Cablegate: Bosnia- Letter From Minister of Defense Cikotic To

VZCZCXYZ0010
PP RUEHWEB

DE RUEHVJ #0120 0221646
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 221646Z JAN 08
FM AMEMBASSY SARAJEVO
TO RUEHGB/AMEMBASSY BAGHDAD PRIORITY 0038
INFO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 7692
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC PRIORITY
RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC PRIORITY
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
RHMFIUU/COMUSNAVEUR NAPLES IT PRIORITY
RHEFDIA/DIA WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
RUEHNO/USMISSION USNATO PRIORITY 0202
RUFOAOA/USNIC SARAJEVO PRIORITY
RHMFIUU/CDR USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL PRIORITY

UNCLAS SARAJEVO 000120

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

BAGHDAD FOR MNF-I COMMANDER GENERAL PETRAEUS
STATE FOR EUR (DICARLO), EUR/SCE (HOH, SILBERSTEIN, FOOKS,
STINCHCOMB), EUR/RPM, NEA
DEFENSE FOR FATA, CAGAN. BEIN
NSC FOR BRAUN
USNIC FOR WIGHTMAN

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PGOV MARR IZ BK
SUBJECT: BOSNIA- LETTER FROM MINISTER OF DEFENSE CIKOTIC TO
MNF-I COMMANDER GENERAL PETRAEUS

1. (SBU) Minister of Defense Cikotic requested Post deliver
the following letter from the Minister to General Petraeus,
Commander of MNF-I Iraq.

Begin Text of Letter:

Bosnia-Herzegovina
Ministry of Defense

Sarajevo
January 18, 2008

General David Howell Petraeus
Commanding General
Multi-National Force- Iraq (MNF-I)

Dear Sir:

It is my pleasure to respond to the letter from MNF-I dated
30 September 2007. In this letter, MNF-I requested that
Bosnia-Herzegovina deploy an infantry company or platoon plus
for fixed-site security duties in Iraq.

I am pleased to inform you that on January 17 the Bosnian
Presidency has given preliminary approval for this
deployment. This important decision indicates our strong
commitment to meet your request and our participation in
MNF-I.

Before issuing final approval for the deployment, the
Presidency has requested further information as to the size
of the unit requested for this deployment and potential
locations for its deployment in Iraq.

I have been authorized to engage with MNF-I commanders in
Iraq on these issues during our visit scheduled for January
28-30. Upon my return, I will brief the Presidency on the
information provided and seek final approval to undertake
this deployment.

Again, it is my pleasure to inform you of these developments
in meeting your request. I look forward to speaking with you
or one of your colleagues in Iraq.

Sincerely,
Selmo Cikotic
Minister
(signature)

End Text of Message.
ENGLISH

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