VZCZCXRO6987
OO RUEHFL RUEHKW RUEHLA RUEHROV RUEHSR
DE RUEHLO #2735 3021753
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
O 281753Z OCT 08
FM AMEMBASSY LONDON
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 0252
INFO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE PRIORITY

C O N F I D E N T I A L LONDON 002735 

SIPDIS 

DEPT FOR EUR/WE, EUR/ERA AND EUR/SCE E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/28/2018 

TAGS: PGOV PREL BK EU UK

SUBJECT: UK WILL LOBBY IN EU FOR ROBUST EU APPROACH TOWARDS BOSNIA; NEW UK AMBASSADOR TO BOSNIA TO ARRIVE SOON REF: A) STATE 113894 B) DONEGAN/FOOKS EMAIL 10/17

 Classified By: Political Counselor Richard M. Mills for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).

¶1. (C) The UK concurs with the U.S. view (ref a) that political progress in Bosnia has either stopped or is moving in the wrong direction, and will use the time remaining before the November 10 GAERC to lobby its EU partners for a strong statement on Bosnia. According to FCO Bosnia Team Leader Daisy Organ, HMG is also very concerned about the unhelpful role Russia has been playing in the PIC Steering Board. On the EU front, except for the Swedes, Organ's perception is that most Member States are moving towards a harder, more stick than carrot approach given Prime Minister Dodik's recent rantings about Bosnia's dissolution and attempts to undermine Bosnian state institutions.

¶2. (C) Per ref B, Poloff will monitor the results of the ref A demarche as they are received from around EU posts, then reconfer with FCO on any countries of concern (according to Organ HMG already pressures the Swedes weekly), with an eye towards asking the FCO to apply influence where necessary in the run-up to the November 10 GAERC.

¶3. (C) HMG is also concerned that OHR Lajcak could do a better, more precise job of codifying the exact problems and proposed way ahead in Bosnia. According to Organ, this would give more ammo to those in the EU like the UK trying to keep the pressure on.

¶4. (C) Bio Note: Organ said that Mike Tatham will arrive shortly in Sarajevo to assume the post of Her Majesty's Ambassador. Post's experience with Tatham has been positive. He is accessible and knowledgeable on regional issues, having served until recently as FCO Balkans Director and previously in the UK Mission in Belgrade. Visit London's Classified Website: XXXXXXXXXXXX TUTTLE