VISEGRAD FOUR POLITICAL DIRECTORS MEETING IN

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 BUDAPEST 000090 SIPDIS DEPARTMENT FOR EUR/CE JAMIE MOORE, NSC FOR JEFF HOVENIER E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/09/2015 TAGS: EUN NATO PREL PGOV BK HU SUBJECT: VISEGRAD FOUR POLITICAL DIRECTORS MEETING IN SARAJEVO BUDAPEST 00000090 001.2 OF 003 Classified By: Political Officer Jon Martinson, reasons 1.4. b and d ¶1. (SBU) The Hungarian MFA's Political Director, Gabor Ikody, offered to share with PolOff a report of the Visegrad Four (V4) Political Directors January 27-28 meeting in Sarajevo, Bosnia-Hercegovina. The Political Directors met with the three members of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina, with the Chairman of the Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina, with high-level officials of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, as well as with leaders of parties of the House of Representatives. They also held consultations with the High Representative/EUSR. The text of the report follows. ¶2. (C) Begin text Summary The consultations in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) confirmed that the political elite in the country are concentrating on the preparations for the upcoming general elections in October 2010. Most Bosnian partners agreed that there was hardly any possibility for major constitutional reforms and substantial progress in the distribution of state and defense property, i.e. completing the 5 2 requirements, before early next year. There might be room for changes in the Electoral Law in order to accommodate the decision of the Human Rights Court in Strasbourg. High attention is given to meeting fully the requirements of visa-liberalization, and to an invitation to join NATO's Membership Action Plan. Although forces polling strongly in the run-up to the elections seem to be somewhat reluctant to grant these achievements to parties currently holding power, the importance of urgently taking these steps is broadly recognized. The Members of the Presidency made a strong appeal for both granting visa-liberalization and NATO's MAP to BiH. President Silajdzic emphasized the need to continue with necessary work despite the elections in October. The country would become paralyzed if elections, which - either local or general - are a biannual event in BiH, were to influence everyday governing. He dismissed the debate on OHR's closure as a non-issue, as the Office has not yet fulfilled its mandate. Silajdzic was particularly disappointed with BiH not getting an invitation to join MAP, although the Members of the Presidency were encouraged and made a joint appeal for it. He highlighted his party's proposal to implement the decision of the Human Rights Court, by appointing a fourth member to the Presidency. President Radmanovic expressed his opinion that the EU had different approaches towards countries of the Western Balkans, which did not serve the interests of BiH nor those of the EU. In spite of this, his country was still interested in integration with the EU, but he cautioned that a substantial portion of the population was not in favor of BiH's membership in NATO, and this could eventually happen as regards the EU as well. Radmanovic rejected any outside pressure on the constitutional reform. Concerning the OHR, he stressed the need for advice, but not for "orders" on matters relating to European integration. Mr. Komsic, the Chairman of the Presidency, noted that the only open issue in the way of gaining visa-liberalization - the appointing of the chief of the police agency - seemed technical, but, in reality, it was a political matter. According to him, the Bosnian side was "blackmailed" during the Butmir talks, and he rejected this manner of negotiations with BiH. He called the decision of the Human Rights Court "normal" and emphasized the need to implement it, although he was of the opinion that any major changes of the Constitution were impossible under current political circumstances. The Chairman of the Council of Ministers, Mr Spiric, cautioned of obstacles in the way of BiH's path towards integration. By gaining visa-liberalization (preferably before the tourist season) and joining MAP, an opportunity could be created for constitutional reforms. As the country's chief executive, he confirmed that all 174 requirements for visa-liberalization have been met. The only remaining issue is the appointment of the head of the police, which will be settled by mid-February. He highlighted that integrating the defense, as well as security sectors, had been the most successful reforms in the country, and granting MAP without tying it to the completion of constitutional reforms would strengthen the integrationist forces of BiH. BUDAPEST 00000090 002.2 OF 003 Spiric stressed that the success or failure of the country was a joint responsibility of Bosnians and the International Community. He affirmed that as soon as his office received an official note on the decision of the Human Rights Court, they would develop an action plan on its implementation, which could be done through the harmonization of the Electoral Law rather than through amending the Constitution. He dismissed the possibility of constitutional reforms in this election year: constitutional change is an evolutionary rather than a revolutionary matter, which is likely to be completed once BiH joins the EU. Spiric noted with disillusion that the elections would only bring minor corrections to the political situation in BiH and he saw no chance of resolving open issues more easily following the vote. He was disappointed that parts of the International Community created an image of an unsuccessful Bosnian state and highlighted the problem of different international patrons of different political forces in BiH. He stressed that the unity of the country rested not on the OHR, but on internal dialogue, which still does not really exist fifteen years following the Dayton Peace Accords. Spiric emphasized that there were no threats to BiH's territorial integrity. Deputy FM Mandie explained the internal processes tied to developing instructions in conjunction with their membership of the UN Security Council. The approval process of the mandates involved their Delegation in New York, the Ministry and the Presidency, and it has been working smoothly, even in delicate cases like Kosovo. BiH was preparing to send a one-hundred strong troop-contingent to the ISAF mission, although it is still not decided under the auspices of which lead nation. Public opinion is not opposed to the deployment. Mandic stated that visa-liberalization obtained by the neighbors of BiH could serve as an incentive to meet the necessary criteria. Dragan Cavic of the Democratic Party noted that the ethnic groups of the country still lived divided. He expected no constitutional reforms before the general elections, but considered possible the implementation of the decision by the Human Rights Court. He appealed for a regional approach by the EU to Croatia, Serbia and BiH, as regional cooperation of the three would guarantee their path to Europe. Cavic considered BiH's relations with NATO as being linked to NATO-Serbian relations and preferred to concentrate first on the European integration efforts. Borjana Kristo (deputy head of HDZ BiH (Croatian Democratic Union of Bosnia) and President of the BiH Federation) emphasized her party's support for constitutional reform, but noted her pessimism as to its completion before the elections. She considered possible the implementation of the decision by the Human Rights Court through the modification of the Electoral Law. Choosing more than three members to the Presidency and direct elections of it members were not an option. Minister of Justice Barisa Colak, also of HDZ BiH, enumerated the census and the survey of state property as key tasks ahead. He also solicited support for the development of the transport Corridor V/c, (Note. V/c refers to the international motorway planned to include portions in BiH. End note) suffering from delays and cost increases stemming from the delays. Zlatko Lagumdzija of the Social Democratic Party came out forcefully against President Silajdzic on his proposals for a fourth member of the Presidency, as a way to accommodate the Human Rights Court's decision. He did not foresee constitutional changes before the elections. On his opposition to the Butmir proposals, he explained that they would have only supported the radicals of the Federation and the Republika Srpska. Lagumdzija considered pressure by the International Community counterproductive. Analyzing the political processes in the run-up to the elections in October, his confidence was palpable. He did not rule out governing with Dodik, whom he considered pragmatic, radicalized only by the rhetoric of Silajdzic. He stressed the need for the OHR as long as constitutional problems and divisions within the country remained. Lagumdzija was not worried about lagging behind neighbors in European integration and thought that granting MAP to BiH at this point in time would be a gift without achievements. He considered constitutional reforms manageable as long as there was political will from the parties concerned. BUDAPEST 00000090 003.2 OF 003 All interlocutors welcomed the continuous support of the V4 to the stability and integration efforts of Bosnia and Herzegovina and shared interest in the experience of the Visegrad countries with regards to regional cooperation. The Political Directors also met with HR/EUSR Inzko. END TEXT ¶3. (C) Comment. Krisztian Meszaros, who traveled with Political Director Iklody to Sarajevo, provided a copy of the Political Directors' report to PolOff. Referring to the report, Meszaros said Hungary doubts any Bosnian constitutional changes will take place before the October elections. He also highlighted the "political aspects" associated with naming a chief of the police agency, stating that decision may also be delayed until after the fall elections. Meszaros, acknowledging a difference of U.S. and Hungarian view points on the MAP issue, stated that Hungary continues to support the MAP for Bosnia as a way to move the country forward in reform efforts. He expressed hope that this decision could be made at the upcoming June ministerial. End comment. KOUNALAKIS