VZCZCXYZ0004
RR RUEHWEB

DE RUEHBW #1986/01 3450542
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 110542Z DEC 06
FM AMEMBASSY BELGRADE
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 9871
INFO RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON 0208
RUEHNR/AMEMBASSY NAIROBI 0017
RUEHNE/AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI 0015
RUEHDK/AMEMBASSY DAKAR 0001
RUEHRB/AMEMBASSY RABAT 0007
RUEHYD/AMEMBASSY YAOUNDE 0001
RUEHRO/AMEMBASSY ROME 0518
RUEHMIL/AMCONSUL MILAN 0041

UNCLAS BELGRADE 001986 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
Department pass to PM/PPA Featherstone 
 
E.O. 12958:N/A 
TAGS: MARR MASS PGOV IT NI SR
SUBJECT: SERBIA MINT ACCEPTS INVITATION FOR TRAINING AT 
COESPU 
 
REF: A) STATE 191198; B) Delgado-Featherston emails 
 
(12/1/06 and 12/5/06) (notal) 
 
¶1. (U) The Ministry of Interior has accepted a joint US- 
Italian invitation to participate in training at the Center 
of Excellence for Stability Police Units (COESPU) located 
in Vicenza, Italy and proposed eight candidates for 
participation in the six week middle management course that 
is scheduled to begin on January 8, 2007. (ref A). 
 
¶2. (U) Embassy recommends immediately arranging a Mobile 
Assistance Team (MAT) visit before the 22nd of December to 
review details (including follow-up requirements) and 
confirm this commitment before the holiday season here 
begins and everything grinds to a halt.  Request Department 
provide an American operational point of contact at COESPU 
that will allow us to help with details and avoid any last 
minute snafus. 
 
¶3. (U) Polcouns and RSO met with Director of Police, 
Milorad Veljovic on December 1 to extend invitation and 
background information provided in ref A.  Veljovic 
indicated his interest in having the Serbian Police and 
Gendarmerie participate in the training and promised to get 
back to us with names of candidates quickly.  He 
acknowledged the Ministry's responsibility to set up a 
training regime after the training (with possible 
assistance from Italy and the U.S.).  We also sent the 
background information to Jovan Miriljovic, the MFA's 
director of UN affairs, advising him of our discussions and 
efforts with the Ministry of Interior. 
 
¶4. Polcouns joined two colleagues from the Italian Embassy 
(first secretary Colombo; and a representative of the 
Italian police assigned to the Embassy) on December 8 for a 
meeting with Drazen Maravic, Head of the Bureau for 
International Cooperation and European Integration in the 
Cabinet of the Ministry of Interior, to confirm details of 
the training.  Maravic welcomed the joint US-Italian 
invitation and noted recent efforts by the Ministry to 
establish an inter-ministerial framework with 
representatives from Defense and Foreign Affairs to 
coordinate future GoS engagement in peacekeeping 
operations.  While still a work in progress, he welcomed 
our help in providing a training regime on the police side 
that could deepen the MINT's capabilities for policing in a 
peacekeeping environment.  Maravic also suggested a visit 
by a senior official from the Ministry (e.g. Director of 
Policy Veljovic or Head of the Gendarmerie General Tesic) 
to COESPU sometime in the near future to reinforce senior 
level support for the initiative. 
 
¶5. (U) In a letter dated December 8, MINT State Secretary 
offered eight candidates (listed below) for possible 
participation in the six week middle management course that 
is scheduled to begin on January 8. We have requested 
additional information (exact date and places of birth) 
that will allow us to vet the candidates for Leahy 
provisions before training begins on January 8. 
 
¶1. Irena Pasti, Higher Police Inspector. Works in criminal 
police observation and documentation department. DOB June 
08, 1979 
 
¶2. Danilo Stojanovic, Higher Police Inspector. Works in 
public gatherings observation department.  DOB October 23, 
¶1978. 
 
¶3. Zeljko Lestanin, Higher Police Inspector. Head of 
section in security detachment department. DOB April 25, 
¶1977. 
 
¶4. Zeljko Jovic, Captain, Team Head of Gendarmerie Anti- 
terrorist Unit YOB 1972 
 
¶5. Milan Popovic, Lieutenant, Police training instructor. 
Novi Sad Gendarmerie Detachment. YOB 1976 
 
¶6. Dejan Nikolic, Sergeant, Team Head of Special Anti- 
terrorist Unit, DOB June 27, 1975 
 
¶7. Vladan Mirkovic, Junior Sergeant, Group Head of Special 
Anti-terrorist Unit, DOB July 29, 1977 
 
 
¶8. Aleksandar Pavlovic, Independent Police Inspector. 
Deputy Commander of Belgrade Railroad Security, YOB 1977. 
 
POLT