Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06BELGRADE787
2006-05-18 06:47:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Belgrade
Cable title:  

MONTENEGRIN INDEPENDENCE REFERENDUM: THE FINAL

Tags:  PGOV PREL MW SR 
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VZCZCXRO8949
RR RUEHAST
DE RUEHBW #0787 1380647
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 180647Z MAY 06
FM AMEMBASSY BELGRADE
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 8596
INFO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE
RUFOADA/JAC MOLESWORTH RAF MOLESWORTH UK
UNCLAS BELGRADE 000787 

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL MW SR
SUBJECT: MONTENEGRIN INDEPENDENCE REFERENDUM: THE FINAL
WEEK


SENSITIVE BUT UNCLASSIFIED - PLEASE HANDLE ACCORDINGLY

Ref: Belgrade 741

UNCLAS BELGRADE 000787

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL MW SR
SUBJECT: MONTENEGRIN INDEPENDENCE REFERENDUM: THE FINAL
WEEK


SENSITIVE BUT UNCLASSIFIED - PLEASE HANDLE ACCORDINGLY

Ref: Belgrade 741


1. (SBU) Summary: With less than a week to the referendum
vote on May 21, both campaigns continue with rallies,
debates, and marketing -- but surprisingly little fervor.
The voters' list has been finalized with a record 484,718
names, and no disputes. OSCE/ODIHR confirmed to post that
the atmosphere remains calm. End summary.

Not Even The Lead Story
--------------


2. (U) Both blocs continue with a full schedule of rallies,
debates and marketing -- every other billboard is "Da" or
"Ne." However, minor incidents aside, the campaign is not
generating fervor in either bloc. Belgrade media even noted
that the final pro-Union rally in Podgorica was moved up a
day, to accommodate a soccer final. In Podgorica, the top
story in the leading newspaper and TV news on May 15 was
not the referendum, but a non-fatal accident on a ship in a
Montenegrin harbor.

But High Turnout Still Expected
--------------


3. (U) The lack of fervor disguises the high level of
interest, with turnout expected in the neighborhood of 80
percent of the record number of registered voters. The
list was completed May 12, with 484,718 voters. They will
cast their ballots at 1117 polling stations - the largest
has 1109 voters, the smallest only 12.

ODIHR Confirms Calm Atmosphere
--------------


4. (SBU) Consulate staff met with Richard Chambers, deputy
head of the OSCE/ODIHR observation mission, on May 15. He
confirmed that the atmosphere remains calm and non-
contentious. To illustrate, he noted that ODIHR only
received one complaint about the voters' list -- about four
allegedly invalid voter registrations in the remote
municipality of Plav. ODIHR will deploy over 320 observers
on May 21.

POLT