Bosnia and Herzegovina
Based Upon Articles in Magazine “Global” and Sarajevo Daily: “Avaz”
Potentially damaging political, personal or even criminally incriminating information is collected by an anonymous but powerful body. A squad of operatives appears to function outside of legal authority but frequently within the scope of official political and/or judicial institutions. They act with impunity and appear to be accountable to no democratic authority. Information does not seem to take the form of evidence to be tested by legal criteria. Rather, it remains to be applied apparently selectively and opportunistically perhaps in in the service of political or personal agendas.
Hypocrisy: “Rule of Law”
Starts to sound like the smear squad of some regime trying to secure and maintain absolute obedience and intimidate political opposition. However, according to Bosnia & Herzegovina’s, (”BiH”), largest daily, “Avaz,” published October 30, 2009, the managers and operatives of this amorphous operation are the highest international officials within the Office of the High Representative ostensibly responsible for defining and enforcing the Dayton Accords, but also enhancing the rule of law, (in state previously part of the former communist Yugoslavia).
Hypocrisy? To say the least if the allegations are substantiated. Avaz has signaled that itself plans to initiate a legal suit against the apparent abuse of the trust and legal authority bestowed upon the Office of the High Representative, (”OHR”). Avaz has named Rafi Gregorian as the boss of this operation or “Analytic Team”. Mr. Gregorian is the highest ranking US Official within the OHR, the longest serving and probably most dominant within BiH. Avaz has also named the lead operative as an American only identified as “Eric.” Avaz did not specify as to whether the operation was only managed by US officials or whether nationals of other states within the OHR were involved or had knowledge.
Targeting the Range Of BiH Political, Social & Religious Leadership
The targets of the “Analytic Team” included the broadest array of Bosnia & Herzegovina’s political, social and religious leadership. Reis-ef Mustafa Ceric, the pro-western leader of BiH’s Muslims was identified as being targeted, as was Dr. Haris Silajdzic, the Bosniak member of the Presidency. Sulejman Tihic, the head of the largest Bosniak political party, SDA, and another US ally was on the list. The list also included the former communist and secularist head of the Social Democratic Party, Zlatko Lagumdzija, assumed to be a non practicing Muslim.
It does appear that Bosniaks, (Bosnian Muslims), were most specifically targeted for corruption and terrorism “investigations.” At least regarding terrorism, targeted individuals like Pavao Urban, (a 90 year old living in Vienna of Bosnian background who is an advocate of BiH’s historical links to the Austro-Hungarian Empire and European legacy), appeared as highly implausible suspects for either terrorism or corruption. (Mr. Urban has been an influential advocate of a unified secular BiH with relationships that ranged from Simon Wiesenthal to the centerist political establishment in Austria). Avaz intimates that such were targeted for their effective pro-Bosnian activism.
Apparently many more names remain undisclosed on the “suspect list” subject to indefinite investigation and suspicion of the “Analytic Team.” I’m not yet certain if Muhamed “mo” Sacirbey is identified by name or deed in the work of this scheme.
Betrayal of UN Mandate
If the Avaz allegations are accurate this is also a betrayal of Bosnia & Herzegovina and the United Nations’ mandate under which the OHR is authorized. The UN Security Council would presumably also have basis to investigate this alleged abuse of power emanating from the OHR. However, such outcome appears unlikely. Recall that US operatives under the George W. Bush Administration extra-judicially picked up “6″ BiH residents, of Algerian background), and renditioned them to Guantanamo. The Council of Europe condemned the action. After 5-6 years the “6″ were released from Guantanamo for lack of any evidence to link them to past or planned future terrorist actions. However there was no prosecution or even investigation of this rendition, (identified as kidnapping by the Council of Europe and under the legal criteria of most western democracies). Perhaps some believe that these “6″ Muslims were fortunate enough to finally be released from Guantanamo, even if they had lost a significant chunk of time and endured legal abandonment.
Accountability at UN Security Council: “Do as I Say, Not as I Do!”
In this light, it is not unlikely that the UN Security Council will even hear of the affair of a “smear squad” or “Analytic Team” working under the cover of its authority in BiH, if the allegations of Avaz are even substantiated. This is though most indicative of what has now long gone wrong in the international intervention in BiH. While presumably there to help BiH secure peace and absorb the best practices of the rule of law, this presence appears to be a cover for other parochial or national agendas of big powers or perhaps just an end to itself in pursuit of perpetuity. It is more of “do as I say, not as I do.”
There is an irony though: BiH will join this January 2010 as non-permanent member of the UN Security Council sitting in the Chambers with US and diplomats of other big powers. Within BiH itself, there is a perception that Bosnian/Herzegovinian interests are subjugated to those of the big powers that now dominate, including in the judiciary and prosecutor’s offices to the security services and much of the media, including Avaz. There is a growing perception that the policy interests and directives of the big powers dominate. Perhaps it is too much to expect that BiH, riven by division, will raise the right questions, any questions within the UN Security Council. If by chance though such questions were raised by BiH representatives, this might be the most progressive indication that Bosniana/Herzegovinians are finally taking charge of their country and challenging the powers of inertia and political opportunism dominating the state’s future.
Follow Up: (November 1, 2009)
The head of the OHR, High Representative Valentin Inzko, today responded to the allegations of a “smear squad” within his office. Ambassador Inzko, who also represents the European Union in Bosnia & Herzegovina, indicated that he has initiated an internal investigation into the work of this “Analytic Team.” Ambassador Inzko was not clear if he had prior knowledge of the type of work or even exiostence of this “Analytic Team” purportedly run by the American Deputy High Representative Rafi Gregorian.
Ambassador Inzko, who had also served as Austrian Ambassador to BiH in the 1990’s, tried to assure that all in the OHR are ultimately report to him. Nonetheless, it appears by asking for the new “investigation” of the work of this “Analytics Team,” High Rep Inzko does not necessarily know of its work or orientation, of course unless the announced investigation is merely a sham.
Investigating One Self & Bosses
We have reason to believe that like his predecesor(s), High Rep Inzko was probably not in control of this “Analytic Team” or perhaps even fully aware of its work. Ambassador Inzko stated that the “Analytic Team” initiated its work in the OHR under the mandate of his predecessor Miroslav Lajcak, currently Slovakia’s Foreign Minister. I have been personally told by a previous High Representative that he felt that US officials within the OHR, and particularly Rafi Gregorian, were acted completely beyond his control and implied out of the scope of propriety. (I will identify the High Representative and conversation to any investigation into the affair of the “Analytic Team” or “Smear Squad” as some have alleged. I will not though identify in the media this High Representative since the conversation was in the context of a private talk at a diplomatic reception).
One still wonders if the UN Security Council would investigate, in the least since the OHR is mandated by its action. Why would not the Court of BiH or the Office of BiH Prosecutor pursue its own investigation? Not Likely: the Court and Prosecutor’s Office are under direct State Department influence if not ouright control. The head of the “Corruption Bureau” in the Office of High Representative is actually a US national, Mr. Drew Engle, appointed and compensated by the US Embassy in Sarajevo. Otherwise, Mr. Engle would be obliged to investigate himself and those who hired him and directed his work. Regardless, this “affair” and its “investigation” brings into further question not only the appearance of conflicts of interest but the independence of the OHR.
