Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
10ANKARA241
2010-02-12 17:03:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Ankara
Cable title:
TURKEY TOUTS FIFTH BOSNIA/SERBIA/TURKEY TRILATERAL
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C O N F I D E N T I A L ANKARA 000241
SIPDIS
DEPARTMENT ALSO FOR EUR/SE
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/11/2020
TAGS: PGOV PREL TU BK ZL
SUBJECT: TURKEY TOUTS FIFTH BOSNIA/SERBIA/TURKEY TRILATERAL
Classified By: POL Counselor Daniel O'Grady for reasons 1.4(b,d)
C O N F I D E N T I A L ANKARA 000241
SIPDIS
DEPARTMENT ALSO FOR EUR/SE
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/11/2020
TAGS: PGOV PREL TU BK ZL
SUBJECT: TURKEY TOUTS FIFTH BOSNIA/SERBIA/TURKEY TRILATERAL
Classified By: POL Counselor Daniel O'Grady for reasons 1.4(b,d)
1. (C) Turkish media reports lauded the February 9 trilateral
meeting in Ankara of Turkey, Bosnia, and Serbia as having
succeeded in establishing diplomatic relations and the
exchange of ambassadors between Bosnia and Serbia. The media
outlets appeared unaware that Bosnia and Serbia had actually
agreed in 1996 to establish diplomatic relations and had
exchanged ambassadors soon thereafter.
2. (C) It is true that the post of Bosnian ambassador to
Serbia has been vacant since June 2007 because successive
candidates were unable to secure Serbian concurrence. After
the trilateral meeting, Serbian FM Vuk Jeremic announced the
approval of a new Bosnian ambassador to Serbia. Turkish MFA
First Secretary Guclu Kalafat confirmed February 11 that,
during the course of the trilateral, Serbia had agreed to
accept Borisa Arnaut as the new ambassador. Kalafat said he
regretted the media's hype of the significance of the Serbian
announcement.
3. (C) On February 9, Bosnian Embassy First Secretary Miljana
Zdrale told us that Bosnia appreciates Turkey's efforts but
conceded that that Turkey seems to be exagerating its success
in mediating between Bosnia and Serbia. Serbian Embassy
Counselor Zeljko Gajic insisted to us February 9 the
situation regarding the new Bosnian ambassador was never a
"major" problem between Serbia and Bosnia. (Note: The
three-year gap between ambassadors seems to argue otherwise.
End Note) Gajic said the latest move was indeed a positive
step but he too downplayed the development. He said all
three parties had discussed the issue during the fourth
trilateral held in Belgrade on January 15. Gajic had earlier
been dismissive of the trilateral meetings, noting that they
only took "small steps" and were becoming stagnant.
4. (C) COMMENT: The MFA may have been complicit in
exaggerating the significance of the Serbian announcement.
It may be worried its trilateral process is in danger of
stalling.
Jeffrey
"Visit Ankara's Classified Web Site at http://www.intelink.s
gov.gov/wiki/Portal:Turkey"
SIPDIS
DEPARTMENT ALSO FOR EUR/SE
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/11/2020
TAGS: PGOV PREL TU BK ZL
SUBJECT: TURKEY TOUTS FIFTH BOSNIA/SERBIA/TURKEY TRILATERAL
Classified By: POL Counselor Daniel O'Grady for reasons 1.4(b,d)
1. (C) Turkish media reports lauded the February 9 trilateral
meeting in Ankara of Turkey, Bosnia, and Serbia as having
succeeded in establishing diplomatic relations and the
exchange of ambassadors between Bosnia and Serbia. The media
outlets appeared unaware that Bosnia and Serbia had actually
agreed in 1996 to establish diplomatic relations and had
exchanged ambassadors soon thereafter.
2. (C) It is true that the post of Bosnian ambassador to
Serbia has been vacant since June 2007 because successive
candidates were unable to secure Serbian concurrence. After
the trilateral meeting, Serbian FM Vuk Jeremic announced the
approval of a new Bosnian ambassador to Serbia. Turkish MFA
First Secretary Guclu Kalafat confirmed February 11 that,
during the course of the trilateral, Serbia had agreed to
accept Borisa Arnaut as the new ambassador. Kalafat said he
regretted the media's hype of the significance of the Serbian
announcement.
3. (C) On February 9, Bosnian Embassy First Secretary Miljana
Zdrale told us that Bosnia appreciates Turkey's efforts but
conceded that that Turkey seems to be exagerating its success
in mediating between Bosnia and Serbia. Serbian Embassy
Counselor Zeljko Gajic insisted to us February 9 the
situation regarding the new Bosnian ambassador was never a
"major" problem between Serbia and Bosnia. (Note: The
three-year gap between ambassadors seems to argue otherwise.
End Note) Gajic said the latest move was indeed a positive
step but he too downplayed the development. He said all
three parties had discussed the issue during the fourth
trilateral held in Belgrade on January 15. Gajic had earlier
been dismissive of the trilateral meetings, noting that they
only took "small steps" and were becoming stagnant.
4. (C) COMMENT: The MFA may have been complicit in
exaggerating the significance of the Serbian announcement.
It may be worried its trilateral process is in danger of
stalling.
Jeffrey
"Visit Ankara's Classified Web Site at http://www.intelink.s
gov.gov/wiki/Portal:Turkey"