Engaging With Serbia's Leadership After Riga

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 BELGRADE 001959

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

STATE ALSO PASS U/S BURNS AND A/S FRIED

E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/29/16
TAGS: OVIP MARR PREL NATO SR
SUBJECT: Engaging With Serbia's Leadership After Riga

Classified by Ambassador Michael C. Polt, reasons 1.4 (b,d)


1. (c) NATO's offer of PfP membership to Serbia creates
an opportunity to move the ball forward on greater
bilateral and multilateral defense cooperation. To fill
this partnership with substance, we are already seeking a
public and clear commitment to Euroatlantic integration
from those democratic parties that PfP engagement is
designed to help. At a minimum this includes: unambiguous
public statements by Kostunica and other GoS leaders that
they accept the offer and will move immediately to complete
the PfP membership process; appointment of the Chief of the
General Staff by President Tadic; and exercise of the GLOC
agreement with NATO.


2. (c) Given the Radical's campaign strategy to run on a
anti-Hague and anti-U.S. platform, the PfP news can be very
helpful in reinforcing the democrats' strategy to draw a
clear line between their vision of the future and the
backward looking message of nationalist extremists. We
will push back on any indication from Kostunica or Tadic
that they have to wait until the Parliament is back in
session in order to proceed further on defense reform and
PfP engagement.


3. (c) Since the invitation, the Ambassador has already
been in touch with Tadic, Kostunica, FONMIN Draskovic and
DEFMIN Stankovic working the points below. We recommend
calls from the Secretary or another appropriate high-level
State Department official to President Tadic, Prime
Minister Kostunica, and Foreign Minister Draskovic that
would highlight these themes:

-- Congratulate the leaders on the Riga outcome.

-- Emphasize this is a vote of confidence in their
commitment to further defense reform and to full Hague
cooperation.

-- Reiterate that we still expect they will arrest and
transfer Ratko Mladic and other fugitive PIFWCs to The
Hague.

-- Express our readiness to engage quickly and expansively
on defense cooperation. This includes our expectation that
Serbia will quickly accept the membership offer (e.g., by
quickly signing its framework document) before the end of
the year. It also includes our expectation that Serbia
will quickly implement the Ground Lines of Communication
agreement signed with NATO SECGEN de Hoop Scheffer in 2005.


3. (c) Additional points for President Tadic:

-- This is an important opportunity to show your public
commitment to engagement with NATO.

-- We trust you will now quickly confirm General Zdravko
Ponos as your Chief of the General Staff in accordance with
your authorities as president.

-- We hope Serbia will carry through on its intention to
attach Serbian medical personnel to an existing ISAF
deployment.

-- We suggest you publicly promote unit exchanges and other
military-to-military engagement programs through SPP and
PfP in the coming weeks.


4. (c) Additional Points for Prime Minister Kostunica:

-- This decision is an acknowledgement of Serbia's progress
on defense reform.

-- An immediate and positive response to NATO's invitation
will help build Serbia's standing and exploit a invaluable
opportunity.

-- Mladic conditionality still exists for further
integration into NATO.

-- We still expect the current and future Serbian
governments to implement the recommendations for concrete
action we delivered to you in July.

-- Serbia's membership in PfP will provide a valuable way
of pushing forward on your stated commitment to move Serbia
closer to the rest of Europe. Your support of President
Tadic on national defense matters, like the appointment of
the Chief of the General Staff, participation in ISAF and

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other peacekeeping as well as training exercises will be
critical.


5. (c) Additional Points for Foreign Minister Draskovic:

-- We know this has long been a dream of yours.

-- Thank you for your continued positive engagement. We
will be looking for an appropriate way to recognize your
special role in moving the PfP debate forward.

-- We will look to you to ensure, both in private and in
public, that PfP membership has the effect you have long
predicted - that engagement and further military reform
will make it easier to capture Ratko Mladic.

MOORE