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