Key fingerprint 9EF0 C41A FBA5 64AA 650A 0259 9C6D CD17 283E 454C

-----BEGIN PGP PUBLIC KEY BLOCK-----
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=5a6T
-----END PGP PUBLIC KEY BLOCK-----

		

Contact

If you need help using Tor you can contact WikiLeaks for assistance in setting it up using our simple webchat available at: https://wikileaks.org/talk

If you can use Tor, but need to contact WikiLeaks for other reasons use our secured webchat available at http://wlchatc3pjwpli5r.onion

We recommend contacting us over Tor if you can.

Tor

Tor is an encrypted anonymising network that makes it harder to intercept internet communications, or see where communications are coming from or going to.

In order to use the WikiLeaks public submission system as detailed above you can download the Tor Browser Bundle, which is a Firefox-like browser available for Windows, Mac OS X and GNU/Linux and pre-configured to connect using the anonymising system Tor.

Tails

If you are at high risk and you have the capacity to do so, you can also access the submission system through a secure operating system called Tails. Tails is an operating system launched from a USB stick or a DVD that aim to leaves no traces when the computer is shut down after use and automatically routes your internet traffic through Tor. Tails will require you to have either a USB stick or a DVD at least 4GB big and a laptop or desktop computer.

Tips

Our submission system works hard to preserve your anonymity, but we recommend you also take some of your own precautions. Please review these basic guidelines.

1. Contact us if you have specific problems

If you have a very large submission, or a submission with a complex format, or are a high-risk source, please contact us. In our experience it is always possible to find a custom solution for even the most seemingly difficult situations.

2. What computer to use

If the computer you are uploading from could subsequently be audited in an investigation, consider using a computer that is not easily tied to you. Technical users can also use Tails to help ensure you do not leave any records of your submission on the computer.

3. Do not talk about your submission to others

If you have any issues talk to WikiLeaks. We are the global experts in source protection – it is a complex field. Even those who mean well often do not have the experience or expertise to advise properly. This includes other media organisations.

After

1. Do not talk about your submission to others

If you have any issues talk to WikiLeaks. We are the global experts in source protection – it is a complex field. Even those who mean well often do not have the experience or expertise to advise properly. This includes other media organisations.

2. Act normal

If you are a high-risk source, avoid saying anything or doing anything after submitting which might promote suspicion. In particular, you should try to stick to your normal routine and behaviour.

3. Remove traces of your submission

If you are a high-risk source and the computer you prepared your submission on, or uploaded it from, could subsequently be audited in an investigation, we recommend that you format and dispose of the computer hard drive and any other storage media you used.

In particular, hard drives retain data after formatting which may be visible to a digital forensics team and flash media (USB sticks, memory cards and SSD drives) retain data even after a secure erasure. If you used flash media to store sensitive data, it is important to destroy the media.

If you do this and are a high-risk source you should make sure there are no traces of the clean-up, since such traces themselves may draw suspicion.

4. If you face legal action

If a legal action is brought against you as a result of your submission, there are organisations that may help you. The Courage Foundation is an international organisation dedicated to the protection of journalistic sources. You can find more details at https://www.couragefound.org.

WikiLeaks publishes documents of political or historical importance that are censored or otherwise suppressed. We specialise in strategic global publishing and large archives.

The following is the address of our secure site where you can anonymously upload your documents to WikiLeaks editors. You can only access this submissions system through Tor. (See our Tor tab for more information.) We also advise you to read our tips for sources before submitting.

http://ibfckmpsmylhbfovflajicjgldsqpc75k5w454irzwlh7qifgglncbad.onion

If you cannot use Tor, or your submission is very large, or you have specific requirements, WikiLeaks provides several alternative methods. Contact us to discuss how to proceed.

WikiLeaks
Press release About PlusD
 
Content
Show Headers
(d). 1. (SBU) SUMMARY: The State House of Representatives (HoR) held its inaugural session January 11. The session focused mainly on procedural matters, including the selection of the House leadership, creation of a committee to select cabinet ministers, and confirmation of the Prime Ministerial candidate, Nikola Spiric. The HoR elected Beriz Belkic of the Bosniak Party for BiH (SBiH), Niko Lozancic of the Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ-BiH) and Milorad Zivkovic of the Serb Alliance of Independent Social Democrats (SNSD) as its new co-speakers. Prior to the vote on his confirmation, PM-designate Spiric delivered a long, broad ranging and ambitious speech detailing his workplan for the new government. Details of Spiric's program and the likely lineup of government ministers will be reported septel. END SUMMARY. 2. (SBU) The atmosphere at the inaugural session of the State House of Representatives January 11 was festive, something of a surprise considering the drawn-out and often contentious negotiations over forming a government. Aside from some procedural sour grapes from parties not included in the governing coalition, the session ran smoothly and the tone of the speeches was conciliatory and cordial. The first order of business was the election of the House's new leadership. It came as no surprise that Beriz Belkic of SBiH, Niko Lozancic of HDZ-BiH and Milorad Zivkovic of SNSD were elected handily, each garnering more than two-thirds of the vote. All three men were officially nominated by female delegates from their respective parties -- quite a novelty in a profession that remains dominated by men. The House then chose members for a committee to select cabinet ministers and adjourned so the newly-formed committee could meet and discuss its workplan. 3. (SBU) Following the recess, Prime Minister-designate Nikola Spiric of SNSD delivered a 40-minute speech detailing an ambitious plan for the work of the new government, with separate sections devoted to each State-level ministry and preparations for NATO and EU integration. Details of his program will be reported septel. The speech was inclusive in tone, and Spiric said he hoped to see optimism, enthusiasm and a willingness to compromise in all the members of the parliament, and promised to work tirelessly for the good of all citizens of Bosnia and Herzegovina. The speech was reasonably well received, but many delegates looked unsure whether it was appropriate to applaud when Spiric had finished speaking. The result was an awkward pause, followed by a smattering of applause. After a period for comments by other delegates, the House confirmed Spiric by a vote of 29 for, six against and three abstentions (three of the 42 delegates were not present, and Spiric did not cast a vote). Opposing Spriric's election were the five delegates from the opposition Social Democratic Party (SDP) and the single delegate from the Bosnian Patriotic Party (BPS). The three Serb Democratic Party (SDS) delegates abstained. BIOGRAPHIC INFORMATION ON PM NIKOLA SPIRIC (SNSD) --------------------------------------------- ---- 4. (SBU) Confirmed as the new Chairman of the BiH Council of Ministers (Prime Minister) January 11, Nikola Spiric (NEE-ko-la SHPEER-ich) leads an unwieldly coalition of seven political parties. Previously, Spiric was the Serb member of the rotating, tri-partite leadership of the State House of Representatives from 2003-06. Born on September 4, 1956 in Drvar, Spiric is an economist by profession, having completed his undergraduate, masters and doctoral degrees at the University of Sarajevo, with a specialization in monetary policy and public finance. Spiric is a valued Embassy interlocutor, providing support at crucial junctures for laws and initiatives of importance to the U.S., including the state law on internal debt and constitutional reform. 5. (SBU) Spiric, who has changed party affiliation on several occasions, entered politics in 1996. He started his career as a right-wing extremist, co-founding the Serb Radical Party of BiH (SRS-BiH), followed by a brief stint as a member of Radovan Karadzic's Serb Democratic Party (SDS). In 1998, Spiric founded his own, new party -- the Party for Krajina and Banja Luka. Using nationalist rhetoric as a SARAJEVO 00000063 002 OF 004 campaign theme, Spiric was elected to the State House of Representatives in 1998. His inflammatory nationalistic speeches in parliament and opposition to reforms alienated the international community, and the Embassy avoided all contact with him. However, on the eve of the 2000 elections, Spiric seemed to experience a transformation. He joined the moderate Party of Democratic Progress (PDP), led by former Foreign Minister Mladen Ivanic. He served from 2000-02 as co-speaker of the State House of Peoples, the parliamentary upper-chamber, where he helped pass many important laws, including a contentious election law. In 2002 Spiric switched parties again, joining SNSD. Spiric is personable and easy-going. He is married with two children. His wife is a Bosniak, a fact he does not reveal readily, for fear his political opponents might use it against him. Spiric does not speak English. BIOGRAPHIC INFORMATION ON NEW HOUSE LEADERSHIP --------------------------------------------- -- BERIZ BELKIC, SBiH ------------------ 6. (C) Beriz Belkic (BEAR-iz BELL-kich), of President Haris Silajdzic's SBiH has worked his entire adult life in government, and climbed the ladder from the municipal level to serving as the Bosniak member of the Tri-Presidency from 2001 until the 2002 elections, completing the late Alija Izetbegovic's term following the latter's resignation due to illness. Belkic is a Vice President of SBiH, but is not a confidant of Silajdzic. Although he sometimes disagrees with Silajdzic, generally holding more centrist views, Belkic is loath to directly challenge him. After winning his first election to the HoR in 2000, Belkic confided to the Embassy his desire to become president of SBiH and turn it into a more centrist party. When Silajdzic temporarily stepped down as party president, Belkic made a play for the leadership position, but Silajdzic instead chose the morose and unpopular Safet Halilovic to keep the presidential seat warm until his return to politics. 7. (C) In addition to his party position, Belkic also is chairman of the Srebrenica Executive Board, which coordinates all activities related to the Srebrenica Cemetery and Memorial in Potocari. Prior to his election to the HoR, Belkic was prime minister of Sarajevo Canton from 1998-2000. Among his achievements during that time was reaching out to his colleague from Serb-controlled Eastern Sarajevo and encouraging him to join the EU-funded program for the development of the "Sarajevo Economic Region," boosting inter-entity cooperation. From 1996-1998 Belkic was the Sarajevo Canton minister of housing affairs, a particularly difficult position, considering the large number of illegally-occupied housing units in the canton at that time. Under his leadership, the ministry ensured the successful implementation of the post-war property restitution laws. Belkic is keen to improve SBiH's relationship with the U.S., often privately expressing frustration with the nationalist elements of his party. Despite this, however, Belkic's generally quiet nature and poor health (he suffers from a heart condition) are likely to prevent him from taking positions contrary to those of Silajdzic and his circle. Belkic does not speak English. NIKO LOZANCIC, HDZ-BiH ---------------------- 8. (C) With his election to the HoR in October 2006, Niko Lozancic (NEE-ko LOW-zahn-chich) began his second, non-consecutive mandate as a State legislator. From 2003-2006 Lozancic was President of the Federation of BiH, one of the two entities that make up the state of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Lozancic was born in 1957 in Kakanj, central Bosnia. A lawyer by profession, he served previously as a municipal councilor and Zenica-Doboj cantonal delegate. He chaired the Federation House of Peoples from 1999-2000 and was named vice president of HDZ in 2003. He served briefly as party president when Croat member of the BiH Tri-Presidency Ante Jelavic was removed by the High Representative in March 2001. Lozancic was among the key figures of the Croat self-rule (third entity) movement following the 2000 general elections. SARAJEVO 00000063 003 OF 004 9. (SBU) Lozancic does not come from HDZ's traditional powerbase. He lived and worked in Kakanj, as some journalists belittlingly observed, as a street cop. His wartime activities are unclear, but he resurfaced in 1996 as HDZ's number one man in Kakanj. Prior to the war, Kakanj had a sizeable Croat population. After hostilities commenced between Croats and Bosniaks in late 1992, Croats were "encouraged" to leave the area. Elected to the Kakanj municipal council in 1996, Lozancic made frequent public statements decrying obstructionist Bosniak authorities who prevented the return of Croat-owned properties and discriminated against Croats with regard to employment and distribution of humanitarian aid. His party, however, pursued a different course, namely the resettlement of Croats from Central Bosnia to the areas late Croatian President Franjo Tudjman envisioned as part of a future Croat-majority entity in Bosnia and Herzegovina. In 1998, Lozancic, recently elected to the Zenica-Doboj Cantonal Assembly, caught the eye of his party superiors, which led to his selection as speaker of the Federation House of Peoples in 1999. After the 2000 elections that spawned the "third entity" movement, Lozancic was chosen as speaker of the (illegal) Croat Self-Rule Assembly, further confirming his Croat nationalist bona fides. After becoming Federation President in 2003, Lozancic vowed to be the president of all people in the Federation, but he soon slipped back into the familiar role of party spokesman and representative of Croat interests. 10. (C) Lozancic often is critical of the role of the international community in Bosnia. He repeatedly has expressed contempt for reforms conducted under the aegis of the Office of the High Representative (OHR). Lozancic also has been very vocal in his criticism of the Republika Srpska's lack of progress on reversing the wartime ethnic cleansing in the entity. In contacts with the Embassy, Lozancic has shown himself to be rather unpredictable. He can be very unpleasant, answering questions with questions. His stubbornness and refusal to change course even when it is clear he should do so shows a lack of pragmatism. However, when he commits to do something, he delivers. Lozancic is loyal to his party and its president. He also is ambitious. That combination of attributes could pay dividends if HDZ BiH's President Dragan Covic's conviction on charges of abuse of office are upheld and he is forced to step down as party president. Lozancic walks with a pronounced limp, having lost his left leg below the knee in an unknown incident many years ago. He does not speak English. MILORAD ZIVKOVIC, SNSD ---------------------- 11. (SBU) Milorad Zivkovic (MEE-low-rad ZHEEV-ko-vich) served as a delegate in the Republika Srpska National Assembly (RSNA), as RS coordinator for reproductive health, as first deputy to the Head of the Commission for Foreign Affairs, and as President of the Group for Population and Development in Bosnia. He also served two terms in the BiH HoR, and was head of the SNSD caucus from 2002-04. During this period, he proved himself to be a reasonable, constructive and moderate politician who helped pass high priority legislation aimed at reforming the intelligence services, the economy and creating a unified defense structure. The Embassy has enjoyed a cooperative and productive relationship with Zivkovic over the years. He is not known as a party "soldier" with unquestioning loyalty to party president and RS PM Milorad Dodik. He is an outspoken critic of the nationalist Serb Democratic Party (SDS) and criticized Dodik's decision to allow SNSD municipal officials to work cooperatively with the SDS in some areas during Dodik's first mandate as RS PM from 1998-2000. 12. (SBU) As president of SNSD's Municipal Board, Zivkovic repeatedly sought an independent audit of the Doboj municipality government, alleging widespread corruption within the SDS-led municipality. His efforts were unsuccessful, however, as there was insufficient political will to force the audit. Zivkovic was born on May 2, 1963 in Mrkonkjic Grad (southwest of Banja Luka). A physician by profession, specializing in obstetrics and gynecology, Zivkovic is chief of the high risk pregnancy unit of St. Luke's Hospital (Sveti Apostol Luka) in Doboj. He lives in Doboj with his wife, Slobodanka, an anesthesiologist, and his two children, son Nemanja and daughter Teodora. Zivkovic SARAJEVO 00000063 004 OF 004 understands some English, but does not speak it fluently. CEFKIN

Raw content
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 04 SARAJEVO 000063 SIPDIS SIPDIS SENSITIVE EUR FOR DICARLO, EUR/SCE FOR HOH, FOOKS AND STINCHCOMB, NSC FOR BRAUN, OSD FOR FLORY E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/10/2017 TAGS: PREL, PGOV, BK SUBJECT: STATE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES HOLDS INAUGURAL SESSION; PM-DESIGNATE CONFIRMED Classified By: Charge d'Affaires Judith B. Cefkin, reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). 1. (SBU) SUMMARY: The State House of Representatives (HoR) held its inaugural session January 11. The session focused mainly on procedural matters, including the selection of the House leadership, creation of a committee to select cabinet ministers, and confirmation of the Prime Ministerial candidate, Nikola Spiric. The HoR elected Beriz Belkic of the Bosniak Party for BiH (SBiH), Niko Lozancic of the Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ-BiH) and Milorad Zivkovic of the Serb Alliance of Independent Social Democrats (SNSD) as its new co-speakers. Prior to the vote on his confirmation, PM-designate Spiric delivered a long, broad ranging and ambitious speech detailing his workplan for the new government. Details of Spiric's program and the likely lineup of government ministers will be reported septel. END SUMMARY. 2. (SBU) The atmosphere at the inaugural session of the State House of Representatives January 11 was festive, something of a surprise considering the drawn-out and often contentious negotiations over forming a government. Aside from some procedural sour grapes from parties not included in the governing coalition, the session ran smoothly and the tone of the speeches was conciliatory and cordial. The first order of business was the election of the House's new leadership. It came as no surprise that Beriz Belkic of SBiH, Niko Lozancic of HDZ-BiH and Milorad Zivkovic of SNSD were elected handily, each garnering more than two-thirds of the vote. All three men were officially nominated by female delegates from their respective parties -- quite a novelty in a profession that remains dominated by men. The House then chose members for a committee to select cabinet ministers and adjourned so the newly-formed committee could meet and discuss its workplan. 3. (SBU) Following the recess, Prime Minister-designate Nikola Spiric of SNSD delivered a 40-minute speech detailing an ambitious plan for the work of the new government, with separate sections devoted to each State-level ministry and preparations for NATO and EU integration. Details of his program will be reported septel. The speech was inclusive in tone, and Spiric said he hoped to see optimism, enthusiasm and a willingness to compromise in all the members of the parliament, and promised to work tirelessly for the good of all citizens of Bosnia and Herzegovina. The speech was reasonably well received, but many delegates looked unsure whether it was appropriate to applaud when Spiric had finished speaking. The result was an awkward pause, followed by a smattering of applause. After a period for comments by other delegates, the House confirmed Spiric by a vote of 29 for, six against and three abstentions (three of the 42 delegates were not present, and Spiric did not cast a vote). Opposing Spriric's election were the five delegates from the opposition Social Democratic Party (SDP) and the single delegate from the Bosnian Patriotic Party (BPS). The three Serb Democratic Party (SDS) delegates abstained. BIOGRAPHIC INFORMATION ON PM NIKOLA SPIRIC (SNSD) --------------------------------------------- ---- 4. (SBU) Confirmed as the new Chairman of the BiH Council of Ministers (Prime Minister) January 11, Nikola Spiric (NEE-ko-la SHPEER-ich) leads an unwieldly coalition of seven political parties. Previously, Spiric was the Serb member of the rotating, tri-partite leadership of the State House of Representatives from 2003-06. Born on September 4, 1956 in Drvar, Spiric is an economist by profession, having completed his undergraduate, masters and doctoral degrees at the University of Sarajevo, with a specialization in monetary policy and public finance. Spiric is a valued Embassy interlocutor, providing support at crucial junctures for laws and initiatives of importance to the U.S., including the state law on internal debt and constitutional reform. 5. (SBU) Spiric, who has changed party affiliation on several occasions, entered politics in 1996. He started his career as a right-wing extremist, co-founding the Serb Radical Party of BiH (SRS-BiH), followed by a brief stint as a member of Radovan Karadzic's Serb Democratic Party (SDS). In 1998, Spiric founded his own, new party -- the Party for Krajina and Banja Luka. Using nationalist rhetoric as a SARAJEVO 00000063 002 OF 004 campaign theme, Spiric was elected to the State House of Representatives in 1998. His inflammatory nationalistic speeches in parliament and opposition to reforms alienated the international community, and the Embassy avoided all contact with him. However, on the eve of the 2000 elections, Spiric seemed to experience a transformation. He joined the moderate Party of Democratic Progress (PDP), led by former Foreign Minister Mladen Ivanic. He served from 2000-02 as co-speaker of the State House of Peoples, the parliamentary upper-chamber, where he helped pass many important laws, including a contentious election law. In 2002 Spiric switched parties again, joining SNSD. Spiric is personable and easy-going. He is married with two children. His wife is a Bosniak, a fact he does not reveal readily, for fear his political opponents might use it against him. Spiric does not speak English. BIOGRAPHIC INFORMATION ON NEW HOUSE LEADERSHIP --------------------------------------------- -- BERIZ BELKIC, SBiH ------------------ 6. (C) Beriz Belkic (BEAR-iz BELL-kich), of President Haris Silajdzic's SBiH has worked his entire adult life in government, and climbed the ladder from the municipal level to serving as the Bosniak member of the Tri-Presidency from 2001 until the 2002 elections, completing the late Alija Izetbegovic's term following the latter's resignation due to illness. Belkic is a Vice President of SBiH, but is not a confidant of Silajdzic. Although he sometimes disagrees with Silajdzic, generally holding more centrist views, Belkic is loath to directly challenge him. After winning his first election to the HoR in 2000, Belkic confided to the Embassy his desire to become president of SBiH and turn it into a more centrist party. When Silajdzic temporarily stepped down as party president, Belkic made a play for the leadership position, but Silajdzic instead chose the morose and unpopular Safet Halilovic to keep the presidential seat warm until his return to politics. 7. (C) In addition to his party position, Belkic also is chairman of the Srebrenica Executive Board, which coordinates all activities related to the Srebrenica Cemetery and Memorial in Potocari. Prior to his election to the HoR, Belkic was prime minister of Sarajevo Canton from 1998-2000. Among his achievements during that time was reaching out to his colleague from Serb-controlled Eastern Sarajevo and encouraging him to join the EU-funded program for the development of the "Sarajevo Economic Region," boosting inter-entity cooperation. From 1996-1998 Belkic was the Sarajevo Canton minister of housing affairs, a particularly difficult position, considering the large number of illegally-occupied housing units in the canton at that time. Under his leadership, the ministry ensured the successful implementation of the post-war property restitution laws. Belkic is keen to improve SBiH's relationship with the U.S., often privately expressing frustration with the nationalist elements of his party. Despite this, however, Belkic's generally quiet nature and poor health (he suffers from a heart condition) are likely to prevent him from taking positions contrary to those of Silajdzic and his circle. Belkic does not speak English. NIKO LOZANCIC, HDZ-BiH ---------------------- 8. (C) With his election to the HoR in October 2006, Niko Lozancic (NEE-ko LOW-zahn-chich) began his second, non-consecutive mandate as a State legislator. From 2003-2006 Lozancic was President of the Federation of BiH, one of the two entities that make up the state of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Lozancic was born in 1957 in Kakanj, central Bosnia. A lawyer by profession, he served previously as a municipal councilor and Zenica-Doboj cantonal delegate. He chaired the Federation House of Peoples from 1999-2000 and was named vice president of HDZ in 2003. He served briefly as party president when Croat member of the BiH Tri-Presidency Ante Jelavic was removed by the High Representative in March 2001. Lozancic was among the key figures of the Croat self-rule (third entity) movement following the 2000 general elections. SARAJEVO 00000063 003 OF 004 9. (SBU) Lozancic does not come from HDZ's traditional powerbase. He lived and worked in Kakanj, as some journalists belittlingly observed, as a street cop. His wartime activities are unclear, but he resurfaced in 1996 as HDZ's number one man in Kakanj. Prior to the war, Kakanj had a sizeable Croat population. After hostilities commenced between Croats and Bosniaks in late 1992, Croats were "encouraged" to leave the area. Elected to the Kakanj municipal council in 1996, Lozancic made frequent public statements decrying obstructionist Bosniak authorities who prevented the return of Croat-owned properties and discriminated against Croats with regard to employment and distribution of humanitarian aid. His party, however, pursued a different course, namely the resettlement of Croats from Central Bosnia to the areas late Croatian President Franjo Tudjman envisioned as part of a future Croat-majority entity in Bosnia and Herzegovina. In 1998, Lozancic, recently elected to the Zenica-Doboj Cantonal Assembly, caught the eye of his party superiors, which led to his selection as speaker of the Federation House of Peoples in 1999. After the 2000 elections that spawned the "third entity" movement, Lozancic was chosen as speaker of the (illegal) Croat Self-Rule Assembly, further confirming his Croat nationalist bona fides. After becoming Federation President in 2003, Lozancic vowed to be the president of all people in the Federation, but he soon slipped back into the familiar role of party spokesman and representative of Croat interests. 10. (C) Lozancic often is critical of the role of the international community in Bosnia. He repeatedly has expressed contempt for reforms conducted under the aegis of the Office of the High Representative (OHR). Lozancic also has been very vocal in his criticism of the Republika Srpska's lack of progress on reversing the wartime ethnic cleansing in the entity. In contacts with the Embassy, Lozancic has shown himself to be rather unpredictable. He can be very unpleasant, answering questions with questions. His stubbornness and refusal to change course even when it is clear he should do so shows a lack of pragmatism. However, when he commits to do something, he delivers. Lozancic is loyal to his party and its president. He also is ambitious. That combination of attributes could pay dividends if HDZ BiH's President Dragan Covic's conviction on charges of abuse of office are upheld and he is forced to step down as party president. Lozancic walks with a pronounced limp, having lost his left leg below the knee in an unknown incident many years ago. He does not speak English. MILORAD ZIVKOVIC, SNSD ---------------------- 11. (SBU) Milorad Zivkovic (MEE-low-rad ZHEEV-ko-vich) served as a delegate in the Republika Srpska National Assembly (RSNA), as RS coordinator for reproductive health, as first deputy to the Head of the Commission for Foreign Affairs, and as President of the Group for Population and Development in Bosnia. He also served two terms in the BiH HoR, and was head of the SNSD caucus from 2002-04. During this period, he proved himself to be a reasonable, constructive and moderate politician who helped pass high priority legislation aimed at reforming the intelligence services, the economy and creating a unified defense structure. The Embassy has enjoyed a cooperative and productive relationship with Zivkovic over the years. He is not known as a party "soldier" with unquestioning loyalty to party president and RS PM Milorad Dodik. He is an outspoken critic of the nationalist Serb Democratic Party (SDS) and criticized Dodik's decision to allow SNSD municipal officials to work cooperatively with the SDS in some areas during Dodik's first mandate as RS PM from 1998-2000. 12. (SBU) As president of SNSD's Municipal Board, Zivkovic repeatedly sought an independent audit of the Doboj municipality government, alleging widespread corruption within the SDS-led municipality. His efforts were unsuccessful, however, as there was insufficient political will to force the audit. Zivkovic was born on May 2, 1963 in Mrkonkjic Grad (southwest of Banja Luka). A physician by profession, specializing in obstetrics and gynecology, Zivkovic is chief of the high risk pregnancy unit of St. Luke's Hospital (Sveti Apostol Luka) in Doboj. He lives in Doboj with his wife, Slobodanka, an anesthesiologist, and his two children, son Nemanja and daughter Teodora. Zivkovic SARAJEVO 00000063 004 OF 004 understands some English, but does not speak it fluently. CEFKIN
Metadata
VZCZCXRO5888 OO RUEHDBU RUEHFL RUEHKW RUEHLA RUEHROV RUEHSR DE RUEHVJ #0063/01 0111718 ZNY CCCCC ZZH O 111718Z JAN 07 FM AMEMBASSY SARAJEVO TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 5202 INFO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE IMMEDIATE RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC IMMEDIATE RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC IMMEDIATE RUEKJCS/JCS WASHINGTON DC IMMEDIATE RUEAIIA/CIA IMMEDIATE
Print

You can use this tool to generate a print-friendly PDF of the document 07SARAJEVO63_a.





Share

The formal reference of this document is 07SARAJEVO63_a, please use it for anything written about this document. This will permit you and others to search for it.


Submit this story


Help Expand The Public Library of US Diplomacy

Your role is important:
WikiLeaks maintains its robust independence through your contributions.

Please see
https://shop.wikileaks.org/donate to learn about all ways to donate.


e-Highlighter

Click to send permalink to address bar, or right-click to copy permalink.

Tweet these highlights

Un-highlight all Un-highlight selectionu Highlight selectionh

XHelp Expand The Public
Library of US Diplomacy

Your role is important:
WikiLeaks maintains its robust independence through your contributions.

Please see
https://shop.wikileaks.org/donate to learn about all ways to donate.