BOSNIA: RS REQUESTS FBI ASSISTANCE IN CAR BOMBING

C O N F I D E N T I A L SARAJEVO 000259

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

DEPARTMENT FOR EUR (DICARLO),EUR/SCE (HOH/FOOKS),NSC FOR
BRAUN

E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/08/2018
TAGS: BK KCRM KJUS PGOV PINR PREL
SUBJECT: BOSNIA: RS REQUESTS FBI ASSISTANCE IN CAR BOMBING
CASE

REF: 07 SARAJEVO 2408

Classified By: Michael J. Murphy. Reasons 1.4 (b),(d).

SUMMARY
--------------

1. (C) SUMMARY. Republika Srpska (RS) Interior Minister
Stanislav Cadjo requested that visiting LEGAT provide FBI
assistance in the investigation of the November 2007 car
bombing that killed municipal whistleblower, Milan Vukelic.
LEGATT also discussed the case with RS Police Director Uros
Pena, who echoed Cadjo's request. While Pena was
enthusiastic, Cadjo seemed less earnest. Embassy A/LEGAT
will visit Banja Luka on February 11 for a preliminary review
of the case files. Both Cadjo and Pena stressed that LEGAT
would have full RS cooperation and access to all relevant
information. The sincerity of this pledge, and the motives
for the request, will become clearer after the initial
review. The degree of openness and cooperation by the RS MUP
and RS Police will in itself be afford insight into the
possible motives and perpetrators of the bombing. END
SUMMARY.

Background
--------------


2. (C) On November 6, 2007 a car bomb exploded in downtown
Banja Luka, killing Milan Vukelic, and severely wounded two
passengers (Reftel). Since the incident, Republka Srpska
(RS) media has reported extensively on allegations that
Vukelic had attempted to expose criminal activities involving
the Banja Luka Construction Institute, where he was employed
as a construction engineer. Vukelic asserted he had reported
threats against him to the RS police with no response. Some
media outlets have speculated the RS police was involved in
the bombing.


3. (C) To date, there have been no public reports of
progress on the investigation. Vlado Jovanovic, Chief of the
Special Investigation Unit of the RS police, told us in
November that a "lack of evidence" would make it difficult to
solve the case. Other RS government officials have
subsequently made similar assertions.

RS Request for FBI Assistance
--------------


4. (C) On December 23, 2007, RS Interior Minister Interior
Stanislav Cadjo raised the possibility of requesting FBI
assistance on the investigation with Principal Deputy High
Representative (PDHR) Raffi Gregorian. On January 16 Cadjo
sent a letter to Gregorian, formally asking him to consider
the possibility of requesting FBI involvement in the case.
In the letter, Cadjo also raised the need for "forensic
analysis of certain pieces of evidence from the crime scene."



5. (C) Embassy Sarajevo LEGAT Janelle Miller held separate
meetings with Cadjo and with RS Police Director Uros Pena on
February 5, to discuss the request. Miler told Cadjo and
Pena that although there is no direct U.S. connection to the
case, the FBI could review the case and potentially provide
assistance with if local authorities are willing to provide
full cooperation.

Cadjo Complains of Public Pressure
--------------


6. (C) Cadjo reiterated the request for assistance in his
letter stating that his goal is to solve the case,
"regardless of where the investigation leads." He added that
he was concerned about slow progress in the investigation and
"politicization" of the case. Cadjo said the case was
generating criticism of police and his ministry, and the
press was attempting to send the investigation in
unproductive directions. He complained that people "in
responsible positions" are promoting various "speculations"
about the case.

7. (C) Cadjo specifically complained about Dragomir Babic,
president of the Banja Luka-based NGO "Narodni Front," and
Slobodan Vaskovic, Editor of the recently defunct opposition
weekly magazine Patriot. (NOTE. Babic and Vaskovic are

among the very few outspoken critics of the RS government.
Both men participated in OHR's meeting on press freedom in
the RS END NOTE). He asserted they people were making
"completely irrational arguments" and attacking the ministry
for "personal reasons." Cadjo said that while it is normal
for media to criticize the government, these attacks could
lead the police to "go in completely wrong directions.8 He
said that the only way to move past these attacks is to solve
the case.


8. (C) When asked for an update on the case, Cadjo claimed
that, as Minister, he avoids getting involved in the details
of ongoing investigations in order to prevent the perception
of political influence and is concerned only with results.
Cadjo defended RS police officers, saying the investigation
is complex and it is "hard to obtain evidence" in this type
of car bombing. He said that while RS authorities have some
experience dealing with explosives, they lack technical
expertise, equipment and analysis.


9. (C) Cadjo conceded that the victim, Vukelic, visited him
in his office last year to discuss, "irregularities" at the
Institute and threats against him. He said that Vukelic
turned over documentation which Cadjo said he forwarded to
the police, who, according to Cadjo, proceeded with an
investigation. (NOTE. Several media outlets allege that the
police did nothing to protect him or to investigate his
allegations. END NOTE.) When taped transcripts of that
conversation appeared in the media that Cadjo said he
realized that Vukelic had tape recorded their conversation,
without his knowledge or consent.


10. (C) Asked whether the FBI could expect full cooperation
from the RS police, Cadjo replied affirmatively but added
that he is also "realistic." He requested to be informed if
any obstructions to cooperation arise and promised to do
everything possible to overcome them.

Police Director Welcomes Assistance
--------------


11. (C) In a subsequent meeting, Police Director Pena told
Miller that "all help is welcome" in the Vukelic
investigation. He said that the only similar case in the RS
was the 1999 car bombing attack against Zeljko Kopanja and
the RS police consequently lack expertise in this type of
investigation. Pena said that forensic assistance and a bomb
technician would be useful, as would a review of the
investigation to point out any mistakes or missed leads.
Pena agreed to quickly provide a detailed synopsis of the
investigation for FBI analysis.

Comment
--------------


12. (C) Cadjo's motives in requesting U.S. assistance in the
case are unclear. Most RS media outlets are supportive of
the RS government, and criticism of Cadjo and Dodik has been
generally limited to independent commentators with little
influence. The preliminary review of the case file will
assist us in gauging the sincerity, and possibly the motives,
of the RS request. Cadjo's promise of cooperation and
transparency seemed less than enthusiastic. In that context
we will take care to ensure that the RS does not seek to
imply a USG endorsement of its investigation results.
Regardless of the outcome, the RS request will provide an
opportunity to gain valuable insight into RS police
capabilities and potentially shed light on any political
elements case. END COMMENT.

ENGLISH