VZCZCXYZ0004
RR RUEHWEB
DE RUEHBW #1986/01 3450542
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 110542Z DEC 06
FM AMEMBASSY BELGRADE
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 9871
INFO RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON 0208
RUEHNR/AMEMBASSY NAIROBI 0017
RUEHNE/AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI 0015
RUEHDK/AMEMBASSY DAKAR 0001
RUEHRB/AMEMBASSY RABAT 0007
RUEHYD/AMEMBASSY YAOUNDE 0001
RUEHRO/AMEMBASSY ROME 0518
RUEHMIL/AMCONSUL MILAN 0041
UNCLAS BELGRADE 001986
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
Department pass to PM/PPA Featherstone
E.O. 12958:N/A
TAGS: MARR MASS PGOV IT NI SR
SUBJECT: SERBIA MINT ACCEPTS INVITATION FOR TRAINING AT
COESPU
REF: A) STATE 191198; B) Delgado-Featherston emails
(12/1/06 and 12/5/06) (notal)
1. (U) The Ministry of Interior has accepted a joint US-
Italian invitation to participate in training at the Center
of Excellence for Stability Police Units (COESPU) located
in Vicenza, Italy and proposed eight candidates for
participation in the six week middle management course that
is scheduled to begin on January 8, 2007. (ref A).
2. (U) Embassy recommends immediately arranging a Mobile
Assistance Team (MAT) visit before the 22nd of December to
review details (including follow-up requirements) and
confirm this commitment before the holiday season here
begins and everything grinds to a halt. Request Department
provide an American operational point of contact at COESPU
that will allow us to help with details and avoid any last
minute snafus.
3. (U) Polcouns and RSO met with Director of Police,
Milorad Veljovic on December 1 to extend invitation and
background information provided in ref A. Veljovic
indicated his interest in having the Serbian Police and
Gendarmerie participate in the training and promised to get
back to us with names of candidates quickly. He
acknowledged the Ministry's responsibility to set up a
training regime after the training (with possible
assistance from Italy and the U.S.). We also sent the
background information to Jovan Miriljovic, the MFA's
director of UN affairs, advising him of our discussions and
efforts with the Ministry of Interior.
4. Polcouns joined two colleagues from the Italian Embassy
(first secretary Colombo; and a representative of the
Italian police assigned to the Embassy) on December 8 for a
meeting with Drazen Maravic, Head of the Bureau for
International Cooperation and European Integration in the
Cabinet of the Ministry of Interior, to confirm details of
the training. Maravic welcomed the joint US-Italian
invitation and noted recent efforts by the Ministry to
establish an inter-ministerial framework with
representatives from Defense and Foreign Affairs to
coordinate future GoS engagement in peacekeeping
operations. While still a work in progress, he welcomed
our help in providing a training regime on the police side
that could deepen the MINT's capabilities for policing in a
peacekeeping environment. Maravic also suggested a visit
by a senior official from the Ministry (e.g. Director of
Policy Veljovic or Head of the Gendarmerie General Tesic)
to COESPU sometime in the near future to reinforce senior
level support for the initiative.
5. (U) In a letter dated December 8, MINT State Secretary
offered eight candidates (listed below) for possible
participation in the six week middle management course that
is scheduled to begin on January 8. We have requested
additional information (exact date and places of birth)
that will allow us to vet the candidates for Leahy
provisions before training begins on January 8.
1. Irena Pasti, Higher Police Inspector. Works in criminal
police observation and documentation department. DOB June
08, 1979
2. Danilo Stojanovic, Higher Police Inspector. Works in
public gatherings observation department. DOB October 23,
1978.
3. Zeljko Lestanin, Higher Police Inspector. Head of
section in security detachment department. DOB April 25,
1977.
4. Zeljko Jovic, Captain, Team Head of Gendarmerie Anti-
terrorist Unit YOB 1972
5. Milan Popovic, Lieutenant, Police training instructor.
Novi Sad Gendarmerie Detachment. YOB 1976
6. Dejan Nikolic, Sergeant, Team Head of Special Anti-
terrorist Unit, DOB June 27, 1975
7. Vladan Mirkovic, Junior Sergeant, Group Head of Special
Anti-terrorist Unit, DOB July 29, 1977
8. Aleksandar Pavlovic, Independent Police Inspector.
Deputy Commander of Belgrade Railroad Security, YOB 1977.
POLT