AHTISAARI BRIEFS UNSC ON KOSOVO FUTURE STATUS

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 USUN NEW YORK 000453

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EUR DAS ROSEMARY DICARLO, EUR/SCE

E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/09/2016
TAGS: PGOV PREL UNSC UNMIK SR YI
SUBJECT: AHTISAARI BRIEFS UNSC ON KOSOVO FUTURE STATUS
PROCESS


Classified By: Ambassador John R. Bolton, Reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).


1. (C) Summary: In closed UNSC consultations March 7,
Special Envoy Martti Ahtisaari briefed Security Council
members on his work to date in the Kosovo Future Status
Process. Delivering a candid message, Ahtisaari argued while
the current government in Belgrade is not responsible for
what Milosevic had done in the past, it must nonetheless
deal with the consequences of those actions now. On the
other hand, said Ahtisaari, Kosovo's Albanian majority has to
"create a stable society where minorities can live in peace"
because only "tangible results on the ground" can create
trust. Meetings between Belgrade and Pristina's negotiating
teams in Vienna February 20-21 had shown the way ahead by
proving that despite clear differences between the parties it
was possible to reach some common ground. Ahtisaari reported
he would thus push on with a "bottom up" approach of focusing
on technical issues first, as agreement in some areas could
help boost confidence. He also urged the Council to focus on
the day after a status settlement is reached.


2. (C) Summary Continued: In reply, Russian Permrep Denisov
advocated continuation of a "staged process of negotiations,"
noting only a consensus approach would lead to an outcome
that can be approved by the Security Council and that such a
process requires time. In what was understood to be a
reference to the Abkhazia conflict, Denisov also asserted
that the Kosovo problem "is in no way unique, how a solution
is found will have global impact and consequence."
Slovakia's Permrep asserted "no deadline" should be set for
completing the status process. At the end of the session,
Ahtisaari expressed hope for "speedier implementation of
standards" with Prime Minister Ceku now in office. Ahtisaari
stated he wanted to move quickly and might take stock in
April or May of "where we are and what more can be
accomplished" with an eye to moving at that point to discuss
status. End Summary.

Ahtisaari Delivers A Candid Message



3. (C) During closed UNSC consultations March 7, Special
Envoy Martti Ahtisaari briefed Council members and UN
Secretariat officials on his progress to date in the Kosovo

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Future Status Process. Moving quickly to the candid message
he had come to deliver, Ahtisaari said the Kosovo problem had
been shaped by the past. He stated flatly that Belgrade had
to accept that any settlement must be acceptable to the
people of Kosovo. Ahtisaari noted seeing more realism from
both parties after CG members delivered coordinated private
messages to Belgrade and Pristina following the FM-level CG
meeting in London January 31. Belgrade's current government
was not responsible for what Milosevic had done in the past,
allowed Ahtisaari, but it must deal with the consequences now
in the final chapter of resolving Kosovo's status. Part of
Belgrade's work is to also cooperate fully with ICTY.
Assuming such cooperation, Ahtisaari urged the international
community to support Serbia's full integration into the
"Euro-Atlantic architecture." For their part, Kosovo's
Albanians had to create a stable society where minorities can
live in peace because only "tangible results on the ground"
will create trust. Standards implementation will therefore
be critical to the pace of the Future Status Process.
However, Serbs need to participate in Kosovo's institutions,
in part so they can convey concerns that minority protection
is an important standard.


4. (C) Ahtisaari pronounced that the first round of talks
between Belgrade and Pristina in the form of a meeting on
decentralization held in Vienna February 20-21 had shown it
was possible to reach some common ground. Ahtisaari will
thus push on for the time being with a "bottom up" approach,
hoping agreements in some areas will help boost confidence.
Kosovo's future lies in Europe, said Ahtisaari, but a
post-status international civilian and military presence will
be needed for some time and preparation for it should be led
by the SRSG. However, Kosovo needed full engagement from
international financial institutions to develop its resources
and economy, which would only be possible after a status
decision.

Russia: Only "Negotiated Solution Acceptable," Kosovo "Not
Unique"


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5. (C) In Russia's comments, Permrep Denisov called for a
"staged process of negotiations." Noting the fundamental
difference in positions, he said Russia would not accept a
solution at any cost and called for taking the time to find a
consensus in order to reach an outcome that can win support
from the Security Council. In this stage-by-stage process it
would be necessary to see progress on decentralization,
cultural heritage, religious sites, and guarantees for
minorities before moving to settle status. Denisov urged
unity from the Contact Group, saying it can be a forceful
mechanism in support of the Special Envoy's diplomacy. In
what was interpreted by others as a reference to the Abkhazia
conflict, Denisov concluded by stating how the Security
Council resolves the Kosovo question will influence other
"conflict situations." Contradicting Ahtisaari, Denisov said
the Kosovo problem is "not unique." He stated "how a
solution is found will have global impact and consequence."

UK, French and Greek Comments



6. (C) UK Permrep Jones-Parry stated that the Future Status
Process should be completed by the end of the year, without
rushing. A commitment from Kosovo's Albanians on minority
rights is a necessity and the Future Status Process itself
should be used to leverage more progress. Jones-Parry
discouraged overlooking the importance of Serbia and said a
public information campaign there might be needed. Once
Mladic is in the Hague, he said, we should be very supportive
of Serbia. Greek Permrep Vasilakis echoed the approval of
most present for the outcome of the Vienna decentralization
meetings. Vasilakis also pitched the Greek think tank
proposal for protecting Kosovo's religious and ethnic
heritage. Any outcome that leads to stability in the region
and contributes to building a new democratic and multi-ethnic
Kosovo is acceptable to Greece, he said, but the history and
geography of the Western Balkans cannot be ignored. French
Permrep de La Sabliere stressed resolution of Kosovo's status
should not be further delayed. He pointed out that the
proper functioning of Kosovo's institutions had been seen in
the election of a new President and Prime Minister. All
should remember the specific nature of the Kosovo situation.
De la Sabliere also said the international community would
need to maintain a presence in one form or another to
guarantee post-status stability in Kosovo.

Slovakia: Concerned About Moving Too Quickly


7. (C) Slovak Permrep Burian said Slovakia supported a
lasting and balanced settlement but compromises were needed
to build trust. No "deadline should be set" for completing
the Future Status Process as we have to ensure Kosovo and its
institutions are ready. The pace of progress on standards
implementation will determine the pace of the Future Status
Process and a key to determining that ought to be the number
of Serbs we see returning to Kosovo. Slovakia agreed with
Ahtisaari that Serbs should be encouraged to participate in
Kosovo's institutions.


8. (C) Chinese Permrep Wang stated some progress had been
made on standards, but continued that many problems still
existed. Views differed in the CG and certainly among the
parties, so the UNSC should avoid hasty action and
predeterminations. The Kosovo problem should be solved
within the context of resolution 1244, but we should also
keep in mind the special history of the problem, said Wang.

Ahtisaari Responds To Questions, Offers More Views



9. (C) At the end of the session, Ahtisaari responded to
questions from Council members. He opined that the smooth
transition to a new political leadership is a positive sign
about Kosovo's society and its ability to handle changes.
Ahtisaari also expected speedier implementation of standards
now that Prime Minister Ceku was in office and hoped to visit
him soon. He understood Ceku wanted to be fully prepared
prior to their first meeting, but he would press for a trip
in the short-term. On returns of refugees and IDPs,
Ahtisaari said we needed to create a situation where people
could go back to any place in Kosovo. Some Kosovar Albanian
mayors had told him recently that they thought Serbs were
waiting for a status solution before returning. Ahtisaari

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agreed with that logic, saying he was sure there were Serbs
who want to go back and Belgrade should encourage them to do
so. Ahtisaari had seen reports that prominent Kosovo Serb
Oliver Ivanovic would join Kosovo's government, but doubted
whether it would happen because Belgrade had strong influence
and some Kosovo Serb politicians felt threatened by it.
Ahtisaari also repeated what he had said March 6 in a
briefing to the Coordinating and Drafting Group: he intends
to move fast, assessing that we would soon get to a point
where we can no longer avoid discussing status. "In April or
May, it will probably be necessary to take stock of where we
are," noted Ahtisaari.
BOLTON