BOSNIA - AMBASSADOR TRAVELS TO SREBRENICA TO CALM

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 SARAJEVO 000754

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

DEPARTMENT FOR EUR (DICARLO),EUR/SCE (HOH/FOOKS); NSC FOR
BRAUN

E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/06/2017
TAGS: PGOV PINR PREL KAWC KJUS MARR BK
SUBJECT: BOSNIA - AMBASSADOR TRAVELS TO SREBRENICA TO CALM
STORM OVER "SECESSION"

REF: A. SARAJEVO 686

B. SARAJEVO 606

C. SARAJEVO 579 AND PRIOR

SARAJEVO 00000754 001.3 OF 002


Classified By: Ambassador Douglas L. McElhaney for reasons 1.4(b) and (
d).


1. (C) Summary: Ambassador and embassy staff traveled to
Srebrenica April 3 to meet with local citizens and to discuss
possible improvements to living conditions for municipality
residents. Srebrenica has been the subject of a Bosniak
political movement for secession since the February ICJ
verdict determined genocide had been committed there in 1995.
Based on conversations with local politicians, NGO
representatives, returnees and youth, it is clear that the
secession debate is increasingly divisive, pitting victims'
families against the greater Srebrenica community. End
Summary.

AMBASSADOR SPEAKS WITH SREBRENICA'S CITIZENS


2. (U) Ambassador visited Srebrenica April 3 with USAID
Director, Economic Counselor, Public Affairs Counselor and
political staff. The Embassy delegation met with
Srebrenica's Mayor Abduraham Malkic, Srebrenica Speaker
Radomir Pavlovic, Srebrenica based municipal councilors -
both Serb and Bosniak, a network of local NGO
representatives, returnees and members of the Srebrenica
Youth Council. Ambassador also gave an exclusive interview
to the local newspaper "Zurnal" for a special edition
covering his visit. (Note: Zurnal is the only regional
newspaper with articles alternately printed in Latin and
Cyrillic script and written by both Serb and Bosniak
journalists. The Embassy's Democracy Commission has
supported the paper, which is free and has a circulation of

4500. End Note.)

FAMILIES OF GENOCIDE VICTIMS DEMAND SECESSION FROM THE RS -
OTHERS WANT DIALOGUE ON SOCIO-ECONOMIC REFORMS


3. (C) In their exchanges with Ambassador, NGO
representatives, youth leaders and politicians emphasized
their interest in addressing Srebrenica's current
socio-economic problems, and stressed that dialogue was the
best means of accomplishing this goal. They criticized
threats for mass emigration if Srebrenica is not granted
special political status outside Republika Srpska. (Note:
This is the same message these groups delivered to us during
our visit on March 26. (Ref A) End Note.) Victims' family
members, however, delivered a much angrier message.


4. (C) When the Ambassador made a private, unannounced visit
to the Srebrenica - Potocari Cemetery and Memorial, mothers
of Srebrenica victims arrived unexpectedly to protest his
visit and the international community's acceptance of the ICJ
verdict. At one point, the mothers blocked the entrance to
the memorial, holding signs stating "McElhaney does not
support victims of genocide - you are not welcome here!"
Ambassador spoke with Srebrenica mother and member of the
Initiative Board for Special Status Hatidza Mehmedovic
indicating the past and present U.S. support for the victims
and survivors of genocide. He also expressed his concern
over the current situation in Srebrenica.

Comment: Bosniak politicians frequently manipulate and
exploit the suffering of the mothers of Srebrenica victims,
who lack a sophisticated understanding of Bosnia's criminal
justice system let alone international jurisprudence. Though
their pain and suffering is real and justified, this
"spontaneous" protest was likely orchestrated by others. The
mothers do not speak English, and we overheard several asking
for translations of their English language signs. In
addition, during the protest, a local embassy staff member
overheard one of the mothers receiving instructions by phone.
End Comment.

MAYOR EXPECTS PROGRESS BY APRIL 14


5. (C) In a meeting with members of the Srebrenica Municipal
Council, Mayor Malkic reiterated that Srebrenica should
receive special treatment by the Bosnian government and the
international community because both have neglected to

SARAJEVO 00000754 002.2 OF 002


guarantee adequate living conditions in Srebrenica. Malkic
also indicated his desire to "demystify" the special status
debate. He emphasized that its origin dates to a 2002
proposal by the municipality to give Srebrenica special
economic status. Glossing over the Srebrenica Municipal
Council's March 24 resolution threatening secession, Malkic
said that municipal councilors and entity officials must now
come together to determine the parameters of special status.
He hoped this would take place at the April 14 follow-up
meeting hosted by the "Initiative Board for Srebrenica
Special Status." (Ref C) Malkic invited the Ambassador to
also attend the meeting. (Comment: Malkic continues to refer
to special status in socio-economic terms, but other Bosniak
councilors, families of genocide victims and some returnees
define "special status" exclusively as secession from the RS.
Despite Malkic's assertions, the Municipal Council's March
24 Resolution put territorial adjustments to Dayton, not
socio-economic issues, front and center in the Srebrenica
debate. End Comment.)


6. (SBU) Municipal Council Speaker Radomir Pavlovic (SNSD),
who worked cooperatively with Malkic on the 2002 proposal,
told us that Serbs generally support Malkic's socio-economic
agenda. There are differences over a few technical details,
but nothing serious, he added. (Note. Like all other Serb
Councilors, Pavlovic walked out of the chamber when SDA, SDP
and SBiH councilors put forward their secession resolution on
March 24. (Ref A) End Note.) He complained that the March 24
resolution highlighted the dangers of "outvoting" (i.e.
ethnically-based voting that deprives the minority of a
voice) and suggests the council should be restructured to
include an equal number of Bosniaks and Serbs. Pavlovic also
mentioned he believes Srebrenica should have an international
mediator to monitor how reform programs are implemented.


7. (C) Comment: The Srebrenica secession debate is
increasingly divisive. It is clear, however, that as time
passes and tensions have not calmed, moderate voices are
increasingly drowned out. Mayor Malkic may be the first
victim of these escalating local tensions. The Mayor is
having increasing difficulty bridging the gap between family
members who demand secession and other members of the
Srebrenica community (including Serbs) who are primarily
concerned with socio-economic improvements in the
municipality. The divide between the goals of these two
groups widens as family members and those who support them
become more insistent in their demand for secession. The
mothers' protest is the first manifestation of family
members' turning their anger over the ICJ verdict against the
U.S. End Comment.
MCELHANEY