VISIT TO U.S. BY MODERATE SERBIAN ORTHODOX

UNCLAS BELGRADE 000264

SIPDIS

DEPARTMENT FOR EUR/SCE
NSC FOR BRAUN

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL SOCI KIRF SR
SUBJECT: VISIT TO U.S. BY MODERATE SERBIAN ORTHODOX
CHURCH LEADERS


1. (U) An official Serbian Orthodox Church (SOC)
delegation of generally moderate bishops is planning to
visit Washington in mid-March. The bishops have
requested meetings at the State Department and the White
House, mainly to discuss the future status of Kosovo and
the fate of SOC patrimony therein. As final status talks
on Kosovo begin, this level of engagement with the
constructive wing of the SOC would send a positive
message to Serbia and the Serbian people that the U.S.
takes seriously SOC concerns of church property issues
and minority rights in Kosovo.


2. (U) This delegation, similar to the group that
visited the U.S. in 2005, represents the relatively young
and moderate voice within the SOC. If their schedules
permit, we would recommend that Under Secretary Burns and
Ambassador Wisner meet with delegation. We would also
recommend meetings at the NSC. (As they requested in
2005, the delegation expressed hope that the President
would be able to receive them.) They will also seek
meetings on Capitol Hill. They are available to travel
to New York, or possibly elsewhere, for meetings.


3. (U) The six-person delegation plans to arrive in
Washington on March 13 or 14 and stay until the end of
March. They will coordinate logistics through their
embassy in Washington, including meetings with
Congressional leaders. The SOC delegates include Bishop
Teodosije of Liplanje, Bishop Grigorije of Zahumlje-
Herzegovina, Bishop Jovan of Sumadija, Father Irinej,
Professor Bogoljub Sijakovic, and assistant Miroslav
Stanovlah.

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