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