VETTING RESPONSE (PODGORICA 163)

UNCLAS STATE 074673 SENSITIVE SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: MW ASEC PHUM PREL SUBJECT: VETTING RESPONSE (PODGORICA 163) REF: PODGORICA 163 ¶1. (U) This cable responds to the action request in reftel requesting human rights vetting for candidate nominated to attend the Defense Language Institute at Lackland AFB. The course is scheduled for August 2 - August 28, 2009. ¶2. (SBU) The Department of State has vetted the individual listed in reftel and possesses no credible derogatory information as of 07/17/2009. Post is authorized to include the following individual(s) in USG-funded training: (1) NAME: VADM Dragan Smarazdic DOB: 14 May 1963 in Kotor, Montenegro GENDER: Male TITLE: Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Montenegro (Chief of Defense) ORGANIZATION: The Montenegrin Armed Forces NATIONALITY: Montenegrin ¶3. (U) Post is permitted to provide the following statement to authorized parties: Embassy verifies that the Department of State possesses no credible information of gross violations of human rights by the individual(s) identified above, as of 07/17/2009. Post may cite this cable in response. ¶4. (U) Note that if Post subsequently becomes aware of possible human rights violations by the individual(s) listed above, Post should inform the Department and not proceed with training. Post should refer to the Leahy Vetting guidance manual for additional assistance. CLINTON