SUMMARY NOTE

Visit by North Atlantic Council: Comments on 'Single BiH Police Force'

Document Mr. Klein's cable 3543 of 17 July 2001 (7 pages)

Summary points

On 13 July, the North Atlantic Council Ambassadors and the NATO Secretary- General visited BiH. The High Representative floated the idea of a "BiH single police force". NATO Secretary-General and SFOR commander reiterated this idea. UNMIBH was invited to briefly address the group on the future of UNMIBH, reliance on SFOR for security and the need to close the "security gap".

The SRSG was surprised and disappointed that the HighRep and COM/SFOR publicly floated this idea without any prior consultation with UNMIBH, an important matter •which directly affects the UNMIBH core mandate. Raising the idea of a "single police force" at this stage muddles the clear objectives before UNMIBH. Though a single police force is desirable in the long term, it is currently totally unrealistic. It is contrary to the clear provisions of Dayton and would not be accepted by the Serbs or the Croats. Such "shoot from the hip" propositions only serve to raise paranoia with BiH officials. UNMIBH is left with the responsibility of damage control.

3. Petritsch said that there was absolutely no chance that the international community would make any contribution for police salaries. The necessary resources would have to be found from existing entity budgets.

4. It is not clear whether Petritsch's comments on taking bolder steps rather than just chipping away at the entities are tactical or strategic. UNMIBH does not sense an increasing frustration within OHR at the constraints of Dayton and RS minimal participation in central institutions, but senses some anxiety on behalf of SFOR about the "security gap" and the need for a continued large scale presence of SFOR forces to provide security back-up. is e i JUL ? 0 2001 EOSG/CENTRAL adirnir Grachev 17 July 2001

r ' Note to Mr. Riza

Letter of the Secretary-General to Lord Robertson

I refer to the draft letter of the Secretary-General addressed to Lord Robertson, Secretary-General of NATO. I would like to suggest the addition of the following text as a third paragraph:

"I am especially encouraged that NATO has decided to disarm armed groups. In this respect, the UN experience both in Disarmament, Demobilization and Reintegration of former combatants, and in 'weapons for development' programmes such as in another Balkan country, Albania, may be of relevance. We could arrange for a 'lessons learned' exchange if you would welcome this.'.

Dhanapala 26 June 2001 06/26/01 TUB 17:08 FAX 212 963 3826 UN OSG

THE SECBETARV-QENERAl.

26 June 2001

Dear Mr. Secretary-General, [, \ ; I would like to thank you for your letter of 20 June 2001 on a possible NATO operation to collect weapons in the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia. t '• We are following very closely your efforts, as well as those of Mr. Javier Solana, to support the Macedonian Government in preventing a further deterioration of the security situation in the country. These efforts have our strong support. I have always believed that diplomacy needs to be accompanied by a strong military resolve in order to be successful in conflict prevention. It is, therefore, encouraging that NATO is willing to play an even more active role by preparing for a presence on the ground.

I ate lookiag forward to staying in close contact with you on developments in the southern Balkans^ Meanwhile, the United "Nations will continue to use its Humanitarian presence in the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia and its peacekeeping presence in neighbouring Kosovo to support our common endeavours to secure stability hi the region.

Yours sincerely,

Kofi A. Annan

The Rt. Hon. Lord George Robertson of Port Ellen, PC S ecretary-General North Atlantic Treaty Organization Brussels