Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06BELGRADE957
2006-06-15 06:06:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Belgrade
Cable title:
DISSOLUTION OF STATE UNION OF SERBIA AND
how-toVZCZCXRO9596 RR RUEHAST DE RUEHBW #0957/01 1660606 ZNR UUUUU ZZH R 150606Z JUN 06 FM AMEMBASSY BELGRADE TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 8811 INFO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE RUEHRC/USDA FAS WASHDC 0238 RUFOADA/JAC MOLESWORTH RAF MOLESWORTH UK
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
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
--------------
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
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
--------------
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