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E.O. 12958:N/A
TAGS: MARR PREL NATO SR
SUBJECT: Serbian Reactions to PfP Invitation

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SUMMARY
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1. (SBU) 1. (SBU) President Tadic has warmly welcomed
NATO's decision to invite Serbia to join the Partnership
for Peace (PfP). In a statement to the nation, Tadic
claimed credit for his own efforts and pledged that the
invitation did not absolve Serbia of its outstanding ICTY
commitments. FONMIN Draskovic and Minister of Defense
Stankovic also issued positive reactions to the invitation.
Prime Minister Kostunica's reaction has been
disappointingly short-sighted and marginally defiant. He
claimed that the invitation would reinforce NATO's respect
for Serbia's territorial integrity (a reference to Kosovo
final status), and he cited it as proof that conditionality
as a policy is misguided. The PM's office has
significantly played down the importance of the invitation
as a step toward Serbia's Euro-Atlantic integration.
SEPTEL will report on our conversations with Serbian
officials. End summary.

Belgrade Media Speculating on Membership
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2. (SBU) Following days of speculation, news of an
impending PFP invitation reached Serbia's airwaves late in
the evening of 11/28. Interestingly, prime time coverage
earlier the same evening reported the NATO SYG's
announcement that Serbia, Montenegro, and B-H would not be
invited into PfP. All major news outlets reported on 11/29
that NATO leaders in Riga would likely invite Serbia into
PfP that day, with many speculating that membership would
be conditioned in some way for Serbia and Bosnia. BETA
News Agency additionally suggested that the last minute USG
decision was a product of the White House overcoming strong
objections in the Department of State, which opposed any
relaxation of conditionality for PfP.

Government/DSS: Diplomatic Campaign Successful
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3. (SBU) Reacting to the invitation on 11/29, PM Kostunica
said that PfP membership will ensure Serbia's territorial
integrity, including retention of Kosovo as part of Serbia.
It was a welcome step at a moment when Serbia was fighting
to keep its territory intact, he said, adding

that he hoped
it would influence Kosovo final status negotiations.
Kostunica also claimed that the invitation demonstrated
that the process of European integration was continuing and
that every attempt to set conditions for it is "wrong."
Following initial reports late on 11/28 that a PfP
invitation was in the offing, GOS spokesman Srdjan Djuric
adopted a similar, marginally defiant tone. Djuric
welcomed the prospect of an invitation, judging that it
meant that NATO's policy of setting conditions on Serbia,
which he assessed as negative for Serbia, has now been
"abandoned." Djuric also asserted that PfP membership for
Serbia would force NATO members to respect Serbia's
territorial integrity and sovereignty, a clear reference to
the Kosovo final status issue. Over the last two weeks,
the PM, Djuric, and the DSS have repeatedly warned NATO
member states not to violate "again" international law by
recognizing an independent Kosovo.

Draskovic: PfP Membership Positive for Serbia
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4. (SBU) FONMIN Vuk Draskovic also came out early and
publicly in favor of the decision for Serbia's inclusion
into PfP. Draskovic first called Ambassador Polt and
informed him about what he would say in the press on the
issue. Draskovic's statement, picked up by all media, said
that he expected to hear good news from Riga, and said that
he thought an invitation would arrive for Serbia's
membership in PfP either on Wednesday, or shortly
thereafter. Draskovic told B92 that the US and France were
reviewing their firm stance on conditionality. (Comment:
Draskovic, the foremost proponent of unconditional PfP
membership for the last two years, has consistently told us
that PfP before Mladic is the best way to ensure the
general's eventual capture, and the best way to send a

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strong signal to anti-reformists in and out of the military
that Serbia is irrevocably on the path to NATO and the EU.
Draskovic also undoubtedly hopes to be associated with the
decision as a way to boost his polling numbers ahead of the
January 21 parliamentary elections. End Comment.

Tadic Welcomes PfP
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5. (SBU) President Tadic welcomed Serbia's acceptance into
PfP, saying that it is important for Serbian citizens, the
state and the army. Tadic said that this invitation now was
a result of the reforms made since 2003 (Comment: i.e.,
since he first began as Defense Minister and continuing
through his tenure as President. End Comment) and noted
that this was good news also for potential investors who
will see PfP as a strong indication of Serbia's commitment
to reforms. At the same time, Tadic stressed that PfP
membership did not resolve the problem of ICTY cooperation.
"Serbia must close out this issue, and all PIFWCs must be
in The Hague," he said.

Defense Minister Positive on PfP
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6. (SBU) Minister of Defense Stankovic has welcomed the
invitation. Stankovic expressed dismay in a meeting
earlier today with the British Ambassador and DATT that
there was no advance confirmation that the invitation was
going to be offered to Serbia, and he was displeased by
what he perceived as efforts by the Kostunica government to
take credit for it. Stankovic, along with other senior
people in the ministry, have told us privately that they
see the decision as a direct result of their lobbying
efforts with NATO Embassies and intensive ongoing dialogue
with NATO partners and DoD.

MOORE