Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06BELGRADE1242
2006-08-07 13:49:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Belgrade
Cable title:  

TFLE01: Serbia's Response to the Lebanon Crisis

Tags:  PREL UNSC SR 
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VZCZCXRO2675
RR RUEHAST
DE RUEHBW #1242 2191349
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 071349Z AUG 06
FM AMEMBASSY BELGRADE
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 9107
INFO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE
UNCLAS BELGRADE 001242 

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR EUR/SCE NEA/IPA AND NEA/ELA

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL UNSC SR
SUBJECT: TFLE01: Serbia's Response to the Lebanon Crisis


UNCLAS BELGRADE 001242

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR EUR/SCE NEA/IPA AND NEA/ELA

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL UNSC SR
SUBJECT: TFLE01: Serbia's Response to the Lebanon Crisis



1. (sbu) President Tadic issued an official statement supporting
an "immediate and sustainable end" to hostilities. The government of
PM Kostunica has so far declined to take an official position on the
Lebanon crisis.


2. (sbu) Belgrade daily Kurir reported a statement by Rasim
Ljajic, leader of the Democratic Party of the Sandzak, criticizing
the GOS for keeping silent on Israel's attacks on civilians in
Lebanon, saying it is "a fight against Muslims" rather than against
terrorism. Ljajic told us privately he had both "humanitarian and
political" reasons for issuing his statement. Politically, he said
he must be sensitive to his contituents, who are mainly Muslims
sympathetic to the civilians in Lebanon [Note: local elections in
his muslim-majority home district will be held in September. End
note.] Also, he said he personally fears the situation there could
contribute to the radicalization of Islam (even in Muslim parts of
Serbia),and that it has the potential to create more terrorists.


3. (u) Kurir also ran an article on key parties' positions on the
crisis, noting that the ultra-nationalist Serbian Radical PArty
(SRS) condemned the actions of Israel, comparing Lebanon to Serbia
in 1999 under the NATO bombings. A spokesman for G-17+ said the
international community should work for an immediate cease-fire and
settlement of the conflict, while the DS spokesman said he
understands both sides, and that the USG finds itself "between a
rock and a hard place." DSS made no public statement.


4. (sbu) MoD contacts told us recently that they might be
interested in contributing to a UN-led PKO/stabilization force, but
could not commit to any specific contribution (past PKO
contributions have been of the medical team variety, and a similar
unit is currently being readied for potential participation in other
regions). Serbian acting CHOD Ponos also expressed interest.
President Tadic's foreign affairs advisor, Vuk Jeremic, told us that
while he was open to the idea, it was premature. Jeremic said he
would raise it with Tadic.

POLT