Serbs Defend Kosovo Status Proposal to EUR/SCE Director

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 BELGRADE 001435

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL PHUM SR KV
SUBJECT: Serbs Defend Kosovo Status Proposal to EUR/SCE Director
Hoh


Summary
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1. (SBU) Government of Serbia officials told visiting Director for
South Central Europe (EUR/SCE) Chris Hoh on October 16 that Serbia's
proposal for Kosovo autonomy was extensive and fair, and that the
dynamics of the Kosovo status discussions were not. The government
officials outlined their vision for Serbia's future within the
European Union; some of which included NATO, some explicitly did
not. In separate meetings with the Prime Minister's Political
Advisor, Energy Minister, and MFA Political Director, Hoh advised
Belgrade to stop using foreign policy in its domestic political
campaign, tone down its anti-NATO rhetoric and to adopt a strategic,
long-term view towards Euro-Atlantic integration. End Summary.

Kosovo: Serbia Needs "Membrane of Sovereignty"
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2. (SBU) Serbian Government officials told EUR/SCE OD Hoh that the
GOS was unified behind its Kosovo policy and that Serbia's autonomy
offer to Pristina was "the most generous minority policy in the
world." Foreign Policy Advisor to the Prime Minister, Vladeta
Jankovic, a former vice president of the Democratic Party of Serbia
(DSS),told Hoh that the DSS agreed at its October 14 party congress
that Kosovo could never become independent without a UNSC resolution
or Serbia's recognition -- and Serbia would never recognize an
independent Kosovo. Jankovic told Hoh that Belgrade's proposal for
Kosovo autonomy was fair to Kosovo-Albanians. "No other national
minority in the world would have as much as we are offering the
Albanians," Jankovic said. The proposal preserved for Serbia,
however, a "membrane of sovereignty." Elaborating, Jankovic said
that, with this "membrane," Kosovo could have almost all but a seat
in the UN and an army. Belgrade had no illusions that it could run
Kosovo. But, he went on, it was a political imperative that the
government ensured its ability to help Kosovo Serbs economically,
educationally, and culturally.


3. (SBU) Interlocutors agreed on the need to deny Kosovo the UN
seat and army, differing on few points. Energy Minister Popovic
said the GOS needed to maintain control of borders, defense, customs
and monetary policy, and to have Kosovo administered "under one UN
presence." Belgrade should also oversee basic human and minority
rights, in line with its obligations to the Council of Europe,
Popovic said. Although Belgrade wanted "one voice in international
organizations," Popovic said Belgrade could consider a possible
exception with regard to the IMF and World Bank. Ministry of
Foreign Affairs Political Director Stefanovic emphasized the need to
respect the current borders, and to develop a "common sovereign
roof" for both Kosovo and Serbia. The reality, he said, was that
Serbia wanted to regain (vice retain) Kosovo.

Need for More Talks and More Engagement by Pristina
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4. (SBU) GOS leaders told Hoh they expected more talks after
December 10, but argued that recent U.S. statements and Pristina's
position were counterproductive. Jankovic said the Troika's
December 10 deadline was hindering progress and U.S. public
statements on the talks were undermining the negotiations. The
Albanians, he said, were a stone wall in the process; though he
hoped by January and February there would be "a new phase" in the
talks. Stefanovic said talks were not going well and that new ideas
needed to come from the Troika. He said the United States needed to
make the Kosovo-Albanians participate more in the talks, which he
described as "kabuki." Popovic said that Serbia's position was
clear and engaged, but that messages needed to encourage both sides
to negotiate. Hoh responded that it was the responsibility of the
parties to persuade each other that an agreement was possible;
otherwise the Ahtisaari Plan could serve as a basis to move forward.
He emphasized that the costs of delay significantly increased over
time. Hoh told Jankovic that additional time would only further the
hardening of the two sides' positions, therefore would be
counterproductive.

NATO: Diverging Views
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5. (SBU) DSS officials told Hoh that Serbia's relationship with
NATO should be limited to Partnership for Peace (PfP),but all
acknowledged that Serbia's future decision to join NATO would
ultimately be put to a referendum. Popovic said that the DSS's new
platform, adopted on October 14, rejected Serbia's membership in
NATO. "PfP is enough," he said, adding it was Serbia's "democratic
right to be against NATO," and to remain neutral. Jankovic said
although the DSS favored neutrality, it also wanted regional
cooperation and good defense and economic relations with the United
States, the EU and Russia. PfP "implies equal status with NATO,
while membership would have additional costs and requirements,"
Jankovic said. Jankovic said ultimately NATO membership would come
to a referendum, in which there would be an open and fair public
debate. In contrast to the DSS platform of Prime Minister

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Kostunica, Stefanovic said President Tadic's team was doing all it
could to be ready for NATO and a referendum on the issue. "We will
prepare ourselves in a quiet atmosphere. While others are talking,
we are doing," he told Hoh.


6. (SBU) Hoh noted Belgrade's recent anti-NATO rhetoric and urged
restraint. Stefanovic said that any rhetoric was due to the Kosovo
issue but should not poison the future relationship. Jankovic
acknowledged that the anti-NATO rhetoric may be too strong, but
assured that the rhetoric was only limited to individuals and not to
the actual party position.

Serbia United on EU policy
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7. (SBU) Serbian officials told Hoh that the coalition government
was united on its pro-European stance, however, DSS interlocutors
added a caveat if the EU were to recognize Kosovo. Stefanovic said
that the EU is "the root" of the GOS and that Serbia would not step
back from that goal. Jankovic also stressed that the EU was a
priority for the GOS, but said if the EU were to recognize and
independent Kosovo "we would have to reconsider relations." Popovic
said Serbia's future relationship with the EU "remains up to the
EU," adding how the EU and the United States responded towards
Serbia with regard to Kosovo would determine the future
relationship. "We will do our best, but much depends on how the
West deals with us," Popovic said.

Comment
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8. (SBU) Political leaders in Belgrade know that Kosovo's
independence is looming. Domestic politics prevent them from saying
this publicly and USG arguments to "convince them" fall on deaf
ears. The comments to us by those closest to the decision makers
suggest, however, that the GOS is preparing now for an outcome on
Kosovo's independence. That preparation includes how the GOS will
act domestically as well as how it intends to respond to the
Euro-Atlantic community. End Comment.


9. (U) EUR/SCE Director Hoh has not cleared this message.



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