BOSNIA: SENIOR VENEZUELAN DELEGATION TO PROTEST

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