14382/09 EXT 1 PH/Lz DGC 1C Delegations Will Find Attached The
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Council of the European Union Brussels, 14 July 2015 (OR. en) 14382/09 EXT 1 COPS 598 PESC 1300 CIVCOM 724 COSDP 928 COWEB 216 EUPM 58 PARTIAL DECLASSIFICATION of document: 14382/09 RESTREINT UE/EU RESTRICTED dated: 16 October 2009 new status: Public Subject: European Union Police Mission in Bosnia and Herzegovina Monthly Assessment report for the month of September 2009 Delegations will find attached the partially declassified version of the above-mentioned document. __________________________ 14382/09 EXT 1 PH/lz DGC 1C EN ANNEX COUNCIL OF Brussels, 16 October 2009 THE EUROPEAN UNION 14382/09 EXT 1 (14.07.2015) COPS 598 PESC 1300 CIVCOM 724 COSDP 928 COWEB 216 EUPM 58 NOTE From Secretariat To Political and Security Committee Third States contributing to EUPM Subject : European Union Police Mission in Bosnia and Herzegovina Monthly Assessment report for the month of September 2009 Delegations will find attached the EUPM Monthly Assessment report for the month of September 2009. _______________ 14382/09 EXT 1 PH/lz 1 ANNEX DGC 1C EN EUROPEAN UNION POLICE MISSION Analysis and Reporting Cell EUPM Headquarters Monthly Assessment Report 9/09 PO BOX 90 Aleja Bosne Srebrene bb 1 – 30 September 2009 71000 – SARAJEVO (BiH) Tel: +387 (0) 33 752 685 Fax: +387 (0) 33 752 734 Email: [email protected] 1. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY EUPM HoM met Republika Srpska Minister of Interior (MoI) and Director of Police (DoP) in Banja Luka on 24 September. On 1 September, RS MoI in cooperation with MoI Serbia and MoI C anton 9 (Sarajevo) conducted operation ‘Delta’ simultaneously in BiH and Serbia, targeting organized crime figures. Further arrests regarding Citizens Information Protection System (CIPS) investiga tion. On 14 September, following a long term investigation and based upon an order issued by the Canton 7 Prosecutor, FMoI officers conducted an operation in Canton 7 (Herzegovina Neretva Canton), aimed at drug trafficking. On 7 and 8 September, officers of the Banja Luka Department for prevention of production and trade of narcotics arrested five persons and searched their accommodations in the course of Operation “Dealer”. On 17 September SIPA Mostar conducted an operation against illegal production and distribution of CD, DVDs and VHS cassettes. A very important step in the right direction was made with the implementation of a database for forged Euros on 24th September 2009. On 30 September, representatives of the Ministry of Security of BiH, Federation Police Administration, Republika Srpska (RS) Ministry of Interior, Border Police, SIPA, Brcko District Police, cantonal Ministries of Interior and the High Judicial and Prosecutorial Council signed an agreement on the establishment of an electronic data exchange system between the police and the prosecutors’ offices. 14382/09 EXT 1 PH/lz 2 ANNEX DGC 1C EN Cantonal Assembly (CA) adopted the new Law on Weapons and Ammunition on 22 September. Canton 7 Government Appointed New Police Commissioner on 9 September. The Proposed Law on Changes and Amendments to the Law on Salaries and Remunerations in BiH Institutions Adopted by the House of Representatives and House of Peoples on 15 September. Positive agreements related to the the visa liberalization roadmap. EUPM monitored a FIFA qualification football match between BiH and Turkey in Zenica (Canton 4) on 9 September. On 23 September, the Head of Mission gave an interview to the International Herald Tribune on ESDP and its effectiveness. Following the presentation of the operational plan to the Political and Security Committee, BHT TV in Brussels carried the newscast that EUPM should finish its tasks in the coming two years. 2. COMMENTS OF HEAD OF MISSION September has been an active period for the mission internally, but it also saw the resumption of public life in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Politically, the discussion about the extension of the presence of international judges and prosecutors in the Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina continued both in the Parliamentary Assembly on the basis of legislative proposal of the Council of Ministers and among international community representatives in Sarajevo. NOT DECLASSIFIED 14382/09 EXT 1 PH/lz 3 ANNEX DGC 1C EN However, in parallel, agreements were reached by the political institutions, allowing for significant progress on the visa liberalization roadmap. EUPM welcomed the fact that domestic actors by themselves reached an agreement on the location of the so-called exchange server as the last outstanding element in the work on the “Agreement on Establishment of Electronic Data Exchange System from Registers from Police Bodies and Prosecution Offices”. Together with the finalized draft Anti-Corruption Strategy and the Anti-Corruption Agency in BiH, these represent important steps supporting also EUPM’s objectives. The Mission drafted and submitted the OPLAN for 2010 and 2011 and continued its outreach about these activities to national counterparts, both on technical and ministerial level. Ministers of State and both entities welcomed the extended stay and the concept of the refocused Mission. I personally briefed national counterparts and the EU family in Sarajevo. In this context, important aspects of an increased link to the European Commission were discussed. After submission of the draft OPLAN, the Mission embarked on work to identify a downsizing policy, notably including the question of the modalities of the downsizing of national staff. First elements of the procedure how to identify EUPM’s planning for 2010/2011 were brought to light in senior staff meetings. October will see significant work on this important issue. This will be taken forward with national counterparts thereafter. On 21 September, I presented EUPM's strategy of assistance in the fight against Organized Crime and Corruption to the Informal CivCom Meeting in Stockholm. Senior representatives of EUROPOL were present and welcomed the Mission’s intention to intensify the cooperation with Third Pillar instruments. This was followed, on 22 September, by a presentation of the situation in Bosnia & Herzegovina to the PSC in Brussels, jointly with EUSR and Operational Commander EUFOR. The permanent group of Directors of Law Enforcement Agencies and the State Prosecutor convened its first meeting after the summer break early in September. I witnessed significant progress in identifying joint strategies of BiH LEA Agencies to fight Organized Crime and Corruption. 14382/09 EXT 1 PH/lz 4 ANNEX DGC 1C EN The group accepted EUPMs plan to organize a study visit, together with a technical representative of the Ministry of Security, in order to assess the cooperation of LEA in a federal governmental structure. The visit is planned for early November. Operational details of cases of Orgnaized Crime of mutual interest were discussed. September also witnessed progress in police reform. The members of the Independent Board and the Public Complaints Board were appointed and chairmen for both boards selected. Inaugural sessions were held. These appointments are the prerequisite for the subsequent selection of the Director of the Directorate for Police Coordination, the last of the new institutions still to be established. A particularly complex anti-organised crime activity is worth highlighting, reflecting EUPM’s continuous advice over several years, especially at the critical police-prosecutor interface. The investigation led to arrests of regional significance. A high level organised crime network, suspected of being responsible for a series of murders, including that of police chiefs, dating back to the 1990s, is on the verge of being properly dismantled. One of the feuding gang leaders was arrested early this year for a murder in Germany and extradited. Thanks to covert investigations led by prosecutors from Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina, several arrests were carried out in September, including the second gang leader who was arrested in Serbia. This has created momentum to solve related remaining murder cases. EUPM is advising the state prosecutors’ office. The matter will be reported in future as it progresses. However, already at this stage, the investigation has to be considered another major achievement in creating a track record in the fight against Organised Crime and Corruption achieved by international police and judicial cooperation. 3. MANDATE IMPLEMENTATION Transition to EUPM 2010-11 EUPM HoM meets Republika Srpska Minister of Interior (MoI) and Director of Police (DoP) in Banja Luka – During a meeting on 24 September HoM met RS Minister of Interior, Stanislav Cadjo, and expressed his willingness to consult relevant aspects of the follow-up mission with the main counterparts prior to his departure for Brussels to present the OPLAN for EUPM 2010-2011 at the PSC session. 14382/09 EXT 1 PH/lz 5 ANNEX DGC 1C EN He underlined his appreciation to the RS MoI and RS Police contribution to the cooperation between different LEAs in BiH. Minister Cadjo confirmed his full support to the new EUPM mandate in terms of providing assistance in fighting organized crime and corruption. On the same day a separate meeting was held with RS Director of Police (DoP), Uros Pena. HoM once again reiterated his intention to talk to relevant authorities prior to the presentation of the OPLAN. During the conversation, both representatives discussed the meeting of Police Directors regarding the location of the server on data exchange and its presentation at the media. 3.1 Support in the fight against organised crime and corruption Well-known organised crime figure (OC) from BiH arrested in Belgrade (Serbia) – On 1 September, RS MoI in cooperation with MoI Serbia and MoI Canton 9 (Sarajevo) conducted operation ‘Delta’ simultaneously in BiH and Serbia, targeting organized crime figures. Police searched 19 locations in Sarajevo, Bijeljina and Trebinje area. In total, 19 persons were arrested, 6 in Serbia and 13 in BiH. Among them 3 police officers were arrested, one from SIPA, one from Border Police and one from RS MoI. Darko Elez, a well known OC figure from Eastern Sarajevo was arrested in Belgrade together with his close associate.