DISSOLUTION OF STATE UNION OF SERBIA AND

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 BELGRADE 000957 SIPDIS SIPDIS SENSITIVE E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV PREL EAGR SR MW SUBJECT: DISSOLUTION OF STATE UNION OF SERBIA AND BELGRADE 00000957 001.2 OF 003 MONTENEGRO SENSITIVE BUT UNCLASSIFIED - PLEASE HANDLE ACCORDINGLY ¶1. (U) Introduction: The Republics of Serbia and of Montenegro will need to take a series of steps to finally dissolve the State Union. We will report periodically on actions being taken by the republics and by us to encourage a successful transition. End introduction. Upcoming Travel to U.S. -------------- ¶2. (SBU) GOM FM Vlahovic is looking to travel to Washington in late June or early July, along with acting military chief of staff General Jovan Lakcevic, to see the Departments of State and Defense, and hold meetings with members of Congress. State Union Institutions -------------- Serbia: ¶3. (U) The Serbian Government issued a decree on June 8 abolishing state union agencies and institutions and transferring some competencies to the jurisdiction of the Republic of Serbia. The abolished institutions include SaM Parliament, President, Council of Ministers, Supreme Defense Council and the SaM court. All accredited standardization bodies will become agencies of the Republic of Serbia. Serbia will assume the founding rights in state owned companies, public institutions and organizations previously enjoyed by FRY. ¶4. (U) The SaM Human and Minority Rights Ministry is now transferred to the Republic of Serbia as an executive agency of the government (vice a ministry). Serbian Justice Minister Stojkovic stated that of all the ministries of SaM, only defense and foreign affairs ministries remain in operation. The National Council for Cooperation to The Hague Tribunal, the Coordinating Body for Southern Serbia, and the Coordinating Center for Kosovo and Metohija will continue to work for the Serbian republic, with Rasim Ljajic continuing at the helm of the first two bodies. The decree recommended a 45-day deadline for the Serbian parliament to adopt amendments to the laws on ministries and government, which would allow for personnel changes including the minister positions. Montenegro: ¶5. (U) The GoM will integrate former State Union personnel from Montenegro into its bureaucracy, at least for a six- month transition period. Internally Displaced Persons -------------- �A;Serbia: ¶6. (U) Nothing to report. Montenegro: ¶7. (U) The Montenegrin Government issued a statement on June 9 through the Commissioner for Displaced Persons of the Republic of Montenegro, Zeljko Sofranac. Mr. Sofranac stated that the "independence of Montenegro does not automatically imply a change of status of the displaced persons. Actually, it has already been decided to keep them in the same provisional status, with the rights pertaining to them." Military -------------- Montenegro and Serbia: ¶8. (U) The military units and assets of the former SaM have been divided between the republics on the basis of territoriality. Officers and long-term enlisted can choose with which republic they wish to serve. Srbia: ¶9. (U) Deputy CHOD Ponos has been named Acing CHOD. Montenegro: BELGRADE 00000957 002.2 OF 003 ¶10. (SBU) Major General Jovan Lakcevic, Podgorica Corps Commander, has been named the acting Chief of the General Staff of the Montenegrin Army. PM Djukanovic will be acting Defense Minister, probably through the fall elections, according to FM Vlahovic. USG Activity: ¶11. (U) DAO/Belgrade traveled to Montenegro June 5-7 to meet with GoM defense officials. A Serbian MoD delegation plans a visit to Washington in late June. Agreements and Laws -------------- We are compiling a list of laws and international agreements relating to Montenegro's and Serbia's new status that we suggest will require review by Washington. Montenegro and Serbia - Nonproliferation: ¶12. (U) The Union of Serbia and Montenegro drafted the Export Control Law and went into effect on March 31, 2005. The State Union ministries that enforced the law have been absorbed by Serbia. Since the Export Control Law was ratified by the respective parliaments of Serbia and of Montenegro, both should be able to accede to the laws provisions with minor changes essentially giving authority to their respective national ministries to carry out the same functions; e.g. International Economic Relations, Foreign Affairs, and Defense. To date it still is unclear what will happen to those personnel in the Union's Ministry of International Economic Relations who have become proficient in issuing licenses to trade in military equipment and dual use goods. Presumably, some will be absorbed into Serbia's ministry, but it is uncertain whether they will remain as a cohesive unit. Montenegro - Bilateral Assistance Treaty: ¶13. (U): In order to avoid a disruption of ongoing USG assistance, we will encourage the GoM to adopt the Bilateral Assistance Treaty that was in place with the State Union. Foreign Affairs: Multilateral Organizations -------------- Serbia: ¶14. (U) President Tadic attended the ceremony at UN Headquarters in New York on June 6, when the State Union flag was lowered for the last time, to be replaced by the flag of Serbia. Montenegro: ¶15. (SBU) President Vujanovic wrote UNSYG Annan June 5, asking that Montenegro be admitted to the UN. The OSCE discussed Montenegro's membership application on June 7. The MFA told post June 12 that the GoM will make a formal application for PfP after establishing its Ministry of Defense. Montenegro has requested membership in the OSCE. Foreign Affairs -------------- Serbia: ¶16. (U) Serbia has asserted its right to be treated as the successor state to the State Union of Serbia and Montenegro. We would appreciate Washington guidance on whether any steps may be required by the USG to acknowledge Serbia's status as "The Republic of Serbia." Montenegro: ¶17. (U) As of June 14, 20 states have recognized Montenegro: Iceland, Switzerland, Russia, Croatia, Macedonia, Austria, Czech Republic, Lithuania, Malta, Turkey, Hungary, Bulgaria, Estonia, France, Slovakia, Luxembourg, Romania, Albania, and the United Kingdom; the USG recognized on June 12. Germany has said it will recognize on June 15, and Slovenia on June 20. Cross-Border Travel and Trade -------------- BELGRADE 00000957 003.2 OF 003 ¶18. (U) Serbia/Montenegro: Airport authorities in Belgrade and Podgorica continued to treat traffic between the two as domestic, not international, after the June 3 Declaration of Independence. Consular Affairs -------------- ¶19. (U) Embassy Belgrade is seeking guidance from CA/VO on visa classification of GoM officials after the June 12 USG recognition of Montenegro. POLT