VZCZCXYZ0007
PP RUEHWEB

DE RUEHVJ #2086 2751108
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 021108Z OCT 07
FM AMEMBASSY SARAJEVO
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 7153
INFO RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC PRIORITY
RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC PRIORITY
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
RHEFDIA/DIA WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
RUFOAOA/USNIC SARAJEVO PRIORITY

UNCLAS SARAJEVO 002086 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPT FOR EUR (DICARLO), EUR/SCE (HOH, SILBERSTEIN, FOOKS, 
STINCHCOMB), S/WCI 
 NSC FOR BRAUN 
 DEFENSE FOR FATA, BEIN 
 USNIC FOR WIGHTMAN 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PGOV PREL PINR BK
SUBJECT: BOSNIA- KOMSIC APOLOGIZES FOR WARTIME ATROCITIES 
BY BOSNIAK ARMY 
 
 
¶1. (SBU) On October 1, Presidency Chairman Zeljko Komsic 
acknowledged that individuals in the Army of Bosnia and 
Herzegovina (ABiH), the Bosniak dominated force during the 
war, committed atrocities that must be punished.  Speaking at 
a ceremony marking the 15th anniversary of founding of the 
1st Corps of the ABiH, Komsic said that it was time "to be 
frank," and recognize that "crimes were committed against 
innocent civilians and defenseless enemies" in the name of 
the ABiH.  Komsic told the audience, which consisted 
primarily of war veterans, that they could not "forget or 
forgive" these acts, and that only by punishing the guilty 
could the ABiH maintain its "honor." Komsic closed his 
remarks with a public apology, stating, "as the highest 
ranking ex-member of the 1st Corps, and on behalf of all 
honorable members of the Corps, I apologize to the families 
of those against whom dissenters committed crimes, and I hope 
that my apology will at least somewhat abate their pain and 
sorrow." 
 
COMMENT 
------- 
 
¶2. (SBU) President Komsic, a Bosnian-Croat, is a veteran of 
the ABiH who earned its highest military decoration, the 
Golden Lily, for his heroism during the war. Komsic's remarks 
were, to our knowledge, the first time that a leading State 
or Federation official had publicly and directly apologized 
for war crimes committed by the ABiH during the war.  It is 
difficult to imagine any other political leader in either 
entity making a similar statement.  Komsic's choice of 
audience and venue for the speech was also an important 
signal that he intends to continue to make the prosecution of 
war crimes across ethnicities a cornerstone of his tenure in 
office.  As Komsic and his staff have repeatedly told us, the 
President views himself as a new generation of Bosnian leader 
that can build his political resume on the war and its legacy 
for the positive purpose of promoting unity and justice. 
Unfortunately, the media did not give Komsic's remarks the 
attention they deserved.  They were overshadowed by RS 
President Jelic's death in the RS and the police reform 
process in the Federation.  End Comment. 
CEFKIN