This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.

UNCLAS BRUSSELS 001165 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PREL EAID PHUM BK EUN USEU BRUSSELS
SUBJECT: BOSNIA WAR CRIMES CHAMBER CONFERENCE:  9.25 
MILLION EUROS PLEDGED; MORE NEEDED 
 
THIS IS A JOINT EMBASSY SARAJEVO - USEU MESSAGE. 
 
 
SUMMARY 
- - - - 
 
¶1.  (SBU) A March 31 conference in Brussels on the Bosnia 
judicial system raised 9.25 million euros for the War Crimes 
Chamber (WCC) for 2007-09.  BiH PM Terzic and BiH finance and 
justice ministers presented the case for additional funding 
needs and noted that the cost of trying cases in BiH's system 
was a small fraction of the cost of a case tried by the 
International Tribunal in The Hague.  The European Commission 
expressed support for BiH efforts but noted that it could not 
pledge additional funds until the EU's multi-year budget is 
finalized.  Some donors voiced reluctance to pledge 
additional funds absent a BiH comprehensive judicial sector 
development plan.  Representatives from Qatar and the UAE 
indicated privately that their governments were considering 
financial support for the WCC.  None of the funds pledged 
March 31 was designated for construction of a state prison. 
END SUMMARY 
 
¶2.  (U) The European Commission hosted a March 31 conference 
on the Bosnia-Herzegovina judicial system.  BiH PM Terzic, 
his ministers of finance and justice, and several other BiH 
officials addressed the conference.  BiH themes included BiH 
commitment to the rule of law, European integration, and the 
goals of stability and "ownership" of the process via gradual 
assumption of the costs of the judiciary.  European 
Commission Unit Head for the Western Balkans Reinhard Priebe 
noted that there could be no peace without justice in the 
region and praised the "considerable process" BiH has made. 
He called for continued coordination among donors to avoid 
both duplication as well as providing BiH contradictory 
advice. 
 
¶3.  (U) Donors expressed political support for the WCC, 
including the general idea of construction of a state prison. 
 EUR/ACE Director Adams noted that ethnic reconciliation and 
constitutional reform could not proceed in BiH without fair, 
impartial, but certain justice for war criminals.  Several 
delegations indicated continued support for secondments of 
judges and prosecutors to BiH institutions.  Several donors 
noted that BiH should draft a more comprehensive and 
forward-leaning reform strategy covering the entire judicial 
system.  Austria noted its expectation that BiH would provide 
a new financial model outlining how BiH would increasingly 
assume responsibility for financing the judiciary.  The 
Netherlands raised the issue of extradition and noted that 
neither Croatia nor Serbia is obligated to extradite its 
citizens (including those who have dual nationality) to BiH. 
The Dutch representative noted that the Netherlands is 
prepared to raise this issue with Zagreb and Belgrade, as 
well as to seek a common EU approach to the issue.  The Dutch 
representative also noted BiH's tight trial deadlines (cases 
must be resolved within one year or the accused is released) 
as a problem in bringing the guilty to justice. 
 
¶4.  (U) Initial breakdown of donor contributions: 
 
Austria: 1.0 million euro. 
Cyprus: 5,000 euro. 
Germany: 1.8 million euro 
Ireland: 350,000 euro. 
Netherlands: 1.0 million euro 
Norway: 1.0 million euro 
Spain: 1.0 million euro 
U.K.: 1.3 million euro (pre-existing pledge) 
U.S.: 2.0 million dollars (approx. 1.66 million euros) 
 
¶5.  (SBU) None of the OIC nations present pledged financial 
assistance, although representatives from Qatar and the UAE 
said privately that their governments were seriously 
considering support. 
GRAY 
.