Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08SARAJEVO67
2008-01-11 17:25:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Sarajevo
Cable title:
BOSNIA: KARADZIC FAMILY TRAVEL DOCUMENTS SEIZED
how-toVZCZCXYZ0001 PP RUEHWEB DE RUEHVJ #0067 0111725 ZNY CCCCC ZZH P 111725Z JAN 08 FM AMEMBASSY SARAJEVO TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 7625 INFO RUFGAID/USEUCOM AIDES VAIHINGEN AB GE PRIORITY RUEAIIA/CIA WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY RUEAWJA/DEPT OF JUSTICE WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY RHEFDIA/DIA WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY RUEKJCS/JCS WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC PRIORITY RUFOAOA/USNIC SARAJEVO BK PRIORITY RUEHBW/AMEMBASSY BELGRADE 0510 RUEHTC/AMEMBASSY THE HAGUE 0164
C O N F I D E N T I A L SARAJEVO 000067
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
EUR (DICARLO),EUR/SCE (HOH, FOOKS, STINCHCOMB),S/WCI
(WILLIAMSON, LAVINE),DOJ FOR OPDAT (ALEXANDRE),INL
(KIMMEL); NSC FOR BRAUN, EUCOM FOR BURDICK
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/11/2018
TAGS: PGOV KAWC PREL BK
SUBJECT: BOSNIA: KARADZIC FAMILY TRAVEL DOCUMENTS SEIZED
REF: SARAJEVO 2736
Classified By: CDA Judith Cefkin for Reasons 1.4 (B) and (D)
C O N F I D E N T I A L SARAJEVO 000067
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
EUR (DICARLO),EUR/SCE (HOH, FOOKS, STINCHCOMB),S/WCI
(WILLIAMSON, LAVINE),DOJ FOR OPDAT (ALEXANDRE),INL
(KIMMEL); NSC FOR BRAUN, EUCOM FOR BURDICK
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/11/2018
TAGS: PGOV KAWC PREL BK
SUBJECT: BOSNIA: KARADZIC FAMILY TRAVEL DOCUMENTS SEIZED
REF: SARAJEVO 2736
Classified By: CDA Judith Cefkin for Reasons 1.4 (B) and (D)
1. (U) Acting on a request from the International Criminal
Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia (ICTY),High
Representative Lajcak early on January 10 ordered the seizure
of travel and identification documents from Radovan
Karadzic's immediate family. RS police carried out the order
the same day against Karadzic's wife Lilijana, son Aleksandar
(aka Sasa),daughter Sonja, and son-in-law Branislav
Jovicevic at their residence in Pale, near Sarajevo.
2. (C) Howard Tucker, the Head of ICTY, told us that the
order from The Hague was conveyed on January 9 and that it
constituted a "natural progression" from the inclusion of the
Karadzic family on the EU visa ban list and asset seizures by
the state government (Reftel).
3. (C) At the January 11 meeting of the Peace Implementation
Council Steering Board Ambassadors, High Representative
Miroslav Lajcak briefed on the order to seize Karadzic family
travel documents. The passports of Karadzic family had been
seized and their Bosnian identification documents had been
confiscated and replaced with temporary identification with
the notation that no foreign travel is allowed. Lajcak
reiterated that he had made the order at the request of the
ICTY and had directed the RS Police to effect the seizures
because it would have raised political difficulties for state
level law enforcement agencies. In response to a question
from the Charge, Lajcak stated that OHR was unaware if
Karadzic family members possessed travel documents issued by
other countries.
4. (C) Russian Ambassador Konstantin Shuvalov asked about a
press line OHR had prepared in response to a question as to
why domestic authorities had not taken this measure. OHR's
response was that the BiH Criminal code foresees the
possibility, but that OHR had wanted to ensure that the
measures were enforced immediately. Lajcak clarified that
BiH law only allows for a seizure for 72 hours which is why
OHR had chosen to act. Shuvalov accepted this explanation
and asked that the press lines be amended to reflect this.
Lajcak also noted that the seizures were a legitimate measure
given ongoing investigations of the Karadzic family and the
Bosnian and EU punitive measures already in place against the
individuals. Lajcak added that he had consulted with RS PM
Milorad Dodik and RS Interior Minister Stanislav Cadjo before
issuing the order.
CEFKIN
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
EUR (DICARLO),EUR/SCE (HOH, FOOKS, STINCHCOMB),S/WCI
(WILLIAMSON, LAVINE),DOJ FOR OPDAT (ALEXANDRE),INL
(KIMMEL); NSC FOR BRAUN, EUCOM FOR BURDICK
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/11/2018
TAGS: PGOV KAWC PREL BK
SUBJECT: BOSNIA: KARADZIC FAMILY TRAVEL DOCUMENTS SEIZED
REF: SARAJEVO 2736
Classified By: CDA Judith Cefkin for Reasons 1.4 (B) and (D)
1. (U) Acting on a request from the International Criminal
Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia (ICTY),High
Representative Lajcak early on January 10 ordered the seizure
of travel and identification documents from Radovan
Karadzic's immediate family. RS police carried out the order
the same day against Karadzic's wife Lilijana, son Aleksandar
(aka Sasa),daughter Sonja, and son-in-law Branislav
Jovicevic at their residence in Pale, near Sarajevo.
2. (C) Howard Tucker, the Head of ICTY, told us that the
order from The Hague was conveyed on January 9 and that it
constituted a "natural progression" from the inclusion of the
Karadzic family on the EU visa ban list and asset seizures by
the state government (Reftel).
3. (C) At the January 11 meeting of the Peace Implementation
Council Steering Board Ambassadors, High Representative
Miroslav Lajcak briefed on the order to seize Karadzic family
travel documents. The passports of Karadzic family had been
seized and their Bosnian identification documents had been
confiscated and replaced with temporary identification with
the notation that no foreign travel is allowed. Lajcak
reiterated that he had made the order at the request of the
ICTY and had directed the RS Police to effect the seizures
because it would have raised political difficulties for state
level law enforcement agencies. In response to a question
from the Charge, Lajcak stated that OHR was unaware if
Karadzic family members possessed travel documents issued by
other countries.
4. (C) Russian Ambassador Konstantin Shuvalov asked about a
press line OHR had prepared in response to a question as to
why domestic authorities had not taken this measure. OHR's
response was that the BiH Criminal code foresees the
possibility, but that OHR had wanted to ensure that the
measures were enforced immediately. Lajcak clarified that
BiH law only allows for a seizure for 72 hours which is why
OHR had chosen to act. Shuvalov accepted this explanation
and asked that the press lines be amended to reflect this.
Lajcak also noted that the seizures were a legitimate measure
given ongoing investigations of the Karadzic family and the
Bosnian and EU punitive measures already in place against the
individuals. Lajcak added that he had consulted with RS PM
Milorad Dodik and RS Interior Minister Stanislav Cadjo before
issuing the order.
CEFKIN