Serb Rhetoric on Kosovo Status Stronger than Resolve

UNCLAS BELGRADE 001329 SIPDIS C O R R E C T E D C O P Y -- ADDED SENSITIVE CAPTION SENSITIVE SIPDIS E.O. 12958:N/A TAGS: PBTS PGOV PREL KPAO SR KV SUBJECT: Serb Rhetoric on Kosovo Status Stronger than Resolve SUMMARY -------------- ¶1. (SBU) Serbia's leaders, in New York for the UNGA and Troika-led Kosovo talks, continue to call on the international community to play by UN rules on Kosovo. At home, government officials echo that Serbia will do everything short of sending in the troops to hold on to Kosovo, while quietly suggesting that Serbia will accept Kosovo's inevitable independence. End Summary. DS and DSS Agree on Kosovo -------------- ¶2. (SBU) In the shadow of the UN, PM Vojislav Kostunica and President Boris Tadic sound alike, referencing UNSCR 1244 and the UN Charter on the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Serbia in their insistence that the UN Security Council be the final arbiter of Kosovo status. Vladeta Jankovic, Democratic Party of Serbia (DSS) Vice President and International Affairs Advisor to Kostunica told the DCM, September 26, that, although there were be differences between PM Kostunica and President Tadic on other issues, such as membership with NATO, on Kosovo the two were in "complete agreement." ¶3. (SBU) Government advisors in Belgrade insist that their bosses have real and reasonable offers to put before the Kosovo Albanians September 26, on the eve of UNGA, the PM's Foreign Affairs Advisor, Miroslav Sestovic, told emboff that possibilities for finding a mutually acceptable agreement would begin only when Kosovo Albanians and Serbian negotiators sat face-to-face. As far as the Serbian Government was concerned, previous encounters with the Troika, beginning in mid-August, only set the stage for New York negotiations. A week before, emboff heard the same line from the MFA Political Director. ¶4. (SBU) Embassy and others in the international community hear repeatedly from GOS officials that the GOS hopes for more open space in direct dialogue "by the third or fourth meeting." On September 24, Serbian Government Kosovo Minister Samardzic again hinted at the possibility of greater compromise when he told the press that Belgrade would offer "95% competence" to Kosovo Albanians and only "weak and minimal" links with Serbia. Samardzic added that the GOS plan was "new and specific and offered a form of maximum autonomy not seen elsewhere in the world. The Reality -------------- ¶5. (SBU) The political reality is that neither President nor PM believe they have a choice in the script. On September 26, Jankovic, told the DCM that the government "will do everything that [it] can, short of violence," to show future generations that Serbia had tried to keep Kosovo. ¶6. (SBU) Despite the rhetoric about negotiating, there is little doubt among DS and DSS circles about where the "negotiations are heading." Privately, Tadic, Defense Minister Dragan Sutanovac, and others in the democratic inner circle have said that they wish the international community would just be quiet -- strongly suggesting that Serb leaders could manage Serbia's progress toward acceptance of Kosovo independence better if we were publicly silent. Europeans Leaning toward an Extension? -------------- ¶7. (SBU) Quint Group (United States, UK, France, Germany and Italy) country representatives in Belgrade are concerned that the Serbs, having succeeded in prolonging discussions this far, will stall for yet more time. In a September 24 meeting, local Quint ambassadors told the DCM that they feared Serbia would present a substantive proposal for Kosovo status in the final hours of Troika-led talks in December. DCM noted that more time was unlikely to change anyone's position and warned against Troika procedures permitting a final hour proposal. Comment -------------- ¶8. (SBU) Post will continue to encourage the Serb leadership to understand that the talking ends in December and they should look towards working toward a peaceful transition and also toward a future vision for Serbia. Post will emphasize the USG's support for a prosperous, democratic and peaceful Serbia and USG commitment to assisting Serbia in economic reform, rule of law and creating an improved foreign investment climate. End Comment. MUNTER