Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06BELGRADE1015
2006-06-23 14:27:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Belgrade
Cable title:  

DISSOLUTION OF STATE UNION OF SERBIA AND MONTENEGRO -

Tags:  PGOV PREL EAGR SR MW 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXRO8915
RR RUEHAST
DE RUEHBW #1015/01 1741427
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 231427Z JUN 06
FM AMEMBASSY BELGRADE
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 8886
INFO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE
RUEHRC/USDA FAS WASHDC 0242
RUFOADA/JAC MOLESWORTH RAF MOLESWORTH UK
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 BELGRADE 001015 

SIPDIS

SIPDIS
SENSITIVE

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL EAGR SR MW
SUBJECT: DISSOLUTION OF STATE UNION OF SERBIA AND MONTENEGRO -
UPDATE 2

REF: Belgrade 957

BELGRADE 00001015 001.2 OF 002


SENSITIVE BUT UNCLASSIFIED - PLEASE HANDLE ACCORDINGLY

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 BELGRADE 001015

SIPDIS

SIPDIS
SENSITIVE

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL EAGR SR MW
SUBJECT: DISSOLUTION OF STATE UNION OF SERBIA AND MONTENEGRO -
UPDATE 2

REF: Belgrade 957

BELGRADE 00001015 001.2 OF 002


SENSITIVE BUT UNCLASSIFIED - PLEASE HANDLE ACCORDINGLY


1. (U) Introduction: The Republics of Serbia and of Montenegro will
need to take a series of steps to implement the dissolution of the
State Union. Belgrade and Podgorica posts are reporting
periodically on the actions being taken by the republics and by the
USG to ensure the peaceful and, to the extent possible, seamless
transition. This is the second message in this series. End
introduction.

Upcoming Travel to U.S.
--------------


2. (SBU) Montenegrin President Vujanovic indicated to Ambassador
Polt that he would like to visit Washington at the earliest possible
opportunity for meetings at the highest possible level. Action on
this and all other Montenegro issues has now been transferred to our
presence in Podgorica.

State Union Institutions
--------------

Serbia:


3. (U) The GoS appointed a coordinating body for implementing the
succession agreement. This body is comprised or FinMin Dinkic,
FonMin Draskovic, DefMin Stankovic, Foreign Trade Minister
Parivodic, and NBS Governor Jelasic.

Montenegro:


4. (U) Minister for Foreign Economic Relations Gordana Djurovic said
the GoM will quickly establish new institutions, such as the
Institute for Standardization, Measures and Precious Metals, and for
Protection of Intellectual Property, which previously existed at the
level of the state union.

Internally Displaced Persons
--------------

Serbia:


5. (U) Nothing to report.

Montenegro:


6. (U) On June 20, Zeljko Sofranac, the Montenegrin Commissioner for
Refugees, said that 25,000 refugees (four percent of the population)
remain in Montenegro. He described a very difficult situation,
where 35 percent of the refugees have health problems and over 90
percent are unemployed. Sofranac emphasized that Montenegro lacks
the resources to adequately address the needs of this population and
will need international assistance to alleviate the situation.

Economics and Finance
--------------


7. (U) The first independent Montenegrin citizen to meet POTUS is

an economics student in Vienna. Interviewed in the press, the
student said he would thank the President for United States
recognition of Montenegro as an independent state, and would
encourage U.S. investment in Montenegro.

Military
--------------

Both:


8. (U) SaM Supreme Defense Council ceased to exist, transferring
competencies to the presidents of Montenegro, Filip Vujanovic, and
Serbia, Boris Tadic. On June 3, the Chief of Staff, General Ljubomir
Jokic was relieved of duty.

Serbia:


9. (U) Nothing to report.

Montenegro:


10. (U) On June 8, 2006, the GoM adopted the Proposal on the
Transfer of Military Property to the Republic of Montenegro. This
proposal is pursuant to the Constitutional Charter and, providing
that the property of the member states is defined within 30 days,
accedes the property to the territorial body in which it is located.



11. (U) On June 9, President Vujanovic appointed General Jovan

BELGRADE 00001015 002.2 OF 002


Lakcevic as the acting Chief of Staff of Montenegrin Headquarters,
and the real-admiral Dragan Samardzic as his deputy.


12. (U) The Montenegrin media reports that 552 members of the
Montenegro military intend to transfer to the Serbian military. On
the other hand, only 15 members of the Serbian military wish to
transfer to Montenegro. The media reports that both sides have
until July 31 to resolve personnel issues.


13. (U) Montenegrin media reported on June 21 that the GoM decided
to establish a Ministry of Defense. PM Djukanovic will be acting
MinDef until a new government is formed after autumn elections.


Agreements and Laws
--------------

Montenegro:


14. (SBU) Deputy FM Radulovic told poloff that, to the greatest
extent possible, the GoM would like to succeed to as many bilateral
and multilateral treaties as possible, rather than renegotiating
such texts.


15. (U) FM Vlahovic has informed the USG that the GoM is interested
in quickly signing both a SOFA and an Article 98 agreement.


16. (U) The set of laws in the sector of intellectual property and
technical regulations and standards which had, according to the
Constitutional Charter, been within the authority of the state
union, are still in force in Montenegro, even after the proclamation
of independence. The Ministry of Foreign Economic Relations and
European Integration said the GoM will adopt a decision taking over
the laws.

Foreign Affairs: Multilateral Organizations
--------------

Serbia:


17. (U) Nothing to report.

Montenegro:


18. (U) Press reports that the OSCE is expected to admit Montenegro
as a member on June 21, and that the UN is expected to admit
Montenegro on June 28 at its next General Assembly.

Foreign Affairs
--------------

Serbia:


19. (U) Serbia recognized Montenegro on June 15. The GoM and the
GoS will establish diplomatic relations on June 22, when GoM FM
Vlahovic pays an official visit to Belgrade. The GoS decided to
allow dual citizenship to Montenegrins with registered places of
residence on Serbian territory and also to give Montenegrin students
equal terms for studying in Serbia as Serbian nationals.

Montenegro:


20. (U) From June 15 to June 21, 13 additional states recognized
Montenegro: Ukraine, Denmark, Brazil, Luxembourg, Sweden, Japan,
Germany, Cyprus, Spain, Norway, Canada, Ukraine, and Slovenia.

Cross-Border Travel and Trade
--------------


21. (U) Airport authorities in Belgrade and Podgorica continue to
treat traffic between the two countries as domestic, not
international.

Consular Affairs
--------------


22. (U) Embassy Belgrade began issuing "A" and "G" visas to GoM
officials as of the week of June 12, 2006.

POLT