BOSNIA: EU COMMISSIONER REHN SHOCKED BY BIH

C O N F I D E N T I A L SARAJEVO 001594

NOFORN
SIPDIS

STATE FOR EUR DAS JONES, EUR/SCE HYLAND, FOOKS, STINCHCOMB

E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/09/2023
TAGS: ECON PGOV PINR PREL EU BK
SUBJECT: BOSNIA: EU COMMISSIONER REHN SHOCKED BY BIH
PRESIDENCY BEHAVIOR

Classified By: Classified by Ambassador Charles English
for reasons 1.4 B, D


1. (C) EU Ambassador Kourkulas briefed Ambassador and High
Representative Lajcak on the details of the October 10
meeting of EU Commissioner for Enlargement Ollie Rehn and the
Bosnia and Herzegovina Presidency. Kourkulas was shocked at
the behavior of all of the Presidents, saying it was more
like a circus than a serious meeting with country officials.
Bosniak member of the Tri-Presidency Haris Silajdzic started
the private meeting by demanding that the EU publicly decry
the RS Government and its attack on state institutions. Rehn
replied that it is important for the Presidents to work
together, that Bosnian officials must speak as one voice on
the path toward EU accession. He urged the Presidents that
time is running out on actions they need to take for
accession, that they cannot progress without a census, for
example, and must find agreement.


2. (C) Croat member of the presidency Komsic and Serb member
Radmanovic followed suit with equally pessimistic prospects
on the state of reconciliation in the country. Radmanovic
agreed that Rehn's concerns were warranted, claiming the
country is not prepared to move toward EU accession. He
added that the international community needs to stop giving
orders and simply provide advice, noting that the country
cannot move forward with the OHR.


3. (SBU) Undaunted by Rehn's response to his comment during
the private session, at the press conference following the
meeting, Silajdzic repeated his demand to the EU publicly
that it condemn those Bosnian officials who are attacking
state institutions. Silajdzic compared the EU's failure to
place blame on the RS for its anti-state actions to the
international community's arms embargo on Bosniaks during the
1992-1995 war. Rehn's public comments were pessimistic,
saying that he was "disappointed that recently the country's
leaders have been busier with negative rhetoric than taking
the country forward to the European Union".


4. (C) Ambassador Kourkulas noted that Rehn was disappointed
and surprised by what he considered an about face from his
meetings with Bosnian officials in the spring, where they
promised him the country would move forward towards EU
accession. Kourkulas and HR Lajcak noted, though, that the
shock value of the deplorable display y the Presidents - in
particular, Silajdzic's biarrely rude behavior in his joint
press conferene with Rehn - might serve to wake Brussels up
from a lethargic indifference to BiH's deterioration, nd
focus attention on the need for early and serous action.
ENGLISH