Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09ZAGREB283
2009-05-21 14:49:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Zagreb
Cable title:
FOREIGN MINISTER REQUESTS US HELP ON GLAVAS CASE
how-toVZCZCXRO0122 PP RUEHDBU RUEHFL RUEHKW RUEHLA RUEHNP RUEHROV RUEHSR DE RUEHVB #0283 1411449 ZNY CCCCC ZZH P 211449Z MAY 09 FM AMEMBASSY ZAGREB TO RUEHVJ/AMEMBASSY SARAJEVO PRIORITY 0324 RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 9234 INFO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L ZAGREB 000283
SIPDIS
STATE PASS S/WCI
E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/21/2019
TAGS: PREL PGOV KAWC BH HR
SUBJECT: FOREIGN MINISTER REQUESTS US HELP ON GLAVAS CASE
REF: ZAGREB 254
Classified By: Ambassador Robert Bradtke; Reasons 1.4 (b) & (d).
C O N F I D E N T I A L ZAGREB 000283
SIPDIS
STATE PASS S/WCI
E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/21/2019
TAGS: PREL PGOV KAWC BH HR
SUBJECT: FOREIGN MINISTER REQUESTS US HELP ON GLAVAS CASE
REF: ZAGREB 254
Classified By: Ambassador Robert Bradtke; Reasons 1.4 (b) & (d).
1. (C) Following a May 20 meeting on other subjects,
Foreign Minister Jandrokovic raised one-on-one with the
Ambassador the case of Branimir Glavas (reftel),who was
found guilty of war crimes and fled to Bosnia. Jandrokovic
said that he had requested the assistance of EU in having
Glavas extradited back to Croatia from Bosnia, and he wanted
to make the same request of the United States. The
international community, he said, had a strong interest in
ensuring that Bosnia did not become a refuge for war
criminals. The Croatian government wants Glavas back to face
justice in Croatia, and would welcome any assistance the U.S.
could provide.
2. (C) The Ambassador replied briefly that the U.S.
attached great importance to seeing that those who committed
war crimes were held accountable for their actions. While he
did not know what might be possible in this case, he promised
to bring the request to the attention of the U.S. Embassy in
Sarajevo and Washington and request a response to the
Minister's request.
3. (C) Comment and Action Requested. Intial optimism in
the State Prosecutor's Office and the Ministry of Justice
that it would be possible revoke Glavas' recently acquired
Bosnian citizenship on grounds that it was acquired under
false pretenses has faded. While we cannot judge what
political or legal avenues might be open to encourage the
Bosnians to extradite Glavas, we believe that allowing him to
reside with impunity in Bosnia is damaging not only for
Croatia and Bosnia but for efforts throughout the region to
hold criminals accountable. Please provide a response to the
Foreign Minister's request and advise post on what
assistance, if any, the USG can provide to assist with the
return of Glavas to Croatia.
BRADTKE
SIPDIS
STATE PASS S/WCI
E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/21/2019
TAGS: PREL PGOV KAWC BH HR
SUBJECT: FOREIGN MINISTER REQUESTS US HELP ON GLAVAS CASE
REF: ZAGREB 254
Classified By: Ambassador Robert Bradtke; Reasons 1.4 (b) & (d).
1. (C) Following a May 20 meeting on other subjects,
Foreign Minister Jandrokovic raised one-on-one with the
Ambassador the case of Branimir Glavas (reftel),who was
found guilty of war crimes and fled to Bosnia. Jandrokovic
said that he had requested the assistance of EU in having
Glavas extradited back to Croatia from Bosnia, and he wanted
to make the same request of the United States. The
international community, he said, had a strong interest in
ensuring that Bosnia did not become a refuge for war
criminals. The Croatian government wants Glavas back to face
justice in Croatia, and would welcome any assistance the U.S.
could provide.
2. (C) The Ambassador replied briefly that the U.S.
attached great importance to seeing that those who committed
war crimes were held accountable for their actions. While he
did not know what might be possible in this case, he promised
to bring the request to the attention of the U.S. Embassy in
Sarajevo and Washington and request a response to the
Minister's request.
3. (C) Comment and Action Requested. Intial optimism in
the State Prosecutor's Office and the Ministry of Justice
that it would be possible revoke Glavas' recently acquired
Bosnian citizenship on grounds that it was acquired under
false pretenses has faded. While we cannot judge what
political or legal avenues might be open to encourage the
Bosnians to extradite Glavas, we believe that allowing him to
reside with impunity in Bosnia is damaging not only for
Croatia and Bosnia but for efforts throughout the region to
hold criminals accountable. Please provide a response to the
Foreign Minister's request and advise post on what
assistance, if any, the USG can provide to assist with the
return of Glavas to Croatia.
BRADTKE