DEMARCHE DELIVERED: UN HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL

UNCLAS BELGRADE 000641 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: KUNR OPDC PREL PHUM UNGA SR SUBJECT: DEMARCHE DELIVERED: UN HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL REF: SECSTATE 57036 This is an action request, see para 2. ¶1. (SBU) Poloff delivered reftel talking points and a hard copy of Secretary Rice's letter as instructed to Katarina Lalic-Smajevic, Deputy Director for the Directorate of the United Nations, Serbia and Montenegro (SAM) Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) on April 13. The Ambassador also conveyed the letter to FONMIN Draskovic on April 12. Draskovic replied with a letter on April 17 (text in para 3, below; also faxed to EUR/SCE). Lalic-Smajevic advised that SaM would likely adopt whatever course of action EU member states decided on, and asked what form a "pledge" such as that outlined reftel should take. ¶2. (SBU) Action request: We would welcome Washington guidance regarding advising SaM how to frame a pledge such as that outlined reftel. ¶3. (U) Begin Text of Letter to The Secretary Excellency, I have the honour to reiterate the commitment of the state union of Serbia and Montenegro to the historic role of the United Nations of equal and consistent protection of the human rights of all people of the world. In principle, and in specific cases, Serbia and Montenegro supports the same principles supported by the United States and quoted in your letter of 12 April 2006. Today, no people in Europe has had its fundamental human rights so drastically and tragically denied as the Serbian people in Kosovo and Metohija, the province of Serbia, under the United Nations administration since 10 June 1999. The Christian Serbs have been denied even the security of their very life, freedom of movement and the protection of property and elementary human rights. The Albanian majority in this province demands, in the form of an ultimatum, independence of Kosovo, i.e. declaration of an internationally recognized state in the territory of the internationally recognized and sovereign state of Serbia and Montenegro. Granting that demand would amount to a flagrant violation of the Charter of the United Nations, Helsinki Final Act of 1975 and the international legal order. I believe that the United States will support the solution of the future status of Kosovo that would satisfy all legitimate rights of the Albanian majority, guarantee full protection of the rights of the Serbs and other minorities and respect for the Charter of the United Nations regarding no change of the international borders of sovereign states. With Best Wishes and Regards, Yours Sincerely, Vuk Draskovic (signed) End text of letter. POLT