VZCZCXRO2474
PP RUEHIK
DE RUEHVJ #0151/01 0431256
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 121256Z FEB 10
FM AMEMBASSY SARAJEVO
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 1401
INFO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE
RHEFDIA/DIA WASHINGTON DC
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHINGTON DC
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC
RUEKJCS/JCS WASHINGTON DC

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 SARAJEVO 000151 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPT FOR H AND EUR/SCE 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PGOV PREL OVIP MARR BK
SUBJECT: BOSNIA: CODEL MCCAIN-LIEBERMAN DELIVERS MESSAGE ON 
NEED FOR POLITICAL AND DEFENSE REFORM 
 
REF: A. SARAJEVO 114 
     ¶B. STATE 8501 
 
SARAJEVO 00000151  001.2 OF 003 
 
 
Summary 
------- 
 
¶1.  (SBU) During their February 5 visit to Sarajevo, a 
Congressional Delegation led by Senators John McCain and 
Joseph Lieberman delivered strong messages to the BiH 
Tri-Presidency and Minister of Defense on the need to make 
real progress on constitutional and defense reform so that 
BiH can move forward toward NATO and EU integration.  The 
delegation expressed strong US solidarity with BiH and our 
commitment to assist the country; however, they emphasized 
that BiH must make concrete progress before it can be a 
viable NATO and EU candidate.  The delegation's visit 
received wide favorable coverage in all media outlets, 
including their bi-partisan message as to the U.S. commitment 
to the sovereignty and territorial integrity of BiH.  End 
summary. 
 
Tri-Presidency; Appreciate your Help; More Needs to be Done 
--------------------------------------------- -------------- 
 
¶2.  (SBU) The congressional delegation, consisting of 
Senators John McCain, Joseph Lieberman and Mark Udall, as 
well as Representatives Jane Harman, Loretta Sanchez and Jeff 
Flake, discussed current political obstacles and the steps 
necessary to move forward toward Euro-Atlantic integration 
with BiH Tri-Presidency Members Zeljko Komsic (Croat), Haris 
Silajdzic (Bosniak) and Nebojsa Radmanovic (Serb).  While 
they noted some progress in recent years, Senators McCain and 
Lieberman expressed concern over the failure to reach 
compromises on important political issues.  Senator Lieberman 
stressed continued U.S. commitment to protect Bosnia's 
territorial integrity and sovereignty.  The U.S. delegation 
conveyed their gratitude for Bosnia's contribution to 
peacekeeping forces in Iraq and its stated intent to 
contribute to ISAF.  Further, Senator Lieberman urged Bosnia, 
as a non-permanent member of the Security Council, to stand 
with the U.S. and its allies in potential future sanctions 
toward Iran. 
 
 
U.S. Concern over Political Stagnation 
-------------------------------------- 
 
¶3.  (SBU) The U.S. delegation expressed support for BiH's 
desire to obtain MAP status and NATO membership; however, 
they highlighted U.S. concerns about political stagnation and 
the need to destroy Bosnian military's excess weapons and 
ammunition.  Senator Lieberman emphasized that BiH must make 
concrete progress on reforms and demonstrate that it is 
capable of maintaining stability in the country and region 
before BiH can be a viable candidate for EU and NATO 
membership.  Senator McCain noted the recent unsuccessful 
attempts to reach agreement on constitutional reforms, 
including the recent efforts by Deputy Secretary James 
Steinberg and Swedish Foreign Minister Carl Bildt at Butmir. 
He solicited the opinion of the Tri-Presidency members as 
whether they saw the recent attempts as failures and what 
should be done to bring the process to a successful 
conclusion. 
 
Tri-Presidency Agrees on Overall Goal; Differs on Details 
--------------------------------------------- ------------ 
 
¶4.  (SBU) While all Tri-Presidency Members stated that they 
subscribed to the collective goal of obtaining NATO and EU 
membership, they noted varying challenges and solutions to 
the current political situation.  Komsic asserted that the 
timing of the Butmir constitutional talks doomed the effort 
to failure, because political tensions were already so high 
as to preclude any successful compromise.  Komsic proposed 
organizing a large international conference, similar to 
Butmir, but with a larger international presence, including 
Russia, EU, NATO, Turkey and the neighboring countries. 
Silajdzic said the lack of consensus on the Dayton Peace 
Accords is a major part of the political problem in Bosnia. 
President Silajdzic also noted that the authority of the High 
 Representative has been minimized, and asserted that the 
Office of the High Representative (OHR) should stay until its 
mandate is fulfilled.  President Radmanovic blamed internal 
 
SARAJEVO 00000151  002.2 OF 003 
 
 
political problems as the primary obstacle to reaching the 
long-term goals of MAP and EU candidacy.  He commended the 
Dayton Peace Accords, citing them as the "best thing to 
happen to Bosnia in terms of an international treaty."  He 
also expressed his desire to close OHR, blaming the office 
for being an obstacle to BiH moving forward. 
 
MOD Meeting on Defense Reform Issues 
------------------------------------ 
 
¶5.  (SBU) In a meeting with Bosnia and Herzegovina's Minister 
of Defense, Selmo Cikotic, the delegation highlighted the 
successes of defense reform.  They also thanked the Minister 
and the defense establishment for Bosnia's support to 
coalition forces in Iraq as well as their expressed intention 
to support peace-keeping missions in Afghanistan.  Senator 
McCain told Cikotic that the delegation understood that many 
in Bosnia were disappointed about the recent decision not to 
give Bosnia a NATO Membership Action Plan, but expressed 
concern at the stagnation of Bosnia's political process. 
Senator Lieberman lauded the successful unification in 2005-6 
of the separate entity armies into the unified BiH Armed 
Forces.  But he added that, while the U.S. supports Bosnia's 
goal of MAP, political progress would likely be necessary for 
Bosnia to attain that goal.  Senator Lieberman suggested 
that, in the meantime, Bosnia's defense establishment and 
leaders focus on the remaining objectives of defense reform 
to smooth that process. 
 
BiH's Disappointment over MAP; Sees Future in NATO 
--------------------------------------------- ----- 
 
¶6.  (SBU) Minister Cikotic responded that the best way to 
ensure representation for all ethnic interests in Bosnia was 
through effective and functional state level institutions, of 
which defense institutions are the best example.  He 
reiterated that the defense reforms of 2006 were successful 
because of U.S. involvement and all parties agreed that NATO 
membership would improve the security and stability of 
Bosnia.  Cikotic thanked the delegation for the continued 
U.S. support in strengthening the Armed Forces of BiH, adding 
that he was committed to ensuring that every dollar was a 
good investment.  Noting that many new member states joined 
NATO before the EU, Cikotic stressed that NATO accession is 
seen by many as a necessary stepping stone to full 
integration into the "community of progressive states". 
Minister Cikotic asserted that, although the NATO decision 
not to grant BiH MAP status was designed to punish 
anti-reform elements, in fact it did the very opposite.  It 
rewarded those who were blocking reforms, he said, and 
weakened the position of those who were pursuing reforms to 
make progress towards NATO membership.   The rejection 
already gave rise in some quarters to the dangerous sentiment 
"NATO said no to us already, so why should we sacrifice 
anything."  Bosnia must make fast progress towards NATO, he 
argued, or it risks losing the impetus for reform. 
 
 
Need to Destroy Excess Weapons and Ammunition 
--------------------------------------------- 
 
¶7.  (SBU) The delegation stressed BiH's need to destroy 
thousands of tons of dangerous excess weapons, ammunition and 
explosives left over from the war.  Minister Cikotic replied 
that the process is ongoing and that the Ministry expected to 
find a solution to the problem in one year.  (Note: This is 
contrary to Embassy's understanding. End note.) He asserted 
that all excess weapons had been slated for sale, donation or 
destruction, without admitting that the vast majority has 
been slated for sale.  Cikotic indicated that it might be 
possible for BiH to destroy more of the excess weapons rather 
than sell them.  However, he added, this would become more 
likely if the U.S. Congress authorizedQ drawdown authority 
that could equip Bosnia's armed forces with new equipment, 
such as helicopters and armored personnel carriers.  (Note: 
There is no relationship between equipping the armed forces 
with new equipment, and their efforts to deal with equipment 
that they have already declared as unneeded surplus. End 
note.) 
 
Years Before Bosnia will be Mine-Free 
------------------------------------- 
 
 
SARAJEVO 00000151  003.2 OF 003 
 
 
¶8.  (SBU) Responding to Congressman Flake's inquiry on BiH's 
demining operations,  Cikotic responded that in 1996 experts 
estimated that it would take 75 years for Bosnia to be 
mine-free.  Cikotic added that the latest projection from the 
BiH Mine Action Center is that Bosnia will be mine-free in 
¶2019.  Cikotic pointed out that all the contaminated areas 
are marked, and although mine casualties are falling they 
still occur every year.  He highlighted that the Armed Forces 
contribution is successful and exceeded its level of planned 
demining last year by 40 percent.  (Note: Cikotic's comments 
on demining were optimistic.  Overall responsibility for 
demining falls to the Ministry of Civil Affairs rather than 
the Ministry of Defense.  End note.) 
 
Press Conference and Coverage 
----------------------------- 
 
¶9.  (SBU) The visit received positive coverage in local media 
outlets throughout the country.  Over 70 journalists from all 
BiH media outlets attended the conference with the 
delegation, together with their colleagues from international 
news wire services, such as Reuters, AP and AP TV.  All press 
outlets showcased the delegation's strong message of support 
to the sovereignty and territorial integrity of BiH, but also 
their expression of "disappointment that the efforts of 
Deputy Secretary Steinberg and Swedish Foreign Minister Carl 
Bildt failed to result in a solution."  BH Television 
highlighted the delegation's call on BiH authorities to 
"overcome ethnic divisions and lead the country to the EU and 
NATO membership."  Hayat Television emphasized Senator 
McCain's message that "all our colleagues, Democrats and 
Republicans, are dedicated to the reconciliation process in 
this country."  Hayat also highlighted Senator Lieberman's 
message on the importance of the upcoming elections in which 
voters will not just choose among candidates, but rather will 
make the choice "whether they want the country to go back 
toward divisions and hostilities or (whether) they want the 
country to make progress toward integrity, toward NATO and 
EU."  The Sarajevo daily "Dnevni Avaz" declared Senator 
McCain to be "personality of the day" and highlighted his 
message that "one of the reasons why we came here is to state 
the U.S. solidarity with BiH citizens.  As long as we are 
privileged to serve, we will keep reminding our voters that 
something like Srebrenica must never happen again anywhere 
else, especially not in Europe." 
 
¶10.  (U) This cable has been cleared by Senators McCain and 
Lieberman. 
ENGLISH