Bishop Artemije Reviews Trip/Repeats Jihad

UNCLAS BELGRADE 001329 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV PHUM PREL SR SUBJECT: Bishop Artemije Reviews Trip/Repeats Jihad Arguments ¶1. (SBU) Summary: Serbian Orthodox Bishop Artemije (Gracanica) met with the Ambassador on August 7, one of several meetings Artemije held in Belgrade to "communicate the results of his recent trip to the U.S." Artemije expressed satisfaction with his trip, repeating unsubstantiated warnings about a jihadist future in Kosovo (a message he said had been well received by interlocutors in DC, including in the U.S. Senate). Ambassador took strong issue with Artemije's inflammatory rhetoric and unwillingness to work constructively toward a better future for Serbs in Kosovo. The Ambassador urged him to work closely with his moderate and progressive colleagues -- such as Bishops Teodosije and Gregorije -- on a positive approach that would help encourage Serbs in Kosovo to contribute to a just and lasting settlement there. End Summary ¶2. (SBU) Artemije's opening pleasantries, characterizing his "successful" visit in the U.S. quickly hardened in response to the Ambassador's questions and comments on the unhelpful nature of his rhetoric. The Ambassador observed there were no signs of the kind of jihadist activity in Kosovo that the world had seen in Iraq, Afghanistan and elsewhere. Why not work more closely and more in sync with his fellow Bishops, whose tone and openness to dialogue and reconciliation (e.g. Teodosije and Gregorije's invitation to the Albanian leadership to Orthodox Easter Services) were actually helping build bridges? ¶3. (SBU) Artemije said Serbs could not trust war criminals who were insincere about reconciliation. Serbs there would never accept independence or partition. He launched into a very critical and at times vindictive assessment of the failings of the international community. The civilian and international presences, he charged, had done nothing to protect the Serbs in Kosovo and had given the Albanians cover to engage in atrocities with the Kumanovo Agreement and Resolution 1244. Not a single Albanian has been convicted, or even indicted, for crimes against Serbs, he claimed. Without the return of those who fled, there would not be a resolution of the problems. ¶4. (SBU) The Ambassador noted that the difficulties in Kosovo were caused in large part by the actions taken by the Milosevic regime, which, he observed, the Bishop had strongly and forcefully opposed. Progress in Kosovo would depend on the good will and cooperation of Serbs, Albanians and others on the ground. Why not work to encourage that good will instead of cultivating hatred and recrimination? In any event, said the Ambassador, the international community would continue to work for a balanced and reasonable settlement for the Serbs of Kosovo and the U.S. would continue to risk the lives of its soldiers and to provide resources to ensure a just and lasting settlement. He encouraged Artemije to work constructively with other Bishops to that same end. ¶5. (SBU) Comment: It seemed clear from Artemije's presentation and the discussion that followed that he has no intention of playing a constructive role in the settlement process. Artemije was accompanied by his assistant Iguman Simeon and Professor Miroljub Jevtic, a "specialist" on Islam terrorism at the University of Belgrade -- we expect more of the same jihadist mongering from Artemije as negotiations come to a close. One well- placed SOC source recently told us that Simeon was a virulent hard-liner who strongly influenced Artemije's opinions. We would welcome any additional observations from USOP. End comment POLT