BOSNIA - RADMANOVIC TAKES FIRM LINE ON POLICE

C O N F I D E N T I A L SARAJEVO 000478 SIPDIS SIPDIS DEPT FOR EUR (DICARLO),EUR/SCE (HOH, SILBERSTEIN, FOOKS, STINCHCOMB); DEFENSE FOR FATA, BEIN; NSC FOR BRAUN E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/12/2018 TAGS: PREL PGOV PINR MARR BK SUBJECT: BOSNIA - RADMANOVIC TAKES FIRM LINE ON POLICE AMENDMENTS, RS RHETORIC REF: A. SARAJEVO 307 ¶B. SARAJEVO 363 Classified By: Ambassador Charles English for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) SUMMARY -------------- ¶1. (C) The Ambassador spoke with Nebojsa Radmanovic, Bosnian Serb member of the Presidency, by phone on March 10 to raise concerns over Republika Srpska (RS) and SNSD actions on three important issues: the failure to approve the transfer agreement on movable defense property; threats to scuttle police reform legislation thereby blocking the SAA; and continued RS rhetoric on secession referenda. The Ambassador stressed that RS PM Dodik and SNSD were pursuing a dangerous course that threatened the stability of the country. Radmanovic stated that he supported the defense property agreement and would continue to press Dodik to secure RS approval of the text before NATO's Bucharest Summit. Radmanovic reiterated SNSD resolve in its intentions to reject SBiH amendments to the police reform legislation. Radmanovic refused to concede that SNSD rhetoric and actions were irresponsible, stressing that the party only looked to support Dayton and Dayton structures. Radmanovic asserted that the US should blame other parties in Bosnia for rejecting Dayton and creating the political tensions in the country. The Ambassador underscored that while rhetoric on all sides was negative, the RS alone had taken specific actions that threatened to undermine Dayton and the state. End Summary. THREE PRIME CONCERNS WITH RS -------------- ¶2. (C) The Ambassador spoke with Nebojsa Radmanovic, Bosnian Serb member of the Presidency, by phone on March 10 to reiterate US concern over RS actions on three important issues: the failure to approve the transfer agreement on movable defense property; the possibility of scuttling two laws on police structures necessary for signing the SAA; and continued RS rhetoric on secession referenda. The Ambassador told Radmanovic that, following passage of the movable defense property transfer agreement by the Council of Ministers and Federation government, the onus was squarely on the RS to approve the agreement in advance of NATO's Bucharest Summit April 2-4 (ref A). The Ambassador reminded Radmanovic that the US and NATO HQ had accepted all of Dodik's initial amendments verbatim, and Dodik had endorsed the text. The Ambassador told Radmanovic that NATO and the US were "serious partners" that expected the results of good faith negotiations to be honored. New amendments being tabled by Dodik are entirely inconsistent with the principle of state ownership of arms and ammunition, and unacceptable, the Ambassador said. ¶3. (C) On police reform legislation, the Ambassador told Radmanovic that OHR had deemed the amendments proposed by Haris Silajdzic's Party for BiH (SBiH) to be fully consistent with the Mostar Declaration (ref B). Statements of SNSD intentions to reject the amended law are troubling. The Ambassador urged Radmanovic to use his party leadership role to encourage SNSD parliamentary deputies to approve the legislation. If the laws failed, preventing the signing of an SAA, all parties responsible for that failure, including SNSD, would be held responsible for blocking Bosnia's EU integration, the Ambassador said. ¶4. (C) The Ambassador sternly told Radmanovic that SNSD leaders, including Radmanovic himself, had made "irresponsible and unacceptable" statements regarding possible RS separation from Bosnia. The Ambassador underscored that under no circumstances would the United States "tolerate the dissolution of Bosnia." SNSD rhetoric posed a direct challenge to Dayton and the interests of the United States. The Ambassador warned Radmanovic he should refrain from further rhetoric on separation, and instead work towards stabilizing Bosnia. RADMANOVIC: AGREE ON DEFENSE PROPERTY, DODIK WON'T LISTEN -------------- -------------- ¶5. (C) Radmanovic said that he was in full agreement with the Ambassador's position on defense property and that it was necessary to do everything possible to secure a positive outcome for Bosnia at the Bucharest Summit. Radmanovic said he had stressed to Dodik the previous evening that the RS government must conclude the agreement quickly along the lines supported by NATO. Radmanovic, while claiming to be unaware of "the details of the dispute," said that Dodik remained insistent that the agreement had to be amended to better protect RS interests. Radmanovic urged the Ambassador to discuss the issue with Dodik during their scheduled March 14 meeting. Radmanovic undertook to speak to Dodik again before his meeting with the Ambassador, and reiterate that the RS should not block Bosnia's NATO accession. NO TO SBiH AMENDMENTS -------------- ¶6. (C) Radmanovic was adamant on police reform legislation. He accused the Bosniaks of blocking final passage of the laws through SBiH amendments tabled only for political purposes. He reiterated that SNSD bore no responsibility for approving the SBiH amendments. Radmanovic said SNSD fully supports the Mostar Declaration, and had worked hard to move the legislation through the Council of Ministers. It was Silajdzic and SDA President Sulejman Tihic who were attempting to renegotiate an issue that had already been settled. As a matter of principle, this was unacceptable to SNSD, Radmanovic said. (Comment. Radmanovic did not seem to appreciate the irony of Dodik's "principled" stand on the police amendments in light of his push to reopen discussions on the movable defense property agreement. End Comment.) Radmanovic also said that as a practical matter, it would be nearly impossible to accept the amendments as the 150-member SNSD Main Board had had already approved the existing draft. The Ambassador replied that Dodik, Radmanovic and other party leaders could easily amend the SNSD position to accept the SBiH amendments as consistent with the Mostar Declaration. The Ambassador said that the matter required statesmanship. He urged Radmanovic to exercise leadership and prevent a scenario where SNSD, SBiH and SDA would all be blamed for blocking Bosnia's path to the EU. Radmanovic remained noncommittal. SNSD: THE LAST SUPPORTER OF DAYTON IN BOSNIA? -------------- ¶7. (C) Radmanovic attempted to deflect USG concerns over SNSD rhetoric on referenda and separation. Radmanovic claimed that SNSD is the only pro-Dayton party in Bosnia, and seeks only to codify recognition that Dayton provided the framework for Bosnian governing structures. Radmanovic asserted that none of his statements could be construed as "anti-Dayton," noting that in Banja Luka he has earned the reputation of the staunchest defender of Dayton. (Note. Radmanovic was quoted in press interviews over the weekend stating that RS separation from Bosnia was a possibility. End Note.) Referring to Silajdzic, Radmanovic asked the Ambassador why the US did not respond to "those who reject Dayton." The Ambassador replied that the US reacts to actions. SNSD leadership had recently taken actions, such as RSNA's declaration on Kosovo and the proposed SNSD Declaration of Responsibility before the state parliament, that threatened the stability of the state. The Ambassador reminded Radmanovic that the continuation of such actions by the RS government and SNSD would be of grave concern to the USG. Radmanovic replied that "there are no actions, just Dayton," and expressed willingness to discuss the issue further during subsequent meetings. COMMENT: NO RETREAT -------------- ¶8. (C) Radmanovic remains one of the few remaining moderates in SNSD leadership. However, he echoed the SNSD party line that its actions and rhetoric are the result of hostile, anti-Dayton actions from Silajdzic and the Federation. This claim withstands little scrutiny. While Silajdzic's rhetoric continues to be confrontational and destabilizing, he has no practical means to achieve his anti-RS agenda. The RS response to Silajdzic has been to take concrete steps that set out the framework for the dissolution of Bosnia. Radmanovic's intransigence on police reform legislation and calls for possible secession suggest that Dodik and SNSD do not plan to back away from their confrontational approach. End Comment. ENGLISH