VZCZCXRO7025
PP RUEHAST
DE RUEHBW #1509/01 2620829
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 190829Z SEP 06
FM AMEMBASSY BELGRADE
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 9371
INFO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE
RUFOADA/JAC MOLESWORTH RAF MOLESWORTH UK

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 BELGRADE 001509 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PHUM PREF KAWC PGOV MW
SUBJECT: MONTENEGRO ASSURES COOPERATION ON WAR CRIMES 
 
 
BELGRADE 00001509  001.2 OF 002 
 
 
SENSITIVE BUT UNCLASSIFIED - PLEASE HANDLE ACCORDINGLY 
 
Ref: 2005 Belgrade 0057 
 
This is a Podgorica cable. It has not been cleared with 
Embassy Belgrade. 
 
¶1. (U) Summary: Ambassador Williamson, Special Envoy for 
War Crimes Issues, met on September 14 with PM Djukanovic, 
President Vujanovic, the Chief State Prosecutor, the head 
of the security service, and a private lawyer handling 
claims for compensation of war crimes.  The meetings went 
well, with Montenegro promising its continued full support 
to ICTY and to regional efforts to prosecute war criminals. 
End summary. 
 
Overview of USG Initiative 
-------------------------- 
 
¶2. (U) Ambassador Williamson told interlocutors that "there 
are no difficult war crimes issues with Montenegro." He 
gave each an overview of the USG's new initiative to bring 
closure to the war crimes issues in the Balkans. First was 
a new focus on regional cooperation in domestic war crimes 
trials.  He noted with approval recent agreement between 
Croatia and Montenegro to allow prosecution in Montenegro 
of its citizens suspected of war crimes in Croatia in 1992. 
He explained that a series of meetings and seminars will be 
held in the region to increase cooperation among 
governments, including prosecutors, judges, and security 
services, noting that S/WCI's regional representative will 
play a key role in those meetings.  This will be the 
primary focus for Montenegro, he added.  Second is an 
effort to conclude the ICTY trials by arresting six 
fugitives, particularly Ratko Mladic and Radovan Karadzic. 
 
Meetings with President and Prime Minister 
------------------------------------------ 
 
¶3. (U) Prime Minister Djukanovic, having specifically 
requested to meet with Ambassador Williamson, gave his 
strong assurance that the GoM would continue to give its 
full support to the ICTY.  He warmly welcomed the USG 
initiatives to increase regional cooperation on domestic 
war crimes trials, saying that he hoped that Montenegro 
could use its example and influence to advance the 
initiative.  President Vujanovic gave similar support to 
the plan. Ambassador Williamson stated that the USG would 
look to Montenegro to take a leading role in cooperation 
between security services in the hunt for the ICTY 
fugitives. They also discussed the political climate in 
Serbia relating to the apprehension of these fugitives. 
Speaking specifically about President Boris Tadic, 
Vujanovic noted that leaders should shape public opinion, 
not the other way around. 
 
Meeting with Security Service 
----------------------------- 
 
¶4. (SBU) Dusko Markovic, head of the National Security 
Agency, assured the Ambassador that his service would 
continue to support efforts to locate PIFWCs and support 
the prosecution of war criminals, as an integral part of 
his extant program of cooperation with the USG. 
 
Meeting with State Prosecutor 
----------------------------- 
 
¶5. (U) Vesna Medenica, the Chief State Prosecutor, assured 
Williamson of her office's continued support to ICTY, and 
that it was ready to handle domestic war crimes trials. 
She noted that her office was "actively" pursuing the 1992 
deportations to Bosnia and Herzegovina (reftel), but that 
the courts were slow to implement investigative procedures. 
She added that the prosecutor in the case (also attending 
the meeting) had filed motions to accelerate the cases.  On 
regional cooperation, she said she had good relations with 
the prosecutors in Croatia, Bosnia, and Serbia, but that 
differences in the legal systems created problems, and that 
she had no contact with the courts of states in the region. 
 
Meeting With Lawyer Dragan Prelevic 
----------------------------------- 
 
¶6. (U) Dragan Prelevic families of 36 victims, including 
six survivors, who were deported from Montenegro to Foca in 
Republika Srpska in April-May 1992.  Prelevic estimated a 
total of 85 to 100 persons, mainly male Muslims from 
Bosnia, were deported, the majority being killed by RS 
security forces.  The cases were filed in Montenegro at the 
 
BELGRADE 00001509  002.2 OF 002 
 
 
end of 2004 (reftel) seeking monetary compensation (Euros 
300,000 per victim) from the GoM .  Prelevic complained of 
stalling tactics by the Chief Prosecutor's Office, who is 
charged with defending the state of Montenegro in cases 
like these, in which Government officials are implicated in 
misconduct. Prelevic clarified that the victims are most 
interested in the Government admitting its errors and 
fault, and less in the amount of compensation.  To date, 
only one case has reached a verdict, with the victim's 
mother and sister awarded a total of Euros 45,000. (Note: 
Local media reported on September 16 that a local judge had 
dismissed the judgment, asserting the case had been filed 
late. Information available to post indicates that the 
request for compensation was filed correctly and on time. 
End note.)  Williamson underscored his ongoing interest in 
the cases, and his support for Prelevic's efforts. 
 
¶7. (U) This cable was cleared by Ambassador Williamson 
after his departure. 
 
POLT