Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09USNATO530
2009-11-18 17:28:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Mission USNATO
Cable title:
NATO ALLIES TELL BOSNIAN FM THAT REFORMS ARE
how-toVZCZCXRO1748 OO RUEHSL DE RUEHNO #0530 3221728 ZNY CCCCC ZZH O 181728Z NOV 09 FM USMISSION USNATO TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 3617 INFO RUEHZG/NATO EU COLLECTIVE IMMEDIATE RUEHVJ/AMEMBASSY SARAJEVO IMMEDIATE 0206 RUEHKV/AMEMBASSY KYIV IMMEDIATE 0253 RUEHSI/AMEMBASSY TBILISI IMMEDIATE 5887 RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC IMMEDIATE RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC IMMEDIATE RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC IMMEDIATE RUEHNO/USDELMC BRUSSELS BE IMMEDIATE RHMFISS/USNMR SHAPE BE IMMEDIATE
C O N F I D E N T I A L USNATO 000530
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/17/2019
TAGS: PREL NATO BK TU IT NO
SUBJECT: NATO ALLIES TELL BOSNIAN FM THAT REFORMS ARE
ESSENTIAL
Classified By: POLAD Kelly Degnan
for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)
C O N F I D E N T I A L USNATO 000530
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/17/2019
TAGS: PREL NATO BK TU IT NO
SUBJECT: NATO ALLIES TELL BOSNIAN FM THAT REFORMS ARE
ESSENTIAL
Classified By: POLAD Kelly Degnan
for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)
1. (C) Summary: Bosnia-Herzegovina's Foreign Minister failed
in a November 17 informal meeting with NATO PermReps to push
Allies towards consensus that Ministers should grant
Bosnia-Herzegovina (BiH) the Membership Action Plan (MAP) in
December. Most PermReps rejected the FM's assertion that
progress in the Butmir process should have no bearing on
NATO,s decision. End summary.
2. (C) Turkey called a hastily arranged informal meeting on
November 17 to allow BiH Foreign Minister Sven Alkalaj to
brief NATO PermReps. The Turkish Mission to NATO was hoping
to influence ongoing informal discussions on granting MAP to
BiH at NATO,s December 3-4 Foreign Ministerial. Given the
short notice, only about half of the Allies were represented
by their Ambassador. DCM Heffern represented the United
States.
3. (C) FM Alkalaj gave a five-point presentation, updating
PermReps on his government's perceptions of progress on EU
visa liberalization, the Butmir process, OHR transition, EU
operations, and MAP. In addition to routine information on
national unity in pursuing NATO membership, Alkalaj indicated
his belief that there should be "no linkage" between the
Butmir process and NATO's decision whether or not to grant
MAP. He stressed that a positive decision from NATO Foreign
Ministers would provide additional "glue" to consolidate the
different ethnic groups of BiH society and create stability.
4. (C) The majority of Allies' responses, led by Norway and
Italy, indicated a different perspective. Both PermReps
portrayed themselves as members of a group which, while
favoring granting MAP in December, thought it was important
that BiH show progress that would assist NATO in reaching
consensus on granting MAP.
5. (C) No participant in this meeting indicated any possible
linkage between the separate NATO decisions to be taken on
MAP for Montenegro and for BiH.
6. (C) Allies lined up as follows:
-- Grant MAP in December regardless of other factors:
Albania, Slovenia, Croatia, Turkey.
-- Progress in reforms/Butmir would assist NATO with its
decision: Norway, Italy, Romania, United Kingdom, Germany,
U.S., France, Luxembourg, Denmark.
-- Not sharing a final opinion: Spain.
7. (C) Comment: FM Alkalaj thanked the Allies for their
comments but it is clear that the meeting took a different
direction than the Turkish organizers had desired. A senior
member of the BiH Mission to NATO (strictly protect)
privately indicated after the meeting his disappointment and
concern that this event had negatively impacted BiH's
prospects for MAP in December. End comment.
DAALDER
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/17/2019
TAGS: PREL NATO BK TU IT NO
SUBJECT: NATO ALLIES TELL BOSNIAN FM THAT REFORMS ARE
ESSENTIAL
Classified By: POLAD Kelly Degnan
for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)
1. (C) Summary: Bosnia-Herzegovina's Foreign Minister failed
in a November 17 informal meeting with NATO PermReps to push
Allies towards consensus that Ministers should grant
Bosnia-Herzegovina (BiH) the Membership Action Plan (MAP) in
December. Most PermReps rejected the FM's assertion that
progress in the Butmir process should have no bearing on
NATO,s decision. End summary.
2. (C) Turkey called a hastily arranged informal meeting on
November 17 to allow BiH Foreign Minister Sven Alkalaj to
brief NATO PermReps. The Turkish Mission to NATO was hoping
to influence ongoing informal discussions on granting MAP to
BiH at NATO,s December 3-4 Foreign Ministerial. Given the
short notice, only about half of the Allies were represented
by their Ambassador. DCM Heffern represented the United
States.
3. (C) FM Alkalaj gave a five-point presentation, updating
PermReps on his government's perceptions of progress on EU
visa liberalization, the Butmir process, OHR transition, EU
operations, and MAP. In addition to routine information on
national unity in pursuing NATO membership, Alkalaj indicated
his belief that there should be "no linkage" between the
Butmir process and NATO's decision whether or not to grant
MAP. He stressed that a positive decision from NATO Foreign
Ministers would provide additional "glue" to consolidate the
different ethnic groups of BiH society and create stability.
4. (C) The majority of Allies' responses, led by Norway and
Italy, indicated a different perspective. Both PermReps
portrayed themselves as members of a group which, while
favoring granting MAP in December, thought it was important
that BiH show progress that would assist NATO in reaching
consensus on granting MAP.
5. (C) No participant in this meeting indicated any possible
linkage between the separate NATO decisions to be taken on
MAP for Montenegro and for BiH.
6. (C) Allies lined up as follows:
-- Grant MAP in December regardless of other factors:
Albania, Slovenia, Croatia, Turkey.
-- Progress in reforms/Butmir would assist NATO with its
decision: Norway, Italy, Romania, United Kingdom, Germany,
U.S., France, Luxembourg, Denmark.
-- Not sharing a final opinion: Spain.
7. (C) Comment: FM Alkalaj thanked the Allies for their
comments but it is clear that the meeting took a different
direction than the Turkish organizers had desired. A senior
member of the BiH Mission to NATO (strictly protect)
privately indicated after the meeting his disappointment and
concern that this event had negatively impacted BiH's
prospects for MAP in December. End comment.
DAALDER