Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06PRISTINA709
2006-08-29 18:35:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Pristina
Cable title:  

KOSOVO: SWIFT RESPONSE BY UNMIK AND KFOR CALMS

Tags:  ASEC KPKO PGOV PHUM KJUS PY 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXRO6332
OO RUEHDBU RUEHFL RUEHKW RUEHLA RUEHROV RUEHSR
DE RUEHPS #0709/01 2411835
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
O 291835Z AUG 06
FM USOFFICE PRISTINA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 6429
INFO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC PRIORITY
RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
RHEFDIA/DIA WASHDC PRIORITY
RUEAWJA/DEPT OF JUSTICE WASHDC PRIORITY
RHFMISS/AFSOUTH NAPLES IT PRIORITY
RHMFISS/CDR USEUCOM VAIHINGEN GE PRIORITY
RHMFISS/CDR TF FALCON PRIORITY
RUFOADA/JAC MOLESWORTH RAF MOLESWORTH UK PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 PRISTINA 000709 

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR EUR/SCE
NSC FOR BRAUN
USOSCE FOR STEGER

E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/29/2016
TAGS: ASEC KPKO PGOV PHUM KJUS PY
SUBJECT: KOSOVO: SWIFT RESPONSE BY UNMIK AND KFOR CALMS
TENSIONS FOLLOWING A GRENADE ATTACK IN MITROVICA

REF: A. LASKARIS-OPS CENTER TELCON OF 08/26/06


B. KAIDANOW-HOH E-MAIL OF 08/28/06

Classified By: COM TINA S. KAIDANOW FOR REASONS 1.4 (B) AND (D)

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 PRISTINA 000709

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR EUR/SCE
NSC FOR BRAUN
USOSCE FOR STEGER

E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/29/2016
TAGS: ASEC KPKO PGOV PHUM KJUS PY
SUBJECT: KOSOVO: SWIFT RESPONSE BY UNMIK AND KFOR CALMS
TENSIONS FOLLOWING A GRENADE ATTACK IN MITROVICA

REF: A. LASKARIS-OPS CENTER TELCON OF 08/26/06


B. KAIDANOW-HOH E-MAIL OF 08/28/06

Classified By: COM TINA S. KAIDANOW FOR REASONS 1.4 (B) AND (D)


1. (C) Summary: Swift action by UNMIK, KFOR, and the Kosovo
Police Service prevented an escalation of violence following
an August 26 grenade attack on a well-known cafe frequented
by hard-line Serbs in north Mitrovica. Nine people sustained
injuries, though none life-threatening, in the attack: seven
local Serbs plus two expatriates. A Kosovar Albanian woman
driving through the area was subsequently attacked by a Serb
crowd gathered near the cafe, and she remains in serious but
stable condition in the Pristina hospital. A 16 year old
Kosovo Albanian male was taken into custody by UNMIK for the
grenade attack and is being held in a juvenile detention
facility in Ljipjan. The Kosovar political leadership
quickly condemned the attack. The Kosovo Serb leadership has
been restrained in its reaction, and in initial interaction
with UNMIK acted constructively to get past the violence.
DATT and Pol/Econ Chief traveled August 29 to Mitrovica to
meet the CivPol regional commander, who noted in particular
that the actions of Nebojsa Jovic, north Mitrovica leader of
the Serbian National Council, had done much to calm the
situation after the incident. We will follow developments as
they relate both to the security situation in Mitrovica and
our own security posture in the area. End summary.

Kosovar Albanian Lobs Hand Grenade into Cafe in North
Mitrovica


2. (SBU) At 1855 local time August 26, a grenade exploded
just outside the Dolce Vita Cafe, a well-known establishment
located on the northern side of the main bridge connecting
north and south Mitrovica. The Dolce Vita is frequented by
hardline Serb leaders and serves as the main base of the
"bridgewatchers" -- Serbian security police personnel, local
thugs, and others who maintain an interest in the traffic

crossing the main bridge in the town. Seven Kosovo Serbs
were wounded in the attack, one of whom was a Serbian
language specialist working for UNMIK CivPol. A British
CivPol officer and a Dutch employee of a local bank were also
injured. None of the injuries were life-threatening. A
crowd that ultimately grew to some 500 people gathered, and
in a vengeful mood threw rocks at a passing car driven by a
Kosovar Albanian woman. She sustained head injuries and is
reported to be in serious but stable condition in Pristina
hospital. Subsequently, the strong and visible UNMIK Civpol
and KFOR presence helped to defuse tensions and the crowd
dispersed peacefully later in the evening. The bridge was
closed to traffic and remains so at this time.


3. (SBU) Shortly after the attack, police arrested a 16 year
old Albanian male -- Adem Jetullah Dibrani -- as the
suspected perpetrator. According to initial UNMIK CivPol and
press reports, Dibrani's family members are well known to
have extremist connections. Both the father, Jetullah
Dibrani, and older brother, Baki Dibrani, are also reportedly
connected to criminal activity. Acting UNMIK SRSG Steve
Schook told COM and other Contact Group representatives
August 29 that three witnesses had identified the youth, and
that there was film footage to corroborate. Because the
perpetrator was a juvenile, he was remanded for 30 days to a
youth correctional facility in Ljipjan; UNMIK DOJ will
continue the investigation and bring charges against him as
warranted by law. COM stressed to Schook and DOJ head Al
Moscowitz that it would be important to pursue the course of
justice in this case as a reassurance to the Serb community
in north Mitrovica and elsewhere in Kosovo, and the two
agreed swift action was necessary.

Reactions to the Attack Subdued


4. (U) Understanding the danger posed by this incident, the
office of Prime Minister Ceku was quick to issue an
unequivocal condemnation of the attack, noting that the
government "believes that today, now more than ever, it is
necessary for citizens to cooperate with the institutions of

PRISTINA 00000709 002.2 OF 002


law and order in order to identify and capture the culprits
... the Government calls on all Kosovars to maintain calm and
not to fall for provocations from those in Kosovo who want
violence and suffering for all." The Kosovar negotiating
team issued a similar statement after their meeting August 27.


5. (U) Kosovo's Serb leadership also played a constructive
role in calming tensions after the attack. In an August 27
sit-down with UNMIK and KFOR, representatives of the northern
Kosovo Serb community (including Nebojsa Jovic of the Serb
National Council and Milan Ivanovic) made a series of
requests with regard to increased security on and around the
bridge, most of which UNMIK deemed reasonable and were
implemented without delay. Ivanovic also asked that the
bridge be closed to traffic until after the status process
concludes; Schook would not agree to impede freedom of
movement in this way indefinitely, but indicated that the
bridge would not be reopened until the security environment
dictated such a move. Schook told CG reps that the first
security assessment would be undertaken on Wednesday, August
30, and decisions would be taken in coordination with the
Serb leadership.

Comment: A Bullet Dodged


6. (C) This incident could easily have spread to broader
violence, but -- fortunately -- did not. Swift UNMIK CivPol,
KPS and KFOR action, including the apprehension of a suspect,
defused the situation in its immediate aftermath, and the
condemnations from across the political spectrum also
contributed to calming the environment. The restrained and
productive reaction of the Kosovar Serb leadership also gives
cause for hope that Serbs can play a positive role in
cooperating with the international community and Kosovar
authorities. Still, tensions will remain elevated within the
Serb community, not only in the north but in enclaves south
of the Ibar. We will press UNMIK to pursue the case against
the perpetrator with vigor, and we will continue our
interaction with the Serb community in all parts of Kosovo to
assuage some of their concerns. End comment.
KAIDANOW