GOI AGREES WITH USG ON NEED FOR SERBIAN ELECTION

C O N F I D E N T I A L ROME 005093

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/17/2012
TAGS: PREL SR MN IT OSCE
SUBJECT: GOI AGREES WITH USG ON NEED FOR SERBIAN ELECTION
REFORM

REF: STATE 202845

CLASSIFIED BY: POLITICAL MINISTER COUNSELOR TOM COUNTRYMAN
CONFIDENTIAL

PAGE 02 ROME 05093 180852Z


1. (C) ON OCTOBER 16, MFA BALKAN OFFICE DIRECTOR MAURIZIO
MASSARI TOLD POLOFF THAT THE GOI AGREED COMPLETELY WITH USG
THE USG VIEW EXPRESSED REFTEL THAT THE IC MUST PUT PRESSURE
ON SERB PM DJINDJIC TO RECONVENE PARLIAMENT IN ORDER TO AMEND
THE ELECTORAL LAW IN LINE WITH ODIHR RECOMMENDATIONS.
MASSARI HAD JUST RETURNED FORM A MEETING IN BRUSSELS ON
OCTOBER 15 DURING WHICH HE HAD WORKED WITH HIS EU MEMBER
STATE COUNTERPARTS TO CRAFT HIREP SOLANA'S TALKING POINTS FOR
HIS CALL TO DJINDJIC REFERRED TO IN REFTEL.


2. (C) MASSARI SAID THAT DJINDJIC'S POINTS WERE STRONG, BUT
PERHAPS NOT AS STRONG AS HE WOULD HAVE WANTED. NEGOTIATION
AT 15 IN THE EU TENDS TO MOVE STATEMENTS TOWARDS THE "LEAST
COMMON DENOMINATOR," CONTINUED MASSARI, BUT NONETHELESS, THE
POINTS WILL COMMUNICATE TO DJINDJIC THE EU'S VIEW THAT SERB
ELECTION LAWS SHOULD FALL INTO LINE WITH OSCE/ODIHR
RECOMMENDATIONS ASAP.


3. (C) THE GOI PLANS TO DELIVER ITS OWN MESSAGE THROUGH ITS
EMBASSY IN BELGRADE TO DJINDJIC AND OTHER SERB LEADERS. THE
STATEMENT WAS STILL IN DRAFT FORM, SO MASSARI WAS NOT
SPECIFIC ON THE WORDING OR RECIPIENTS OTHER THAN DJINDJIC,
BUT THE DEMARCHE "WOULD BE STRONGER" THAN THE ONE DELIVERED
BY SOLANA. MASSARI PROMISED POLOFF A READOUT OF THE SERB
REACTION TO THE DEMARCHE AS SOON AS IT WAS AVAILABLE.
SEMBLER

CONFIDENTIAL

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2002ROME05093 - Classification: CONFIDENTIAL