Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08BELGRADE1197
2008-11-21 09:19:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Belgrade
Cable title:
HAGUE TRIBUNAL PROSECUTOR VISITS SERBIA
how-toVZCZCXRO6460 RR RUEHAG RUEHAST RUEHDA RUEHDF RUEHFL RUEHIK RUEHKW RUEHLA RUEHLN RUEHLZ RUEHNP RUEHPOD RUEHROV RUEHSR RUEHVK RUEHYG DE RUEHBW #1197 3260919 ZNR UUUUU ZZH R 210919Z NOV 08 FM AMEMBASSY BELGRADE TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 0655 INFO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE RHEHNS/NSC WASHDC RUZEJAA/JAC MOLESWORTH RAF MOLESWORTH UK RHMFISS/HQ USEUCOM VAIHINGEN GE
UNCLAS BELGRADE 001197
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL KAWC SR
SUBJECT: HAGUE TRIBUNAL PROSECUTOR VISITS SERBIA
REF: Belgrade 958
Summary
-------
UNCLAS BELGRADE 001197
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL KAWC SR
SUBJECT: HAGUE TRIBUNAL PROSECUTOR VISITS SERBIA
REF: Belgrade 958
Summary
--------------
1. (SBU) On his final visit to Serbia before completing his December
report to the UN Security Council, International Criminal Tribunal
for the Former Yugoslavia Chief Prosecutor Serge Brammertz told us
on November 17 that Serbia's political will and operational
capability had increased dramatically since his last six-month
report. Brammertz was confident that fugitive Ratko Mladic was in
Serbia and believed that the government now had the capability and
will to arrest him. Serbian officials publicly and privately stated
that they hoped for a positive report. Serbia is unlikely to get
it, however, as Brammertz is avoiding political statements and wants
to keep the pressure on Serbia, lest the will to hunt for Mladic and
Goran Hadzic evaporate. End Summary.
Brammertz Will Give Facts Not Judgments
--------------
2. (SBU) International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia
(ICTY) Chief Prosecutor Serge Brammertz visited Serbia November 17
and 18 and met with Serbian officials before finalizing his
six-month report on Serbia's cooperation with the ICTY to the UN
Security Council. In a conversation with the diplomatic corps in
Belgrade on November 17, Brammertz said that his report would not
make any judgment on whether Serbia was "fully cooperating" with
ICTY but would note improvements (such as the arrests of Radovan
Karadzic and Stojan Zupljanin) and remaining areas of concern. He
emphasized that "incentives to Serbia" from the international
community had been instrumental in increasing Serbia's level of
activity. Without such incentives (Note: most likely a reference to
the Stabilization and Association Agreement with the EU. End note),
Serbia's efforts to find the remaining fugitives could halt,
Brammertz said.
Government Has Will and Capability
--------------
3. (SBU) Brammertz said that under the new democratic government the
atmosphere had greatly improved since his last report to the
Security Council, and that the government now showed the political
will to capture the remaining fugitives. (Note: Brammertz last
visited in September and previously in April 2008, reftel.) He said
that better cooperation and trust among members of the Action Team
had also increased operational effectiveness. Brammertz was
convinced Mladic was in Serbia, and the government had the political
will and the ability to find him. The Action Team was now busy
following leads that the previous government had continuously
ignored. Additional issues of concern included outstanding military
document requests that Serbia had yet to fulfill and the need for
increased support from the government in soliciting witness
cooperation.
High Hopes for a Positive Report
--------------
4. (SBU) Hopes in Serbia are high after the visit. In statements to
the press, President Tadic, Prime Minister Cvetkovic, and other
officials said that they expected Brammertz's report in December to
be positive. ICTY National Cooperation Director Dusan Ignjatovic
told us privately he was very optimistic after Brammertz's visit,
stating that the relationship had never been better. Ignjatovic
said that he did not expect Brammertz to state whether Serbia was
fully cooperating. He believed, however, that if Brammertz stated
all the facts about Serbia's compliance with the ICTY, Serbia's
cooperation would be clear. Ignjatovic expressed frustration that
Brammertz would not make political statements to the EU regarding
Serbia's cooperation.
Comment
--------------
5. (SBU) Given Brammertz's reluctance to assess publicly the level
of Serbia's cooperation, Serbian officials likely will once again be
disappointed in the report. Whatever the level of Serbia's
commitment to providing documents and witnesses, the international
community expects Mladic's arrest, and the government knows this.
Brammertz's impressions that the government is working hard to find
Mladic and Hadzic are encouraging, but his request to the
international community to keep the pressure on suggests that he
believes some carrots -- namely unfreezing the SAA -- should be
withheld until the fugitives are brought in. End Comment.
MUNTER
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL KAWC SR
SUBJECT: HAGUE TRIBUNAL PROSECUTOR VISITS SERBIA
REF: Belgrade 958
Summary
--------------
1. (SBU) On his final visit to Serbia before completing his December
report to the UN Security Council, International Criminal Tribunal
for the Former Yugoslavia Chief Prosecutor Serge Brammertz told us
on November 17 that Serbia's political will and operational
capability had increased dramatically since his last six-month
report. Brammertz was confident that fugitive Ratko Mladic was in
Serbia and believed that the government now had the capability and
will to arrest him. Serbian officials publicly and privately stated
that they hoped for a positive report. Serbia is unlikely to get
it, however, as Brammertz is avoiding political statements and wants
to keep the pressure on Serbia, lest the will to hunt for Mladic and
Goran Hadzic evaporate. End Summary.
Brammertz Will Give Facts Not Judgments
--------------
2. (SBU) International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia
(ICTY) Chief Prosecutor Serge Brammertz visited Serbia November 17
and 18 and met with Serbian officials before finalizing his
six-month report on Serbia's cooperation with the ICTY to the UN
Security Council. In a conversation with the diplomatic corps in
Belgrade on November 17, Brammertz said that his report would not
make any judgment on whether Serbia was "fully cooperating" with
ICTY but would note improvements (such as the arrests of Radovan
Karadzic and Stojan Zupljanin) and remaining areas of concern. He
emphasized that "incentives to Serbia" from the international
community had been instrumental in increasing Serbia's level of
activity. Without such incentives (Note: most likely a reference to
the Stabilization and Association Agreement with the EU. End note),
Serbia's efforts to find the remaining fugitives could halt,
Brammertz said.
Government Has Will and Capability
--------------
3. (SBU) Brammertz said that under the new democratic government the
atmosphere had greatly improved since his last report to the
Security Council, and that the government now showed the political
will to capture the remaining fugitives. (Note: Brammertz last
visited in September and previously in April 2008, reftel.) He said
that better cooperation and trust among members of the Action Team
had also increased operational effectiveness. Brammertz was
convinced Mladic was in Serbia, and the government had the political
will and the ability to find him. The Action Team was now busy
following leads that the previous government had continuously
ignored. Additional issues of concern included outstanding military
document requests that Serbia had yet to fulfill and the need for
increased support from the government in soliciting witness
cooperation.
High Hopes for a Positive Report
--------------
4. (SBU) Hopes in Serbia are high after the visit. In statements to
the press, President Tadic, Prime Minister Cvetkovic, and other
officials said that they expected Brammertz's report in December to
be positive. ICTY National Cooperation Director Dusan Ignjatovic
told us privately he was very optimistic after Brammertz's visit,
stating that the relationship had never been better. Ignjatovic
said that he did not expect Brammertz to state whether Serbia was
fully cooperating. He believed, however, that if Brammertz stated
all the facts about Serbia's compliance with the ICTY, Serbia's
cooperation would be clear. Ignjatovic expressed frustration that
Brammertz would not make political statements to the EU regarding
Serbia's cooperation.
Comment
--------------
5. (SBU) Given Brammertz's reluctance to assess publicly the level
of Serbia's cooperation, Serbian officials likely will once again be
disappointed in the report. Whatever the level of Serbia's
commitment to providing documents and witnesses, the international
community expects Mladic's arrest, and the government knows this.
Brammertz's impressions that the government is working hard to find
Mladic and Hadzic are encouraging, but his request to the
international community to keep the pressure on suggests that he
believes some carrots -- namely unfreezing the SAA -- should be
withheld until the fugitives are brought in. End Comment.
MUNTER