Council of the European Union Brussels, 18 June 2015 8627/09 EXT 1 COPS 204 PESC 474 CIVCOM 245 COSDP 324 COWEB 71 EUPM 20 PARTIAL DECLASSIFICATION of document: 8627/09 RESTREINT UE dated: 8 April 2009 new status: Public Subject: European Union Police Mission in Bosnia and Herzegovina Monthly Assessment report for the month of March 2009 Delegations will find attached the partially declassified version of the above-mentioned document. ________________________ 8627/09 EXT 1 PH/jm DGC 1C EN ANNEX COUNCIL OF Brussels, 8 April 2009 THE EUROPEAN UNION 8627/09 EXT 1 (18.06.2015) RESTREINT UE COPS 204 PESC 474 CIVCOM 245 COSDP 324 COWEB 71 EUPM 20 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 March 2009 Delegations will find attached the EUPM Monthly Assessment report for the month of March 2009. ____________________ 8627/09 EXT 1 MS/ts 1 ANNEX CPCC EN EUROPEAN UNION POLICE MISSION Analysis and Reporting Cell EUPM Headquarters Monthly Assessment Report 3/09 PO BOX 90 Aleja Bosne Srebrene bb 1- 31 March 2009 71000 – SARAJEVO (BiH) Tel: +387 (0) 33 752 685 Fax: +387 (0) 33 752 734 Email: [email protected] Executive Summary On 11 March SIPA conducted an operation in Sarajevo (Canton 9) and arrested eight persons suspected of being involved in an international drug trafficking ring. On 24 March SIPA officers arrested three persons in Bijeljina area, suspected of being involved in the case of abuse and misuse of computerized CIPS (Citizens Identification Protection System) ID cards and passports system, including document forgeries provided to persons indicted for war crimes. On 10 March, a prison break occurred from the Ustikolina prison during which two prison guards were disarmed and nine inmates escaped. Local police in Foca conducted a successful search and arrest operation involving 13 Albanian illegal migrants and 3 Bosnian facilitators. On 13 March 2009, following the HR decision to repeal a previous order, travel documents were returned to certain individuals who were allegedly involved in war crimes in Srebrenica in 1995 and were named on the so called ‘Srebrenica List’. Amendment I to the BiH Constitution over the status of Brcko District adopted by BiH Parliamentary Assembly (PA). At the Peace Implementation Council (PIC) Steering Broad in Sarajevo on 25 and 26 March the continuation of OHR and the maintenance of the HR with all prerogatives were confirmed. On March 26th, Mr. Valentin Inzko was appointed new High Representative and new EUSR by the Peace Implementation Council. The 122 Vasa policija public 8627/09 EXT 1 MS/ts 2 ANNEX CPCC EN information campaign, launched on 13 February in cooperation with the BiH law enforcement agencies, reached a peak of activities throughout March. On 18 March, PS Trebinje received a report that a journalist from Banja Luka was verbally assaulted by unknown individuals nearby the Orthodox Cathedral whilst taking footage for reportage. BiH experienced 2 earthquakes during the day of 30 March and the night of 30/31 March, (no damage to EUPM property or person occurred). Comments by Head of Mission March saw important events, including key activities with regard to police and the European agenda. The Minister of Security, Tarik Sadovic hosted a visit of the Director of Europol on 2 March 2009. The aim of the visit was to promote full implementation of the Strategic Agreement with Europol and brought together ministerial and police officials from all competent authorities dealing with Europol. The Europol Director paid a half-day visit to EUPM where he was informed about the implementation of the ESDP-EUROPOL technical agreement on exchange of information. We also discussed how to support the deployment of police liaison officers from Bosnia and Herzegovina to Europol. In parallel to this visit several teams of member states’ experts visited Bosnia and Herzegovina to assess progress with regard to the Visa Liberalisation Road Map. EUPM contributed to this work through briefings by mission members. The mission continued its activities in line with its mandate and conducted a first video conference with the new Head of Operations of the CPCC, 16 March. On 17 March, the Operational Commander EUFOR and DSACEUR, Gen. Sir McColl, paid a visit to EUPM during his assessment visit in preparation for the upcoming SMR (Six Monthly Review) of EUFOR Althea. The Political Directors of the Peace Implementation Council Steering Board met in Sarajevo 25/26 March. The meeting was chaired by the outgoing High Representative in the presence of the incoming, Dr Valentin Inzko. As a member of the Board of PrincipaIs, HoM participated in all meetings. 8627/09 EXT 1 MS/ts 3 ANNEX CPCC EN The mission’s activities were focused on the stabilization of SIPA following the submission of a SIPA report on investigating high-level corruption and abuse of office to the State Prosecutors Office. The media battle among politicians and key SIPA managers continued. The problems which were exposed to the public and other institutions did contribute to a feeling of uncertainty about the direction the country would take. On 26 and 27 March, the three Directors of State-level law enforcement agencies, the State Prosecutor, the Directors of Federation and RS Police and the Chief of Brcko District Police and one representative of the cantonal Police Commissioners met, following the invitation of Mr Dragan Mektic, the Director of the Service for Foreigners’ Affairs. The meeting provided an important opportunity for HoM to refocus the joint work with Directors of LEA on the achievement of joint objectives. 27 March, the seventh six monthly review was submitted to the Civilian Operations Commander for consideration and circulation to member states. I concluded March with a debriefing session on 31 March between Minister of Security Tadovic and myself on EUPM priorities and recommendations for the upcoming period and my intent for the briefing of EU Member States on 3 April (PSC, Brussels). Mandate Implementation Support in the Fight against Organised Crime SIPA operation targeting International drug ring - On 11 March, following a long term investigation and based upon an order issued by the BiH State Prosecutor’s Office, SIPA conducted an operation in Sarajevo (Canton 9) and arrested eight persons suspected of being involved in an international drug trafficking ring. During the operation, several locations were searched. Prior to this operation, FMoI officers arrested one person in Sarajevo and two in Zenica (Canton 4) as a part of this investigation. In total 3 kg of suspected heroin were seized, as well as a significant amount of money in various currencies, two firearms, mobile phones and vehicles. EUPM was involved from the initial phase of the investigation and was deployed in the field, and noted that the 8627/09 EXT 1 MS/ts 4 ANNEX CPCC EN co-operation between SIPA and FMoI was excellent and should be an example of how to share information and how to cooperate successfully. The investigation is continuing and EUPM will monitor. SIPA arrests in relation to CIPS case - On 24 March, based on an order issued by the State Prosecutor’s Office, SIPA officers arrested three persons in Bijeljina area, suspected of being involved in the case of abuse and misuse of computerized CIPS (Citizens Identification Protection System) ID cards and passports system, including document forgeries provided to persons indicted for war crimes. Two of the arrestees are senior police officials, PSC Bijeljina Chief of uniform police and PS Janja Assistant to Commander. The two are also under investigation pertaining to misuse of power. SIPA searched their private accommodations, offices and vehicles. EUPM teams were deployed in the field to monitor the operation which passed without incidents. The operation was professionally and properly carried out by SIPA and conducted with assistance and full cooperation of Chief of PSC Bijeljina. Background: On 28 May 2008, following a long-term investigation undertaken by the State Prosecutor’s Office, SIPA, Brcko District and RS MoI officers executed 26 search warrants in Banja Luka, Brcko and Bijeljina. During the operation, 20 persons were arrested and four CIPS offices have been searched. The investigation uncovered evidence that the illegally obtained cards, possibly numbering hundreds, have been used as part of criminal activities in BiH (See MAR 05/08). Joint Meeting of Law Enforcement Agencies from Northeast of BiH - An important meeting was held at the Canton 3 MoI (Tuzla) between all the major Police Chiefs/Directors of Northeast Bosnia and Herzegovina. Issues of future cooperation and strategies to combat organized crime were discussed, the meeting was productive in terms of mutual cooperation. This initiative is the first one in recent years, which has been organized in the Tuzla region. EUPM monitored, supported and encouraged this event since the early stages of the planning. It was agreed that these kinds of meetings will continue in the future and that the next agenda should contain specific crime topics. It is likely that the next joint meeting will take place in Brcko District in April. EUPM will monitor, follow and be actively involved. 8627/09 EXT 1 MS/ts 5 ANNEX CPCC EN Criminal Justice BiH Constitutional Court confirmed the constitutionality of Article 13(2) of the Law on BiH Court - The BiH Constitutional court at its sessions on 27 and 28 of March, discussed and confirmed the constitutionality of the Article 13(2) of the Law on BiH Court that establishes the criminal jurisdiction of the BiH Court including its jurisdiction under certain circumstances over crimes prescribed in the entity laws. The decision was long expected and accompanied by vivid discussions at the political level.