BOSNIA - BOSNIAN GOVERNMENT AGREES TO FURTHER

S E C R E T SARAJEVO 001767 NOFORN SIPDIS DEPARTMENT FOR S/WCI (WILLIAMSON/VIBUL-JOLLES),EUR (JONES),AND EUR/SCE (SILBERSTEIN/FOOKS/STINCHCOMB), E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/18/2018 TAGS: PGOV PINR PREL PTER BK AGAO SUBJECT: BOSNIA - BOSNIAN GOVERNMENT AGREES TO FURTHER STEPS ON SOME MEMBERS OF THE ALGERIAN 6 REF: A. SECSTATE 117141 ¶B. SARAJEVO 1705 Classified By: Charge Judith B. Cefkin for Reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) ¶1. (S/NF) On November 17 the Bosnian Foreign Ministry delivered its official response to our reftel demarche regarding the return of some Guantanamo detainees to Bosnia. An informal translation follows: The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Bosnia and Hercegovina presents its compliments to the Embassy of the United States of America in Sarajevo and has the honor to acknowledge receipt of the Embassy's note 0800152 dated November 4, 2008 relating to the return to Bosnia and Hercegovina of the individuals who are currently in the custody of the Government of the United States of America in the military base of the United States at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. The Ministry confirms that the Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Hercegovina fully accepts the suggestion included in the Embassy's note. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Bosnia and Herzegovina avails itself of this opportunity to renew to the Embassy of the United States of America the assurances of its highest consideration. ¶2. (S/NF) On November 13 Prime Minister Spiric called the Ambassador to give him an informal readout of the decision the Council of Ministers took that day regarding the Guantanamo detainees. At that time Spiric told the Ambassador that the Council of Ministers had "accepted" our diplomatic note, and that he had instructed the Security and Justice Ministries and component agencies such as the State Investigation and Protective Agency (SIPA),the Border Police, the Foreigners Affairs Service and the intelligence service (OSA) to form a working group to "consider the legal means at their disposal" to determine which institution would take responsibility for the transfer. The working group is also tasked with preparing an operational plan for the transfer, necessary monitoring, and reporting to the Council of Ministers on the activities of transferees twice a year. ¶3. (S/NF) Comment: Although neither our dipnote nor the Bosnian response specifically named the detainees under consideration, the notes were exchanged following discussions Ambassador Williamson had about four of the detainees (reftel B). One of those four detainees is no longer a citizen of Bosnia, and the Bosnian note does not specify whether Bosnia is prepared to accept all four. When the Ambassador asked Prime Minister Spiric what criteria would govern whether a particular transferee would be accepted back, Spiric said that these criteria would be developed by the working group composed of officials from the Ministries of Justice and Security, the police agencies and the intelligence service. End Comment. CEFKIN