VZCZCXRO7231
RR RUEHAG RUEHAST RUEHDA RUEHDF RUEHFL RUEHIK RUEHKW RUEHLA RUEHLN
RUEHLZ RUEHNP RUEHPOD RUEHROV RUEHSK RUEHSR RUEHVK RUEHYG
DE RUEHBW #1300 3510826
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 160826Z DEC 08
FM AMEMBASSY BELGRADE
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 0773
INFO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE
RUEILB/NCTC WASHINGTON DC

UNCLAS BELGRADE 001300 
 
DEPT FOR S/CT: RHONDA SHORE AND NCTC 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PTER ASEC EFIN KCRM KHLS AEMR SR
SUBJECT:  SERBIA: 2008 COUNTRY REPORTS ON TERRORISM 
 
REF: STATE 120019 
¶1. (U) Serbia's law enforcement and security agencies, particularly 
the Customs Administration, Criminal Police, Border Police, Security 
Information Agency, and other security services, greatly increased 
bilateral counterterrorism cooperation since the July formation of 
the new government. Intra-governmental cooperation between these 
agencies also improved, increasing their effectiveness. Serbia had 
two police organizations that operated as counterterrorism tactical 
response units, the Special Antiterrorist Unit and the 
Counterterrorist Unit. In addition, the government created a 
Criminal Investigative Unit for Counterterrorist Investigation 
within the Interior Ministry's Criminal Investigation Directorate. 
¶2. (U) The United States provided counterterrorism training and 
assistance to the Serbian government. The International Criminal 
Investigative Assistance Training Program's Organized Crime Advisor 
(ICITAP) conducted a counterterrorism workshop for Serbian and 
Montenegrin police officers in Montenegro in May. The workshop 
covered trends in international terrorism, the formation of a Joint 
Terrorist Task Force, investigative techniques, vulnerability 
assessments, crime scene management, case studies, and practical 
exercise problems. ICITAP also conducted two informant development 
courses for Serbian anti-terrorism police officers in January and 
November. In January,  ICITAP donated a  special forces boat to the 
Special Antiterrorism Unit. The Defense Threat Reduction Agency 
conducted two multi-agency counterterrorism and weapons of mass 
destruction counterproliferation courses in June and November.  The 
Department of State provided training to the police through the 
Antiterrorism Assistance Program.  The Export Control and Border 
Security Program (EXBS) provided weapons of mass destruction 
detection equipment and training, as well as training in detecting 
illicit radioactive materials and chemical trafficking, to the 
Border Police, Customs, and prosecutorial and licensing authority 
agencies. In conjunction with the Departments of Homeland Security 
and Energy, EXBS provided other courses in undercover operations, 
export control, and dual use commodity identification to Border 
Police, Customs, and police investigative, prosecutorial, and 
licensing authority agencies. EXBS also provided technical expertise 
to the Ministry of International Economic Relations in licensing and 
commodity identification. 
¶3. (U) The fact that Serbia has not yet ratified the bilateral 
Weapons of Mass Destruction Agreement, signed in 2006, prevented the 
duty free import and donation of a significant amount of equipment 
that could be used to counter terrorism. 
¶4. (U) A bill on terrorist financing, now pending Parliamentary 
approval, will apply all provisions of the Anti-Money Laundering Law 
to terrorist financing.  It will require reporting of transactions 
suspected to be terrorist financing and will create mechanisms for 
freezing, seizing, and confiscating suspected terrorist assets. 
¶5. (U) The trial of 14 Islamic fundamentalists charged with 
conspiracy to commit unconstitutional activity, terrorism, illegal 
possession of firearms, and attempted murder commenced in April. 
Authorities found evidence that the group was planning attacks on 
infrastructure in the city of Novi Pazar, a local religious leader, 
and several sites in Belgrade, including the U.S. Embassy. 
Authorities charged an additional four persons with planning an 
attack on the Novi Pazar police in March. 
 
¶6. (U) Embassy point of contact is Bianca Menendez, 
menendezbe@state.gov. 
 
MUNTER