DISSOLUTION OF STATE UNION OF SERBIA AND MONTENEGRO -

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