Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06BELGRADE1842
2006-11-13 06:36:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Belgrade
Cable title:  

SERBIA'S SANDZAK -- DEMOCRATIC STANDARDS DROP AS

Tags:  KISL KPAO KIRF PREL PHUM SR 
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TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 9720
INFO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 BELGRADE 001842 

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KISL KPAO KIRF PREL PHUM SR
SUBJECT: SERBIA'S SANDZAK -- DEMOCRATIC STANDARDS DROP AS
LOCAL BOSNIAK POLITICAL MACHINE TEAMS UP WITH GOS


UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 BELGRADE 001842

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KISL KPAO KIRF PREL PHUM SR
SUBJECT: SERBIA'S SANDZAK -- DEMOCRATIC STANDARDS DROP AS
LOCAL BOSNIAK POLITICAL MACHINE TEAMS UP WITH GOS



1. SUMMARY: A recent visit to the largest city in Serbia's
Sandzak area, the home of Serbia's largest Bosniak minority
community, shows the local political machine of Sulejman
Ugljanin, a close ally of PM Kostunica, firmly in control.
A murky election-day shoot-out during a Belgrade-backed
recall of the local assembly several months ago has helped
Ugljanin consolidate his control there. The result is a
serious set back for national democratic light and ICTY
point man Rasim Ljajic that has prompted the local moderate
Mufti to take on a more overt political role. End Summary


2. Novi Pazar, the central city of Serbia's Sandzak
region, is the most important city for Serbia's Bosniak
community, as a historic trading post on the road linking
Bosnia and Kosovo. Sulejman Ugljanin, an aging former
boxer, keeps a firm hand on the city's local political
machine controlled by his Party of Democratic Action (SDA).
Ugljanin is not encumbered by political principle; his sole
motivation is to retain power and prevent any meaningful
opposition to his rule. Once a strong proponent of
autonomy for the Sandzak and a supporter of the DS,
Ugljanin left the DS caucus in 2004 and joined Kostunica's
coalition; an amazing about face considering the PM's anti-
autonomy stance. For Ugljanin, the chance of enlisting the
government in his fight against his former deputy and
erstwhile rival Ljajic was too much to resist. For
Kostunica, it was an equally easy decision that allowed him
to jettison the troublesome Nebojsa Covic from his
coalition. Kostunica offered Ugljanin key deputy posts in
the Ministry of Capital Investments (roads and
infrastructure are critical to the mountainous Sandzak) and
the Ministry of Local Governance (critical for interpreting
national law on local governance),literally pulling the
rug from under Ljajic's feet.

Democratic Hopes Fall Prey to New Coalition
--------------


3. In the 2004 Novi Pazar elections, Ugljanin was dealt a
heavy blow when Ljajic and his Sandzak Democratic Party
(SDP) were able to get control of the city assembly. Once
assured of Belgrade's support, Ugljanin struck back,

orchestrating an outrageous recall vote of the assembly and
intimidating Ljajic's allies, including the local Mufti,
moderate Muamar Zukorlic. Shortly before the recall vote,
Zukorlic was stopped by police on his way back to Novi
Pazar after flying back from one of his periodic religious
visits to Iran. Even though he had not been stopped in the
airport upon arrival, police stopped Zukorlic on the road,
searching his vehicle and luggage. The Mufti refused to
allow his personal bags to be searched. Rumors circulated
in the press afterwards suggesting that Zukorlic was
carrying significant funds from Tehran that were to be used
for political purposes. Embassy sources confirmed
Zukorlic's moderate political leanings, notwithstanding his
peiodic trips to Iran and suggested that the inciden had
been arranged by Ugljanin's machine to warn ukorlic
aainst any involvement in the recall voe.


4. Local assembly elections in Novi Pazar o September 10,
2006, pitted Ugljanin's ocal city machine against Rasim
Ljajic's SDP. There were scuffles and incidents during the
course of the day, culminating in the shooting death of a
List for Sandzak candidate (party headed by Ugljanin) for
councilperson, Ruzdija Durovic, outside a polling station.
Two people from Ljajic's SDP were arrested for the
shooting, after which Ljajic pulled his people out of all
polling stations. As a result Ugljanin won control of the
assembly, gaining 27 of 47 seats, while Ljajic's SDP, in a
coalition with DS and G17 Plus, won 12 seats. Following
the shooting Ljajic stated that his party would not take
part in future elections without OSCE observers present,
and declared a boycott of the assembly election. Ljajic's
boycott meant the withdrawal of his party from the
assembly. Of the 12 seats, the SDP gave two seats to the
DS, two to the Green Party, and one to G17 Plus.

Ljajic Fights to Save His Political Life
--------------


5. The events in Sandzak considerably complicate Ljajic's
efforts in Novi Pazar and undermine his political standing
not only among Sandzakis but at the national level as well.
However, Ljajic is fighting to remain on the political
scene. His initial efforts to start a minority coalition
list for the next parliamentary elections have been
overtaken by a generous offer from the Democratic Party
(DS) for him to run on the DS list. The deal offers him
campaign funds, a promised ministerial post and several
vice ministerial posts. The catch is that it will be the
DS, and not the SDA, that controls the party seats,
constricting Ljajic's ability to maneuver on issues that

BELGRADE 00001842 002 OF 003


directly affect his constituency. It is obvious that
Ljajic recently lost some influence as a result of the Novi
Pazar elections. However, he still has opportunities to
overcome this setback.

Conflict with the Islamic Community
--------------


6. Ugljanin, encouraged by his electoral victory, has
launched public and legal attacks against Mufti Zukorlic.
Esad Dzudzevic, MP in the Serbian Parliament and Ugljanin's
associate, is encouraging Bosniaks to sever ties with the
SIC as long as Zukorlic remains the head. Zukorlic claims
that Ugljanin won unfairly and now wants to co-opt the SIC,
starting with Zukorlic's ouster. One of the main points of
contention recently has been control of the Islamic Faculty
building, located across the street from the city hall in
Novi Pazar. This building was recently vandalized, and the
Mufti believes it is just one part of the ongoing attacks
against the Islamic Community. Ugljanin claims that the
problem with the Faculty was the result of a question of
ownership. He said he knew nothing of the issue until the
Mufti organized a protest. Ugljanin considers this an issue
to be solved by the courts, and says that he will not take
sides. He admitted, however, his anger with the Islamic
Community for making political statements (at local
mosques) during the pre-election silence period. The Mufti
on the other hand claims that he had a sort of "gentlemen's
agreement" with the current owner of the building that they
would share the space temporarily until ownership is
resolved. The Mufti believes that Ugljanin is behind the
vandalism as well as the building dispute.

The Referendum in Sandzak
--------------


7. Ugljanin's close relationship with Kostunica and the
ongoing fight in the Sandzak community also presented a
confusing picture of Bosniak support for the Constitution
in the referendum held in late October. Ugljanin was an
ardent supporter of the constitution, claiming excellent
relations between the Serbs and the Bosniaks in the region.
He admitted that the Constitution was not perfect, but
argued that the three major demands of his List for Sandzak
party, List for Sandzak, were accepted, to include
"balanced and proportional regional development." He was
willing to compromise on other points because he believed
that this was important to the region.


8. The opposition took a different position. In mid
October the Meshihat of the Islamic Community of Sandzak,
(also referred to as the Supreme Council, which provides
Islamic spiritual leadership),along with five Bosniak
parties, signed a declaration stating that the new
constitution in Serbia ignores the demands of the Bosniaks
and marginalizes them further. In this declaration they ask
that President Tadic and Prime Minister Kostunica begin a
dialogue about resolving the status of the Sandzak and of
Bosniaks living in Serbia. This document was signed by
Mufti Zukorlic, Ljajic (representing the SDP),Dzemail
Suljevic (People's Movement of Sandzak),Fevzija Muric
(Stranka za Sandzak),Tarik Imamovic (Sandzak Alternative),
and Zehnija Bulic (Sandzak Democratic Union). Ugljanin's
party, List for Sandzak, did not sign.


9. The results of the referendum were overwhelmingly in
support of the constitution. But the anomalous results
(the Sandzak was listed as the part of Serbia most in
support of the Constitution, with over 60 percent of the
population coming out in favor -- this in spite of
controversy surrounding provisions on minority protections
and regional autonomy) and secret monitoring of specific
polling stations suggests widespread election day tampering
at the Sandzak polling stations. More troubling yet, were
reports, following the referendum, of a gun clash in Novi
Pazar between a small group of Wahabis -- not a regular
feature of the local Islamic community -- and others
outside the main mosque.

Lack of Free Press
--------------


10. Journalists in Novi Pazarsay that they are
increasingly prevented from doig their jobs due to the
lack of freedom of the pess. Generally, they are not
allowed to ask quesions, but rather only to report on the
situation. For example, when the shooting incident occurred
in September, journalists who tried to cover the story
returned home in fear for their safety.

Comment
--------------

BELGRADE 00001842 003 OF 003




11. The Sandzak has significant regional influence as a
minority Bosniak area in Serbia that maintains close and
sensitive trade links with Bosnia, Montenegro and Kosovo.
Ugljanin's shenanigans over the last several months,
suggest he would go to any lengths in his myopic and driven
effort to eliminate the local opposition. Not only is this
dangerous for Sandzak -- by lowering democratic standards
and encouraging a dangerous mix of Islam and politics -- it
is also bad for Rasim Ljajic, one of the more promising
democrats on the national scene. We are discussing with
our GOTV implementers (NDI, IRI) how we can best support
Ljajic's SDP and other parties in his coalition in the
likely January parliamentary elections. We will also
continue to consider how to use our direct engagement (e.g.,
Ambassadorial visit, AID efforts) in Novi Pazar and in the
Sandzak region more generally, to support democratic
standards.

POLT