BOSNIA--EXPANDING THE ADRIATIC CHARTER

UNCLAS SARAJEVO 001515 SENSITIVE SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: MARR PREL BK SUBJECT: BOSNIA--EXPANDING THE ADRIATIC CHARTER REF: SECSTATE 100723 ¶1. (SBU) We discussed the possibility of Bosnia and Herzegovina joining an expanded Adriatic Charter with Deputy Minister of Defense and Head of Bosnia's interagency NATO Commission Igor Crnadak (Reftel). Crnadak told us that he thought membership would be very useful for Bosnia's NATO aspirations, and that as head of the NATO Commission he would support it. That said, he added that accession to the Adriatic Charter would require, at least, a decision by the Council of Ministers, and perhaps by the Tri-Presidency. He noted that in Bosnia's fractured political environment, it's difficult to tell what opinion Bosnia's three constituent groups may take, and that it would be impossible for him to guess at a government position without taking the pulse of Serb, Croat and Bosniak leaders. ¶2. (SBU) COMMENT: NATO accession is one of the few unifying goals of a divided Bosnia, so we see no reason in particular any side should not support this step to help Bosnia along its Euro-Atlantic path. However, Crnadak is correct that in today's charged atmosphere of rising political rhetoric, we can't take anything for granted. ENGLISH