Dragisa Mekic
informed us that a senior Venezuelan delegation from the
ministries of defense and foreign affairs would be visiting
Bosnia in the coming weeks. The Venezuelan delegation,
headed by Deputy Foreign Minister Rodrigo Chavez, requested
meetings with the Bosnian Ministers of Foreign Trade and
Foreign Affairs to protest the GoBiH's decision to block the
commercial sale of ammunition from Bosnia to Venezuela.
Following our intervention in the matter (reftels B and C)
the Ministry of Foreign Affairs had exercised its authority
to block the sale as detrimental to Bosnia's foreign policy
interests.
2. (S/NF) We met with Mekic on February 13 to discuss the
upcoming visit. Mekic stated that the Minister of Foreign
Trade would inform the Venezuelans that the Ministry of
Foreign Affairs had acted within its legal authority to block
the sale, as it would be contrary to Bosnia's "obligations to
collective security." Mekic asked if the Venezuelans could
be made aware of our involvement in the matter, and we noted
it would be preferable for the minister to cite Bosnia's own
concerns over Venezuela's large weapons and defense article
acquisitions program. Mekic said that the ministry was
prepared to share a Bosnian intelligence report (of
unspecified origin) that weapons and ammunition from Bosnia
had been found on FARC guerrillas in Colombia. Mekic also
raised the possibility that the Venezuelan government could
pursue legal action against the Bosnian ammunition production
company, Igman Konjic, if proceeds from the sale were not
refunded.
3. (S/NF) DCM also followed up on the matter with new Deputy
Foreign Minister Anna Trisic-Babic on February 21. DCM
presented points per reftel A, highlighting serious concerns
over the scope of Venezuela's acquisitions program and
possibilities for proliferation. Trisic-Babic acknowledged
the U.S. position, and stated the MFA's commitment to stand
by its decision on the sale.
MCELHANEY
SIPDIS
NOFORN
SIPDIS
PM/RSAT, EUR/SCE (DICARLO, FOOKS, HOH),ISN/CATR, WHA, L,
EUR/RPM (BROTZEN),P (BAME),D(SMITH),NSC FOR BRAUN, USNIC
FOR WIGHTMAN AND MCLANE, USNATO FOR SHAFFER
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/23/2017
TAGS: EUN MARR MASS PARM BK VE
SUBJECT: BOSNIA: SENIOR VENEZUELAN DELEGATION TO PROTEST
AMMO SALE REJECTION
REF: A) 06 STATE 132053 B) 06 SARAJEVO 2674 C) 06
SARAJEVO 1974
Classified By: Ambassador Douglas McElhaney for reasons
1.4 (b) and (d)
1. (S/NF) Assistant Minister of Foreign Trade Dragisa Mekic
informed us that a senior Venezuelan delegation from the
ministries of defense and foreign affairs would be visiting
Bosnia in the coming weeks. The Venezuelan delegation,
headed by Deputy Foreign Minister Rodrigo Chavez, requested
meetings with the Bosnian Ministers of Foreign Trade and
Foreign Affairs to protest the GoBiH's decision to block the
commercial sale of ammunition from Bosnia to Venezuela.
Following our intervention in the matter (reftels B and C)
the Ministry of Foreign Affairs had exercised its authority
to block the sale as detrimental to Bosnia's foreign policy
interests.
2. (S/NF) We met with Mekic on February 13 to discuss the
upcoming visit. Mekic stated that the Minister of Foreign
Trade would inform the Venezuelans that the Ministry of
Foreign Affairs had acted within its legal authority to block
the sale, as it would be contrary to Bosnia's "obligations to
collective security." Mekic asked if the Venezuelans could
be made aware of our involvement in the matter, and we noted
it would be preferable for the minister to cite Bosnia's own
concerns over Venezuela's large weapons and defense article
acquisitions program. Mekic said that the ministry was
prepared to share a Bosnian intelligence report (of
unspecified origin) that weapons and ammunition from Bosnia
had been found on FARC guerrillas in Colombia. Mekic also
raised the possibility that the Venezuelan government could
pursue legal action against the Bosnian ammunition production
company, Igman Konjic, if proceeds from the sale were not
refunded.
3. (S/NF) DCM also followed up on the matter with new Deputy
Foreign Minister Anna Trisic-Babic on February 21. DCM
presented points per reftel A, highlighting serious concerns
over the scope of Venezuela's acquisitions program and
possibilities for proliferation. Trisic-Babic acknowledged
the U.S. position, and stated the MFA's commitment to stand
by its decision on the sale.
MCELHANEY