SERBIAN ELECTIONS - ALBANIANS MAKE IT

UNCLAS BELGRADE 000100 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O.12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV PREL EAID PHUM SR MW YI SUBJECT: SERBIAN ELECTIONS - ALBANIANS MAKE IT ¶1. SUMMARY: The Presevo Valley Albanian coalition received enough votes to get one seat in parliament, according to Serbia's Republican Election Commission (RIK). Local contacts report that USG efforts in particular were "difference makers" in helping get the Albanians into parliament for the first time in almost 15 years. The Democratic Party has already said that it will include the Albanian coalition in government positions. END SUMMARY. ¶2. According to RIK, with 99% of ballots counted, the Presevo Valley Albanian coalition will receive over 16,000 votes and will win one of the 250 seats in the Serbian Parliament. Their strong showing was despite a boycott campaign led by rival hard-line Albanian parties and former UCPMB insurgents. ¶3. Both OSCE and USG observers reported high turnout in some areas of Bujanovac and Presevo. Some villages where boycotting parties hold sway showed little to no turnout for the vote. The Presevo Albanian list received some votes outside of the Presevo Valley which proved critical to their finish just above the natural threshold for parliamentary representation. ¶4. USG efforts to urge this ethnic minority to participate in Belgrade institutions were an important factor in the list's success, especially in the face of a boycott campaign and calls from retrograde elements like UCPMB veterans. OSCE reported strong turnout along the USG-funded Lucane-Miratovac road corridor that the Ambassador officially opened last week (during which he urged Albanians to vote in the elections, as he had in an interview on Albanian- language TV in December). Similar statements from Albanian leaders in Pristina and Tirana, encouraged by US missions in those cities, received major publicity and helped increase the turnout. ¶5. On 1/22, Democratic Party (DS) PM-candidate Bozidar Djelic said on national TV ('Poligraf', B92) that his party would include the Presevo Valley Albanians in deciding government positions. Bearer of the list Riza Halimi (PVD) is the likely MP, but Skender Destani (DUD) could also be included in some capacity as well. ¶6. COMMENT: This is a significant win for the forces of moderation and engagement among Serbia's Albanians. The Presevo Valley Albanians voted against boycotts and separatism and in favor of working within Serbian institutions. With representation in Belgrade, the Presevo Valley Albanians have another important vehicle for operating within Serbia's political structure. Hopefully, the participating parties (Halimi's PVD and Destani's DUD) will capitalize on this new national prominence to outpace and marginalize their retrograde, unhelpful rivals, who will continue to look to exploit the Kosovo issue in unhelpful ways. Post especially appreciates the support of our colleagues at USOP, Embassy Tirana and EUR. END COMMENT. POLT