USNATO/USEU: NAC-PSC MEETING HIGHLIGHTS

C O N F I D E N T I A L USNATO 000121

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/25/2019
TAGS: PREL NATO PGOV MOPS EUN BK
SUBJECT: USNATO/USEU: NAC-PSC MEETING HIGHLIGHTS
DIFFERENCES OVER OHR-EUSR AND EUFOR TRANSITIONS

Classified By: Acting Deputy Chief of Mission Walter S. Reid for reason
s 1.5 (b and d)


1. (U) This is a joint USNATO-USEU cable.


2. (C) SUMMARY. NATO HQ Sarajevo Commander Brigadier
General Errico and Deputy SACEUR and EUFOR Operational
Commander General McColl briefed a joint meeting of the North
Atlantic Council (NAC) and EU Political and Security
Committee (PSC) on March 23 on the situation in Bosnia and
Herzegovina (BiH). Both stressed the importance of NATO-EU
cooperation. NATO Secretary General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer
expressed concern with the BiH political situation, but EU
High Representative for the Common Foreign and Security
Policy Javier Solana was optimistic that there was sufficient
political progress for the OHR-EUSR transition to take place
soon. Chairman of the EU Military Committee General
Bentegeat added that the BiH security situation was stable,
and EUFOR should be able to move toward reconfiguration into
a non-executive, training mission. The U.S. cautioned the EU
not to take its eyes off the ball, saying the 5-plus-2
objectives/conditions should be fulfilled first. END SUMMARY.

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NATO-EU COOPERATION IN BIH REMAINS GOOD
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3. (C) NATO Secretary General (SYG) Jaap de Hoop Scheffer
welcomed new NATO HQ Sarajevo Commander Brigadier General
Errico (Italy) and Deputy SACEUR and EUFOR Operational
Commander General John McColl (UK),saying that NATO-EU
cooperation in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) continues to be a
success. EU High Representative for the Common Foreign and
Security Policy Javier Solana echoed this sentiment and
expressed the hope that this would continue. General McColl
added that NATO-EU cooperation was working very well at all
levels and called "Berlin Plus" in BiH a proven success. The
U.S. welcomed the NAC-PSC as an opportunity to exercise
NATO-EU cooperation.

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NATO-EU DIFFERENCES ON BIH POLITICAL SITUATION
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4. (C) SYG de Hoop Scheffer expressed concern about the
political situation in BiH, saying he was encouraged by the
Prud process but noting that progress to date remained
disappointing. He observed that 2009 was an opportunity for
Bosnian political leaders to move the situation forward,
given that there are no elections scheduled. High Rep Solana
was more optimistic. He said the Prud process was moving in
the right direction and expressed hope that that the 5-plus-2
objectives/conditions would be met soon.


5. (C) Turkey and Norway called the political situation
fragile, and Hungarian PermRep Martinusz, who reportedly was
recently selected to serve as EU Council Secretariat Eastern
Europe/Balkans/Central Asia head of unit, said he shared the
NATO SYG's assessment. Martinusz expressed concern that
Euro-Atlantic integration was proving an insufficient
incentive to moderate Bosnian political leaders' behavior and
urged NATO and EU unity of purpose and action in keeping
pressure on the BiH leadership.

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OHR/EUSR TRANSITION
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6. (C) High Rep Solana noted that new OHR/EUSR Valentin
Inzko would need everyone's support, and the NATO SYG
welcomed Inzko's appointment and said he could count on NATO
backing. EU High Rep Solana, supported by Slovenian PermRep
to NATO Cerar, said that BiH political progress should allow
OHR to transition to EUSR soon, and he expressed hope that
the Peace Implementation Council (PIC) at its meeting in June
could take the decision to close OHR.


7. (C) The U.S., supported by Norway and Turkey, cautioned
the EU against rushing to OHR and EUFOR transition, evoking
the analogy of a wide receiver who takes his eyes off the
ball to look toward the end zone and thereby misses the
catch. It is important for the 5-plus-2
objectives/conditions to be fulfilled before considering such

moves. Norwegian PermRep to NATO Traavik added that moving
too quickly under current political circumstances would be
risky and called for Bonn Powers to be retained for as long
as necessary. Turkey said a strong OHR remained necessary to
counter any secessionist moves by Republika Srpska.

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EU MOVING TOWARDS DOWNSIZING EUFOR
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8. (C) The NATO SYG asked for close NATO-EU consultations
over reconfiguring EUFOR, noting NATO's stake in the issue
and also recalling that this was the only "Berlin Plus"
operation. Chairman of the NATO Military Committee Admiral
Di Paola, supported by BG Errico, added that close NATO-EU
cooperation would be essential to ensure BiH defense reform
continues. BG Errico called for close synchronization of
efforts should EUFOR reconfigure, especially if the new EUFOR
is focused primarily on a training mission.


9. (C) High Rep Solana expressed optimism that there is an
EU consensus to maintain EUFOR at present force levels until
a decision is taken to transition to a non-executive training
mission. The Czech Presidency PSC Ambassador added that EU
Defense Ministers meeting in Prague on March 16 had decided
to keep preparatory work for EUFOR reconfiguration under
review in order to be in a position to take a decision as
soon as conditions merit. Sweden called for EU preparedness
to move quickly to reconfigure EUFOR and said the mission
should continue under "Berlin Plus." Neither France nor
Italy, strong proponents of reconfiguration, commented.


10. (C) Chairman of the EU Military Committee General
Bentegeat assessed that the BiH security situation was stable
and called for this to be reconciled with expressions of
political concern so that EUFOR could move forward with
reconfiguration. General McColl said a CONOPS had been
distributed to EUFOR contributors that envisions a small
headquarters in theater supplemented by training teams
deployed to conduct specific programs. The mission would be
complementary with NATO efforts, and BiH was preparing an
assessment of its training needs which probably will be
completed by mid-April. He cautioned that any further
unilateral reductions to EUFOR before a reconfiguration
decision is taken would place the force at risk.


11. (C) Turkish NATO PermRep Ildem challenged the EU
assessment concerning BiH stability and said it was essential
to maintain current force levels. He urged EUFOR
contributors not to withdraw their forces and said Turkey
intends to increase its contribution. He said that Ankara
has a strong expectation that NATO and non-EU EUFOR
contributors would be consulted before the EU takes a
decision on reconfiguration. Hungarian NATO PermRep
Martinusz said the timing of reconfiguration would be
important, advised that it be synchronized with OHR-EUSR
transition, and pledged that Hungary would maintain its EUFOR
contribution.

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DEFENSE REFORM HINDERED BY POLITICAL PROBLEMS
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12. (C) The SYG stressed that BiH has made progress in
moving down the path toward NATO membership but that
political problems are jeopardizing defense reform. NATO's
door is open but there remains much for BiH to do.


13. (C) BG Errico highlighted as problematic that the BiH
was only allocating 2 percent of its defense budget to
military modernization. BG Errico added that NATO needs to
be realistic and patient in its military advisory role and
said political processes such as BiH participation in
Intensified Dialogue reinforce the day-to-day advisory work
on defense reform. He said NATO involvement must be seen
within the wider political context, making continuous
political engagement and clear messages to BiH leadership
key.
ANDRUSYSZYN