Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06BELGRADE611
2006-04-19 09:52:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Belgrade
Cable title:  

Defense Agreements with SaM - Next Steps

Tags:  MARR MASS PREL SR 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXYZ0006
RR RUEHWEB

DE RUEHBW #0611/01 1090952
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 190952Z APR 06
FM AMEMBASSY BELGRADE
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 8396
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC
INFO RUEHNO/USMISSION USNATO 0595
RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHDC
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC 1127
RHMFISS/HQ USEUCOM VAIHINGEN GE
UNCLAS BELGRADE 000611 

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

OSD FOR BEIN, VAN EGMOND
STATE FOR EUR/SCE
STATE ALSO FOR PM/SNA - LOFTIS AND JANZEN

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: MARR MASS PREL SR
SUBJECT: Defense Agreements with SaM - Next Steps


This is an action request - see para 3.

UNCLAS BELGRADE 000611

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

OSD FOR BEIN, VAN EGMOND
STATE FOR EUR/SCE
STATE ALSO FOR PM/SNA - LOFTIS AND JANZEN

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: MARR MASS PREL SR
SUBJECT: Defense Agreements with SaM - Next Steps


This is an action request - see para 3.


1. (sbu) The visits of Senator Voinovich on
March 23-24 and General Wald on March 27-28
provided excellent opportunities to push the GoSaM
and GoS to do more on our defense agreements.
With the WMD now signed and awaiting parliamentary
ratification in SaM, the MoD here is keen to push
through a SOFA while the political climate is
friendly. We should capitalize on this
opportunity with all due speed.

AGREEMENTS STATUS


2. (sbu) We have an interest in five separate
agreements that are all in some stage of
consideration by the GoSaM, including four
bilateral agreements and a NATO agreement. The
status of the agreements is as follows:

-- NATO GLOC - Ratified by both sides;
implementation on hold pending working out
operational details between NATO and SaM (e.g.,
identification of routes etc.)

-- Bilateral WMD Agreement - Signed by the
Ambassador and DEFMIN Stankovic April 5. Awaiting
ratification in SaM parliament in order to enter
into force.

-- Bilateral ACSA - MoD tells us this agreement
can be concluded by MoD on its own authority as a
technical agreement; no negotiation/ratification
process through the Republic or State Union
governments is required - this on the basis of a
written opinion by MFA submitted to the Council of
Ministers. The ACSA is still under internal
review in MoD. MoD staffers assured us March 6
(and again on the margins of the WMD signing) they
would be prepared to sign.

-- SOFA - MoD has negotiating authority from the
Council of Ministers. They are coordinating
inputs from the involved Republic-level ministries
to form the basis of their negotiations with us on
the text (a process they have said is underway for
many months now). With the WMD agreement signed,
senior staff at MoD have expressed a strong
interest in pushing the SOFA through their
processes while the political climate is ripe.
DEFMIN Stankovic told press in early April that he
would like to conclude a SOFA with the US in June,
and a Security Cooperation Agreement (outlined
below) in the fall. Assistant Minister for Policy
Snezana Markovic reiterated that desire on the
margins of the WMD signing, asking if the USG
could conclude a SOFA within 4-6 weeks.

-- SCA - DEFMIN Stankovic expressed a desire to
sign in the fall of 2006. Due to Article 98
provisions and SaM sensitivity to EU objections to
Article 98, we have already been told informally
by both the MoD and the PM's office that this will
be a complicated agreement to sign. Nevertheless,
the MoD might opt to champion the agreement within
the government, as it understands the IMET and FMF
benefits it would unlock.

ACTION REQUEST: NEXT STEPS


3. (sbu) The WMD signing was a significant step
forward for this government and can, we believe,
set the stage for negotiating the other agreements
in turn. We have contacted the MoD about signing
the draft SOFA as provided (i.e., without
negotiating language),but since MoD has already
received some comments back from line ministries
with proposed changes, it is unlikely SaM will be
able to accept the draft in toto. If the SaM
draft requires bilateral discussion, we will
recommend a follow-up visit by PM/SNA Ambassador
Loftus or someone from his office at the
appropriate time to capitalize on momentum here.
Department may want to also consider other ways in
which we can engage immediately and visibly with
MoD interlocutors to show we are serious about
strengthening our bilateral security relationship.
The Embassy stands ready to help facilitate
necessary travel and communications between USG
negotiators and GoSaM counterparts to push these
agreements through expeditiously.

POLT