ITF ADVISORY BOARD REACHED CONSENSUS ON FUNCTIONAL

C O N F I D E N T I A L LJUBLJANA 000508

SIPDIS

STATE FOR PM/WRA, BELGRADE FOR PODGORICA

E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/11/2018
TAGS: PREL MASS MCAP PGOV SI
SUBJECT: ITF ADVISORY BOARD REACHED CONSENSUS ON FUNCTIONAL
EXPANSION

REF: LJUBLJANA 504

Classified By: Ambassador Yousif B. Ghafari, reasons 1.4(b,d)

Summary
--------------


1. (C) On November 11, James Lawrence, acting director of
PM/WRA, and emboff attended the semiannual Advisory Board
meeting for the International Trust Fund for Demining and
Mine Victims Assistance (ITF) (reftel). The Advisory Board
discussed the strategic review and strategic options for
ITF's future and reached consensus that Option 2,
functional expansion within Southeastern Europe, was the
preferred choice among the donor countries. The Advisory
Board's conclusions will be included in the ongoing
strategic review and presented to the Managing Board, which
had previously taken a position in support of Option 4,
both geographical and functional expansion. Prior to the
Advisory Board meeting, Lawrence discussed the need for
greater coordination between the GoS and PM/WRA with
Stanislav Vidovic, director of MFA's Security Policy
Division and ITF Managing Board member. Lawrence and
Vidovic also discussed possible changes in ITF's
leadership, as well as the support of ITF of proposed
Foreign Minister Samuel Zbogar. End Summary.


2. (C) On November 10, Lawrence and emboff met with Goran
Gacnik, ITF's director, Sabina Beber Bostjancic, head of
ITF's internal relations, Istok Hocevar, international
relations advisor to ITF's director, and Alastair McAslan,
director of the Humanitarian Resilience Center at Cranfield
University and leader of the ITF's strategic review. When
Lawrence asked about the progress of the study, McAslan
explained that the ITF would present the 5 year strategy
and 3 year workplan at the Advisory Board meeting, and said
that he welcomed input from the donors on those documents.
McAslan said that the Managing Board on November 4 had only
"taken note" of those documents and wanted to get donor
input before any final "approval." McAslan concurred with
Lawrence that there had been problems with the study and
garnered Gacnik's agreement to improve communication with
PM/WRA.

Functional Expansion in SE Europe
--------------


3. (U) On November 11, the ITF Advisory Board met in Ig for
its semiannual meeting. McAslan presented the strategic
review as prepared thus far and the four strategic
options: 1) continue with the current geographical focus
on SE Europe and functional emphasis on demining; 2)
maintain geographical focus on SE Europe and gradually
expand into other security areas, e.g. small arms/light
weapons (SA/LW); 3) maintain functional focus on demining
and expand geographically outside of SE Europe; 4) combine
options 2 and 3 to expand both geographically and
functionally. Following McAslan's presentation, Ambassador
Boris Frlec, former Slovene Foreign Minister and Slovenia's
representative on the Advisory Board, stressed that the GoS
would continue to support ITF with "the same intensity,"
since the GoS saw the effort and expense as "justifiable"
in order to maintain ITF's expertise and expand its
activities.


4. (U) Representatives from Spain, the Czech Republic,
Belgium, the European Commission, and the US made comments
in support of Option 2, functional expansion within SE
Europe. The Japanese representative indicated his
country's support for Option 3, geographical expansion.
Following the interventions, Ambassador Frlec, who was
chairing the meeting, summarized the sense of the Advisory
Board as being in favor of Option 2 with a small expansion
to the Caucasus. McAslan then responded to the various
questions raised, noting that the 3 year workplan
articulated the "concern and caution" of the donors, but
perhaps needed more refinement. He said that even under
Option 2, ITF would need to have some flexibility in order
to take advantage of opportunities that fit its competitive
advantages and expertise.

Concerns about ITF Leadership
--------------


5. (C) After the meeting, Lawrence spoke privately with
Vidovic. Vidovic expressed his hope for better
coordination with PM/WRA so as to avoid any further
confusion about the study and any Managing Board
activities. He mentioned the possibility of new leadership
within the ITF, as Gacnik's contract will be up for renewal
in 2009 and there have been tensions between Gacnik and
donors and other stakeholders. Vidovic also commented on
the possibility of Samuel Zbogar becoming Foreign Minister,
noting that this would make things easier because of
Ambassador Zbogar's familiarity with the issues.

Comment
--------------


6. (C) Ambassador Zbogar's nomination for Foreign Minister
means that ITF will stay at the top of the MFA's
priorities. During his recently-concluded assignment as
Slovenia's ambassador to the US, Zbogar put in a lot of
miles on the road for ITF, running three marathons and
several half-marathons to raise funds and highlight ITF's
work. The GoS will hope to get more foreign policy mileage
out of the ITF even as its initial goal of a mine-free SE
Europe becomes a reality. The Advisory Board's
recommendation for Option 2 reinforces, however, that ITF
and GoS need to continue open and diligent engagement with
the donor community to ensure that ITF successfully
transitions to a new mission.


7. (U) PM/WRA Director Lawrence cleared in substance.
GHAFARI