ISRAEL, IRAN and the BALKANS Part 4 – “BOSNIA”

ISRAEL’S SECURITY CONCERNS IN THE BALKANS

Adapted by Geopolitical Analysis and Monitoring from the original article written by Chris Deliso

BOSNIA: DEEP IRANIAN INVOLVEMENT 

Executive Summary:

• Non-sunni actor such as IRAN would have greater success in BOSNIA than in KOSOVO or ALBANIA
• BOSNIA is the most dangerous BALKAN country in terms of IRANIAN influence
• US counter-terrorism expert says BOSNIAN Gov't has not implicated expulsion of two IRANIAN diplomat’s labeled persona non grata.
• IRAN’S network was established in BOSNIA (BIH) more than 20 years ago and has infiltrated deeply in the institutions of BIH
• IRANIAN ‘diplomats’ in BIH were making regular trips to known mujahidin camps in the country
• Bakir Izetbegovic, the Muslim member of the BIH joint presidency, intervened to advance the interests of the IRANIANS
• Major competition for influence in BIH is being waged between the SAUDIS, TURKEY and IRAN

NON-SUNNI ACTOR SUCH AS IRAN WOULD HAVE GREATER SUCCESS IN BOSNIA THAN IN KOSOVO OR ALBANIA

We expect ISRAEL to remain most focused on BOSNIA as a possible site for IRANIAN and Hezbollah activity. Unlike other BALKAN countries, Tehran has an actual footprint here, going back to its deep involvement during the wars of the 1990’s. While BOSNIAKS are Sunni Muslims owing to the Ottoman occupation, they also have a diminished sense of ethnic nationality compared to ALBANIAN Muslims, who tend to use religion as a nationalizing tool in areas where it suits their interests, such as southwestern MACEDONIA. So in comparing populations, a non-Sunni actor such as Iran would have greater success in BOSNIA than in KOSOVO or ALBANIA. There is also greater inter-cultural activity on a regular basis between IRAN and BOSNIA, as for example with the January 2013 visit to Sarajevo of Iranian Minister of Culture and Islamic Guidance Seyyed Mohammad Hosseini.

BOSNIA IS THE MOST DANGEROUS BALKAN COUNTRY IN TERMS OF IRANIAN INFLUENCE

According to Dr. Karmon, BOSNIA is the most dangerous BALKAN country in terms of IRANIAN influence. The late Alija Izetbegovic welcomed IRANIAN military trainers during the 1990s’ war, and cultivated strong ties with the Islamic Republic. While the ISRAELI expert acknowledges that the IRANIAN ‘penetration’ in BOSNIA was largely diminished following the 1995 Dayton Accords, he maintains that “there remain pro-IRANIAN elements in the government, and IRAN is active through the embassy in Sarajevo and charities.”

Comment by Geopolitical Analysis and Monitoring: Many charitable NGOs in BOSNIA are funded by IRAN, with emphasis on establishing drug addiction centers, using “spiritual methods” in the quest against addictions, around the country. The reason of which is easy to interpret. Furthermore IRANIAN funded Medressas are a common site in BOSNIA, even though most of the staff and students are Sunni Muslims!

The following article published in the Jerusalem Post on 9^th of May 2013, seem to confirm allegations of IRAN’S deep involvement in BIH

'BOSNIA TELLS IRANIAN SPIES TO LEAVE TO NO AVAIL' 

By BENJAMIN WEINTHAL via Jerusalem Post

05/09/2013 04:10 

US COUNTER-TERRORISM EXPERT SAYS BOSNIAN GOV'T HAS NOT IMPLICATED EXPULSION OF TWO IRANIAN DIPLOMATS LABELED PERSONA NON GRATA. 

The government of BOSNIA- HERZEGOVINA declined to deport two alleged IRANIAN spies working as diplomats from its territory, after last month ordering the eviction of the two men.

News organizations in BOSNIA reported in April that Fahrudin Radoncic, minister of security of BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA, declared the IRANIANS persona non grata because their conduct violated diplomatic rules.

“BOSNIA TELLS IRANIAN SPIES TO LEAVE TO NO AVAIL,” John Schindler, a US counter-terrorism expert, wrote in his blog.

IRAN’S NETWORK WAS ESTABLISHED IN BOSNIA MORE THAN 20 YEARS AGO AND HAS INFILTRATED DEEPLY IN THE INSTITUTIONS OF BIH

In his blog (The XX committee), Schindler wrote that the Glas Srpske daily, based in the city of Banja Lukam reported on Friday that the two IRANIANS – Hamzeh Dolab Ahmad and Jadidi Sohrab – were still in BOSNIA.

In a telephone interview with The Jerusalem Post on Wednesday, Schindler said IRAN’S network was established in BOSNIA more than 20 years ago. “It is deep in the institutions” and the minister of security did “the right thing but is being stymied by the establishment,” he said.

 “Given the worrying extent of IRANIAN subversion and espionage in BOSNIA, including direct links to terrorism – ... Sarajevo had done nothing of substance to diminish IRANIAN espionage and support for terrorism in BOSNIA since the mid- 1990s, and even that consisted of half-measures,” Schindler wrote.

Asked why the alleged spies were allowed to stay in BOSNIA beyond the end of April deadline set by the security minister, Jasmin Gagula, a spokeswoman for BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA’S Foreign Ministry, wrote the Post on Wednesday, “This case is in the procedure. Because of the sensitivity and diplomatic nature of the case we cannot give you more information.”

IRANIAN ‘DIPLOMATS’ IN BIH WERE MAKING REGULAR TRIPS TO KNOWN MUJAHIDIN CAMPS IN THE COUNTRY

Schindler, a top expert on IRANIAN activities in the BALKANS, wrote that “BOSNIA’S security minister Fahrudin Radoncic is the first person in that job to take IRAN’S misdeeds seriously. He seems to have been pushed to action by revelations that IRANIAN ‘diplomats’ in Sarajevo were making regular trips to known mujahidin camps in the country, bringing cash and best wishes.”

ISRAELI intelligence officials apparently warned BOSNIAN officials about an “unnamed IRANIAN diplomat” who was present in THAILAND, GEORGIA and INDIA, where ISRAELIS faced terrorist attacks in 2011. It is unclear if one of the two diplomats believed to be spying in BOSNIA is the unnamed envoy of concern to ISRAELI intelligence because of links to terrorist operations.

Background Information: 

ISLAMIC TERRORISM AND THE BALKANS: THE PERFECT TRAINING GROUND and ISLAMIC CHARITABLE FUNDS (NGOS) ACROSS THE REGION ARE MUSHROOMING. Read entire article at:

http://geopoliticsrst.blogspot.com.ar/2013/01/the-balkans-organized-crime-and_25.html

More  Articles on BIH:

http://geopoliticsrst.blogspot.com.ar/2011/08/bosnia-cursed-by-european-union-eu.html

http://geopoliticsrst.blogspot.com.ar/2011/07/bosnia-european-unions-stepchild.html

http://geopoliticsrst.blogspot.com.ar/2012/07/bosnia-suffers-from-unresolved-issues.html

http://geopoliticsrst.blogspot.com.ar/2012/07/ethnic-rift-key-hindrance-to-bosnias.html

http://geopoliticsrst.blogspot.com.ar/2012/07/bosnia-2012.html

BAKIR IZETBEGOVIC, THE MUSLIM MEMBER OF THE BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA’S JOINT PRESIDENCY, INTERVENED TO ADVANCE THE INTERESTS OF THE IRANIANS

Schindler wrote that “the Ministry of Security’s order, conveyed to Tehran through Foreign Ministry channels, stated that Hamzeh Dolab Ahmad and Jadidi Sohrab, the second and the third secretaries in the Embassy of the Islamic Republic of IRAN in Sarajevo, were to leave BOSNIA by 30 April. Ahmad and Sohrab had been identified as IRANIAN intelligence officers by BOSNIAN security officials beyond any reasonable doubt, with connections to known extremists in BOSNIA.”

Glas Srpske’s investigation reported that Bakir Izetbegovic, the Muslim member of the BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA’S joint presidency, intervened to advance the interests of the IRANIANs.

MAJOR COMPETITION FOR INFLUENCE IN BIH IS BEING WAGED BETWEEN THE SAUDIS, TURKEY AND IRAN

ISRAEL has however attempted to forge new corrective diplomatic alliances in BOSNIA due to the country’s singular political structure. Thanks to the pro-ISRAELI, Orthodox Christian Republika Srpska entity, the Sarajevo government’s hope of supporting the 2012 Palestinian resolution at the UN was foiled. (The country abstained). This added to pre-existing anti-SERBIAN sentiment among local Muslims, which have led to rumors that also tend to take on anti-ISRAELI sentiments. Indeed, one prominent local Muslim in Skopje stated that “the SERBS always support ISRAEL” and that “[former ISRAEL Foreign Minister Avigdor] Lieberman owns four villas in Banja Luka, that city where [ISRAELI leaders] spend a lot of time!” The trickle-down effect of such negative speculation and rumor will fuel existing anti-ISRAELI sentiment among Muslims in the region. 

Comment by Geopolitical Analysis and Monitoring:  

ISRAEL has close to a million RUSSIAN immigrants, not all of which are of Jewish origin, thus it comes of no surprised that RUSSIAN orthodox immigrants from ISRAEL tend to visit and maintain real estates in Banja Luka, the capital city of Republika SRPSKA the SERB- BOSNIAN enclave of BIH , just like former ISRAELI Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman, who happens to be also of RUSSIAN descent.

At present, it is difficult to say whether BOSNIA could be the launching-pad for IRANIAN or Hezbollah terrorism, but there is unquestionable IRANIAN influence in the country. In fact, the major competition for control is being waged now between the SAUDIS, TURKEY and IRAN. The latter has the least chance of prevailing in the ‘hearts and minds’ of BOSNIAKS, but this does not preclude the possibility that it could organize terrorist activities via its established logistical infrastructure in BOSNIA. 

BOSNIA’S CLOSE PROXIMITY AND MUSLIM DIASPORA CONNECTIONS TO AUSTRIA ARE OF CONCERN TO ISRAEL AND THE USA

The country’s proximity and Muslim diaspora connections to AUSTRIA, a country singled out by ISRAELI, AMERICAN and BALKAN security officials for being especially soft on terrorists is another worrying indicator. It is well known that Vienna is a hub not only for IRANIAN intelligence activity, but also a nerve center for radical Islamists with Balkan origins and great influence among radical circles in the region.

In regards to above mentioned allegations read:

BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA: A SAFE HAVEN FOR RADICAL ISLAMIST FRACTIONS? 

NAWAF AL HAZMI, a SAUDI. He was a September 11th hijacker. He fought in BiH in 1995.

KHALID AL-MIHDHAR, from YEMEN. He also was a September 11th hijacker. He also fought in BiH with the foreign mujahideen battalion in Bosnia in 1995

SHEIKH OMAR ABD-AL RAHMAN (convicted of the 1993 attack on the WTC) was connected with the so-called humanitarian organization TWRA, which was a cover for terrorists. Then BOSNIAN president ALIJA IZETBEGOVIC made personal guarantees for TWRA’s general director and personal friend ELFATIH HASSANEIN, so he could open an account with Die Erste Osterreich Bank in Vienna, Austria in 1993.

MOHAMMED HAYDAR ZAMMAR, who recruited MOHAMED ATTA into Al-Qaeda, had a terrorist base in BOSNIA. Zammar is also responsible for recruiting two of Atta’s lieutenants, RAMZI BINALSAHIB and SAID BAHAJI.

OSAMA BIN LADEN received a BOSNIAN passport from the Embassy in Vienna, Austria. Many other Al-Qaeda members were issued BIH passports, which enabled them to continue their terrorist activities.

READ THE ENTIRE ARTICLE  AT:

http://geopoliticsrst.blogspot.com.ar/2013/01/the-balkans-organized-crime-and_25.html

Further Background Information: WAHHABISM IN BOSNIA

See: http://geopoliticsrst.blogspot.com.ar/2012/07/wahhabism-in-bosnia-herzegovina.html