BOSNIA -- PARLIAMENT APPROVES NEW IRAQ DEPLOYMENT;

C O N F I D E N T I A L SARAJEVO 001226

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

DEPT FOR EUR (JONES),EUR/SCE (HOH, SAINZ, FOOKS),EUR/RPM,
NEA; DEFENSE FOR FATA, BEIN; NSC FOR BRAUN

E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/30/2018
TAGS: PREL PGOV MARR BK
SUBJECT: BOSNIA -- PARLIAMENT APPROVES NEW IRAQ DEPLOYMENT;
PLATOON-PLUS SET TO DEPLOY MID-AUGUST

REF: SARAJEVO 1111

Classified By: Political Counselor Michael Murphy for reasons 1.4 (b) a
nd (d)

PLATOON PLUS TO IRAQ
--------------


1. (SBU) On July 30, the Bosnian House of Peoples voted to
confirm the Presidency's decision to deploy a platoon-plus,
49 men, of Bosnian soldiers for fixed-site security duties in
Iraq by a vote of 11 in favor, 0 opposed and 2 abstentions.
The previous day, the House of Representatives voted to
approve the deployment by a vote of 30-0-4. Numerous
parliamentarians spoke in favor of the deployment during the
two house sessions, explaining that this and other
deployments were crucial for the development of the Bosnian
Armed Forces and demonstrated Bosnia's commitment to
international peace and security. Many parliamentarians also
noted that continued participation in these missions would
demonstrate Bosnia's commitment to NATO. With the approval of
both houses of parliament, the last legal hurdle for the
deployment has been cleared. The Bosnian Armed Forces have
already prepared and trained the unit, which is scheduled to
deploy to Iraq in mid-August.

RADMANOVIC AND IVANIC ASSIST WITH LAST-MINUTE GLITCH
-------------- --------------


2. (C) Final parliamentary approval of the deployment did
encounter one unexpected difficulty. Before reaching the
floor of the House of Representatives and House of Peoples,
the approval of the Joint Parliamentary Committee on Defense
and Security was required. At the July 24 session of the
committee, Dusanka Majkic, a representative of the Alliance
for Independent Social Democrats (SNSD),effectively blocked
approval of the deployment by abstaining from the final
committee vote. Majkic was the only Serb representative
present at the session, and, under parliamentary rules, the
positive vote of at least one member of each constituent
peoples was required. Majkic explained her opposition by
noting that "as a mother" she could not "in good conscience"
support sending young Bosnians to war.


3. (C) On July 25, the Ambassador phoned the Serb member of
the Presidency, Nebojsa Radmanovic, also an SNSD member, to
inquire whether SNSD had shifted its position on the
deployment, which the president had voted to approve.
President Radmanovic assured the Ambassador that despite
Majkic's denunciations of the deployment at the committee
session, her views were inconsistent with the SNSD position
and that he would "fix it." A re-vote of the committee was
held on July 29, with another SNSD representative, Drago
Kalabic, also present and voting in favor of the deployment.
The deployment cleared committee by a vote of 6-1-1. The
delay caused by the committee also required rescheduling of
the House of Representatives and House of Peoples votes, and
we worked closely with parliamentarians, particularly House
of Peoples Speaker Mladen Ivanic, to schedule the
extraordinary session of the House of Peoples on July 30.

COMMENT: SOLID SUPPORT FOR DEPLOYMENTS; PLANNING AHEAD
-------------- --------------


4. (C) Not a single vote was cast against the Iraq deployment
in the HoR and HoP. Even the Social Democratic Party (SDP),
long opposed to the war in Iraq, voted in favor. In the past
year and a half, there has been a significant shift of
attitude within political circles regarding Bosnia's Iraq
deployments. Previously, we encountered significant
resistance, particularly among Bosniaks, to Bosnian
participation in peace support operations. Positive media
coverage of the current Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD)
unit's work in Iraq and Embassy- arranged visits to Iraq for
key political leaders, including Bosniak member of the
Tri-Presidency Haris Silajdzic, contributed to a shift in
Bosniak attitudes. Fringe politicians still criticize the
deployments. (Note. Serb Democratic Party Representative

Slobodan Saraba explained his opposition by citing "50 degree
celsius heat" in Iraq and labeled it a "human rights
concern." End Note.) Nonetheless, no credible opposition to
Bosnia's participation in the Iraq and Afghanistan mission
currently exists. While this is a welcome development, the
political situation remains fluid, and, as President Komsic
privately cautioned us, support could erode if the Bosnian
forces were to take casualties.


5. (C) The Ministry of Defense has already begun internal
discussions regarding the possible expansion of Bosnian Armed
Forces participation in Iraq and Afghanistan. Minister
Cikotic has told us that he plans to expand the platoon-plus
to company size in its next rotation, and will deploy staff
officer support to ISAF. Coupled with Bosnia's continued
deployment of its Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) unit to
Iraq, this would be a significant contribution for Bosnia's
nascent Armed Forces in the next year. Aside from relieving
the burden on our own forces, Bosnia's deployments provide
support for broader defense reform efforts in developing a
well-trained, capable, and NATO- compatible force.
ENGLISH