Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07BELGRADE1329
2007-09-28 17:57:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Belgrade
Cable title:
Serb Rhetoric on Kosovo Status Stronger than Resolve
how-toVZCZCXRO8065 RR RUEHAG RUEHAST RUEHDA RUEHDBU RUEHDF RUEHFL RUEHIK RUEHKW RUEHLA RUEHLN RUEHLZ RUEHPOD RUEHROV RUEHSR RUEHVK RUEHYG DE RUEHBW #1329 2711757 ZNR UUUUU ZZH R 281757Z SEP 07 ZDS FM AMEMBASSY BELGRADE TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 1511 INFO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE
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
-------
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
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