Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08SARAJEVO1767
2008-11-19 13:12:00
SECRET//NOFORN
Embassy Sarajevo
Cable title:  

BOSNIA - BOSNIAN GOVERNMENT AGREES TO FURTHER

Tags:  PGOV PINR PREL PTER BK AGAO 
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VZCZCXYZ0000
OO RUEHWEB

DE RUEHVJ #1767 3241312
ZNY SSSSS ZZH
O 191312Z NOV 08
FM AMEMBASSY SARAJEVO
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 9295
INFO RUEHAS/AMEMBASSY ALGIERS 0009
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)

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