PFP REACTIONS UPDATE - GOS Private Reactions

UNCLAS BELGRADE 001956

SIPDIS

SIPDIS
SENSITIVE

DEPT PLS PASS U/S BURNS AND A/S FRIED

E.O.12958: N/A
TAGS: MARR PREL NATO SR
SUBJECT: PFP REACTIONS UPDATE - GOS Private Reactions

REF: BELGRADE 1943


1. (SBU) The Ambassador spoke on November 29 with President Tadic,
FONMIN Draskovic, and DEFMIN Stankovic. PM Kostunica returned the
Ambassador's call on November 30. The Ambassador congratulated his
interlocutors, noting the Secretary's efforts to forge consensus on
the issue. He said NATO and the USG would now be looking for an
energetic and positive response to this gesture of goodwill towards
Serbia -- including unstinting efforts to complete ICTY cooperation
and continue on the path of defense reform. He also expressed
disappointment at the GoS official statement and its inaccurate
linkage of PfP and Kosovo status.


2. (SBU) President Tadic welcomed the PfP invitation and reassured
the Ambassador that full ICTY cooperation remained a top priority
for him and his party. He echoed the Ambassador's disappointment
over the official GoS response. Tadic said he was committed to
finalizing the appointment of reformist Genral Zdravko Ponos as the
Serbian Chief of the General Staff, noting he had sent a formal
letter to DEFMIN Stankovic instructing him to forward the
appointment paperwork. Tadic said he was committed to doing
everything in his power "within the limits of the law" to make the
appointment happen. DEFMIN Stankovic, in his call, thanked the USG
for helping move the PfP issue forward and avowed to the Ambassador
that Ponos' appointment would be "no problem."


3. (SBU) Draskovic also welcomed the decision, and agreed that it
was improper for the GoS to formally link the PfP offer to Kosovo
status. Draskovic said he would appreciate a public acknowledgement
from NATO and the USG of his role in moving the PfP debate forward,
noting his long commitment to PfP as a tool for apprehending Mladic
and strengthening reformers in Serbia. The Ambassador said we would
look for an opportunity to recognize his contributions in an
appropriate manner.


4. (SBU) Kostunica pointedly reiterated his interpretation of the
PfP offer as NATO acknowledgement of Serbian territorial integrity
including Kosovo. He also stressed that the Alliance decision meant
that its policy of conditions had failed. Kostunica hoped that now
NATO members and partners of Serbia would work with Serbia to
prevent imposition of Kosovo independence. The Ambassador warned
the PM against misinterpretation of this important U.S./NATO
gesture. This was an offer of partnership and integration along
with the expectation that the gesture would be reciprocated by
Serbia's democratic leaders in a renewed commitment to constructive
and realistic relations. U.S. policy on Kosovo, the Ambassador
noted, had not changed. The PM and the Ambassador agreed to meet in
person the week of December 4 for further discussion.


5. (SBU) Meanwhile, all Belgrade media were dominated November 30
by the PfP decision. As reported reftel, PM Kostunica commented
publicly along the lines of his conversation with the Ambassador
that "as member of PfP, we are much more secure that the integrity
of Serbia will be preserved and that Kosovo and Metohija will remain
in Serbia with the appropriate...and essential autonomy." The PM
also said that "conditionality is not the way to enter into
integrations, whether it is PfP or the EU."


6. (SBU) According to press reports, ICTY chief prosecutor Carla
del Ponte attacked NATO's decision as a reward for non-compliance
with the ICTY. The Embassy received messages from human rights
NGOs, including especially those dedicated to war crimes issues,
that they were upset by NATO's sudden change of position. SRS,
meanwhile, has been uncharacteristically silent on the PfP issue,
focusing instead on Seselj's hunger strike. SPS has made noises
about the need for a referendum on PfP, but that appears unlikely.

POLT