UNDER SECRETARY BURNS' NOVEMBER 27 MEETING WITH

C O N F I D E N T I A L USUN NEW YORK 002203

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/01/2016
TAGS: PGOV PREL UN YI
SUBJECT: UNDER SECRETARY BURNS' NOVEMBER 27 MEETING WITH
KOSOVO PRESIDENT FATMIR SEJDIU

Classified By: AMBASSADOR ALEX WOLFF, REASONS 1.4 (B) and (D).


1. (C) SUMMARY: Under Secretary Burns reassured Kosovo
President Sejdiu of U.S. resolve to complete the final status
process for Kosovo, despite the two month delay in
negotiations to accommodate Serbian parliamentary elections.
Burns acknowledged that the Serbs, supported by the Russians
in the UN Security Council, would continue to present
obstacles in the path of concluding the process, but that the
U.S. would work to overcome the difficulties. Ambassador
Wisner called on Sejdiu to use the delay to lay the
groundwork for the transition from UNMIK to the new
international civilian mission (ICO),and to continue
explaining final status to the Kosovo people. Sejdiu
appealed for Martti Ahtisaari's draft report to clearly state
that Kosovo should be independent. He understood there would
be more difficulties ahead and he pledged Kosovars unity
throughout the process of completing final status. END
SUMMARY


2. (U) Participants:

U.S.

Under Secretary Burns
Ambassador Alejandro Wolff
Ambassador Frank Wisner
Ambassador Jackie Sanders
P Staff - Anja Manuel
USUN - Kirk McBride
USUN - Drew Schufletowski
EUR Note taker - Stephen Gee

KOSOVO

President Fatmir Sejdiu
Skender Hyseni, Senior Advisor
Muhamet Hamiti, Advisor
Vjosa Osmani, Interpreter


U.S. SUPPORT FOR KOSOVO'S FINAL STATUS



3. (C) Under Secretary Burans made clear at the outset that,
despite the short delay in completing the final status
negotiations, the United States is not wavering in its
support for a final status that is acceptable to the people
of Kosovo. The U.S. believes Martti Ahtisaari's decision to
postpone releasing his report until after January 21, 2007
Serbian elections was the correct course to take; it prevents
the Radicals from using the report's conclusions to generate
nationalist sympathies among the electorate. Burns
acknowledged that the Serbs would continue to seek delays
even after the elections, and that there would likely be
Russian objections in the UN Security Council to a new
resolution. Burns said the U.S. is opposed to recycling the
negotiations and would work against further delays in the
process.


4. (C) Sejdiu thanked Burns for all the U.S. had done for
Kosovo, and said Kosovo would never forget the enormous U.S.
investment of money and troops to protect its people. The
President acknowledged the delay in negotiations had raised
concerns among Kosovars about the final outcome, and asked
that Martti Ahtisaari's report to the Security Council
clearly call for Kosovo independence. Sejdiu also said he
was worried about the integrity of northern Kosovo. Serb
control of the north through the parallel structures, as well
as continuous threats and provocations, prevented Albanians
from returning to their homes in North Mitrovica and the Serb
majority northern municipalities. It would be better to
integrate Kosovo, with Serbs returning to their homes in the
south and Albanians returning to their homes in the north.

TASKS AT HAND


5. (C) Burns and Ambassador Wisner focused Sejdiu on the
tasks at hand. Burns emphasized the importance of
maintaining civil order in Kosovo. The one thing certain
delay final status further would be an outbreak of violence,
he said. KFOR will do its job and maintain security, but
Kosovar leaders must prevent violence from breaking out.
Ambassador Wisner added that there was much that needed to be
done while waiting for Ahtisaari's report: completing work on


the standards; preparing for the transition from UNMIK to the
new international civilian office; preparing to write a new
constitution; and explaining final status to the Kosovars.
All of these actions must be completed in order to be ready
for final status. Burns emphasized that unity of the Unity
Team (senior leaders from political parties) must be
maintained in order to accomplish all of the tasks. He said
he had delivered the same message to opposition leader Hasim
Thaci earlier in November in Washington.


6. (C) Sejdiu answered Burns that the Unity Team would stay
unified-- there would be plenty of time for politics after
final status. In preparation for the transition, the Unity
Team had already created special transition teams and was
prepared to draft a constitution. He promised to maintain
close cooperation with the U.S. and allies during this
process.


7. (C) Both Burns and Wisner encouraged Sejdiu to continue
active diplomacy throughout the status process. Burns
suggested Sejdiu should talk to Germany and Italy in
particular about the transition. Wisner told Sejdiu it is
critical to get a representative in New York who can be the
point person for the UN process.
BOLTON