C06814754 IFIED U.S. DepartmentofState Case No. F-2017-13804 Doc No.

C06814754 Date: 02/26/2020

Vied Sep 29 15:18:39 1999 [USUN N 2469] D COPY 9 OF 15 Page 1 OF 2

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ACTION NODS-00
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INFO LOG-00 CCOE-00 SAS-00 /000W
FDB5F4 291906Z /38
O 291855Z SEP 99
FM USMISSION USUN NEW YORK
TO SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 5489

J1-0-11.1L...X.4 -9r— T—PrZUSUN NEW YORK 002469

N NODIS PRINCIPALS ONLY AND S/SA AMBASSADOR DOBBINS AND EUR-

DAS JAMES SWIGERT
6'4 1.4ft'

E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/02/2004 -""

TAGS: BK, PGOV, PHUM, PREL
SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR HOLBROOKE'S RESTRICTED MEETING WITH RS
PM DODIK

D (U) CLASSIFIED BY AMBASSADOR RICHARD C. HOLBROOKE, PER

REASONS 1.5 (B) AND (D).

1.."*C,L,IN A RESTRICTED MEETING WITH DODIK FOLLOWING THE

LARGER SESSION REPORTED SEPTEL, DODIK RAISED KARADZIC'S
WHEREABOUTS AND WAYS THAT HE COULD ASSIST IN HIS
APPREHENSION.

2.-4C.L._"YOU MUST GET HIM AS SOON AS POSSIBLE," DODIK SAID.

HE PARTICULARLY EMPHASIZED THE IMPORTANCE OF PICKING UP
KARADZIC BEFORE THE SPRING ELECTIONS. (HE ALSO SAID THAT
KRAJISNIK IS RUNNING WHAT AMOUNTS TO A MAFIA OPERATION, AND
ENCOURAGED US TO GO AFTER HIM TOO.)

3.-.4.C.L.DODIK INFORMED ME THAT HE THINKS KARADZIC IS IN THE

N BORDER AREA NEAR BIJELJINA, PERHAPS NEAR WHERE POPLASEN IS

BELIEVED TO HANG OUT. HE FREQUENTLY TRAVELS BY CAR TO
BELGRADE AND "CROSSES THE DRINA", BUT HE IS HARD TO SPOT
BECAUSE HE CHANGES VEHICLES OFTEN.' HE IS GENERALLY
ACCOMPANIED BY 30-50 ARMED MEN. DODIK OFFERED TO PROVIDE
PEOPLE WHO WILL OBSERVE HIS MOVEMENTS AND HELP TRACK HIM.
HE NOTED THAT HIS NEW INTELLIGENCE CHIEF AND CLOSE
ASSOCIATE IELECEVIC WOULD BE COMING TO WASHINGTON IN EARLY
'NOVEMBER FOR CONSULTATIONS, AND WOULD BE ABLE TO WORK ON'
OPERATIONAL DETAILS.

4. -K4 I POINTED OUT

THAT WHILE SUCCESS WOULD LEAD TO
DRAMATIC PROGRESS, A FAILED ATTEMPT AT CAPTURING KARADZIC
WOULD BE A MAJOR PROBLEM. FIRST RATE INTELLIGENCE WOULD BE
THE KEY. DODIK EMPHASIZED THAT HE WOULD WORK ON THIS ISSUE
PERSONALLY. I URGED HIM TO DISCUSS THIS ISSUE IN
CONFIDENCE WITH JIM DOBBINS AND CHRIS HILL.

5. 7tt- DODIK ALSO MENTIONED AN APPROACH TWO MONTHS AGO

THROUGH POPLASEN. KARADZIC ALLEGEDLY TOLD POPLASEN THAT HE
WOULD BE PREPARED TO SURRENDER TO THE FRENCH ON CONDITION
THAT HE WOULD BE TRIED-IN FRANCE RATHER THAN THE HAGUE, AND
SERVE HIS SENTENCE IN A FRENCH PRISON. DODIK MADE CLEAR
THAT HE DOES NOT TRUST KARADZIC, BUT EMPHASIZED THE
IMPORTANCE OF GETTING HIM INTO A COURTROOM. "EVEN AN RS
TRIAL WOULD BE GOOD." I REJECTED THAT PROPOSAL, MAKING IT

UNCLASSIFIED U.S. Department of State Case No. F-2017-13804 Doc No. C06814754 Date: 02/26/2020
C O 6814754 IFIED U.S. Department of State Case No. F-2017-13804 Doc No. C06814754 Date: 02/26/2020

6>
Ved Sep 29 15:18:39 1999 [USUN N 2469) D COPY 9 OF 15 Page 2 OF 2
LEAR THAT THERE CAN BE NO SOLUTION TO THE KARADZIC PROBLEM
O LONG AS HE REMAINS ANYWHERE IN THE BALKANS -- EVEN FOR
4TRIAL.
HOLBROOKE
2:41-Es
—GgNrIDENTIAL

UNCLASSIFIED U.S. Department of State Case No. F-2017-13804 Doc No. C06814754 Date: 02/26/2020