(S) SERBIA: SANDZAK SIMMERS WHILE FIGHTING MUFTIS VIE FOR

C O N F I D E N T I A L BELGRADE 001551

SIPDIS

C O R R E C T E D COPY - CORRECTING DECL INSTRUCTIONS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL 11/14/2017
TAGS: PGOV PREL PHUM SR KV BK
SUBJECT: (S) SERBIA: SANDZAK SIMMERS WHILE FIGHTING MUFTIS VIE FOR
U.S. SUPPORT

REF: A) BELGRADE 1394, B) BELGRADE 1392

Classified By: DCM Jennifer Brush, reasons 1.4 (b,d)

Summary
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1. (C) Serbia's Islamic community in the Sandzak region continues to
feud over financial and political control of the local community
while the opposing religious leaders try to enlist U.S. support.
What started as a power grab by one faction of imams supported by
Belgrade apparently has spun out of control and now both sides
believe that U.S. backing is key if they are to prevail in this
growing row. The United States has no equities in who wins the
dispute, but has a strong interest in encouraging its resolution in
order to deter further violence, further destabilizing the already
vulnerable security of Serbia. End Summary.

Muftis' Explain their Positions for U.S. Support
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2. (C) Following the violence in October after the Belgrade-inspired
removal of Serbia's Chief Mufti, Muamer Zukorlic, and the subsequent
investiture of Mufti Adem Zilkic as Reis -- head of all Muslims of
Serbia (Ref A),the two sides sought U.S. support for their
positions. Belgrade-based Mufti Mohammed Jusufspahic and newly
inaugurated Reis Zilkic told the DCM on November 13 that the
situation in the Sandzak remained tense and accused Zukorlic of
instigating further violence. Explaining their rationale for
inaugurating Zilkic, both said their goal was to create a Reis for
all of Serbia who would bring together the various ethnic groups of
Serbia's Islamic community, rather than the previous system in which
Serbia's Islamic community was subordinate to Reis in Sarajevo. Both
Zilkic and Jusufspahic acknowledged that whoever directed Serbia's
Islamic community would also have a significant control over sizeable
property holdings, which could return to the community after Serbia
implements a restitution law in October 2008.


3. (C) In a separate meeting the same night, Zukorlic told DCM that,
in addition to Jusufspahic, Prime Minister Vojislav Kostunica and
Novi Pazar Mayor Suleyman Ugljanin, were behind his removal because
they were threatened by Zukorlic's popular influence in the Sandzak,
after his 14 years as Mufti. Zukorlic said the land holdings of the
community were minimal, accounting for "only a few hectares," though
he conceded the property was favorably located and valuable.
Zukorlic asked for U.S. support, believing the U.S. had supported him
in his previous disputes with the government.

Outside Influences already at Play
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4. (C) Both sides said outside forces were already at play in the
region. Zilkic accused Zukorlic of being an ethnic Albanian and a
"Wahhabist," who was supporting other extremists to destabilize the
situation. Zukorlic downplayed the role of extremists in the Sandzak,
saying that they were mostly "frustrated locals," but added that
Zilkic supported Wahhabisms. Zukorlic noted, however, that Iranians
had met with him after a recent visit by U.S. emboffs, and they had
offered to play a mediating role in the dispute. He said the
Iranians told him that he was getting too close to the United States.
The DCM stated to both parties that the United States had no stake
in this intra-religious community feud, but remained very concerned
that the feud could lead to further violence, leading to further
destabilization in Serbia.

Comment
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5. (C) Both sides are pressing whatever buttons they believe will
get them U.S. backing in this dispute. Neither says anything about
religion, it is all about politics and land. But both sides are also
armed and can gin up angry mobs at will. What may have begun as a
clumsy attempt by the Belgrade Islamic community to get their hands
on traditional Islamic holdings in the Sandzak, now apparently has
spun out of anyone's control, hence their appeals to the Embassy to
take sides and solve the dispute. Post is increasingly concerned
about the potential for additional, greater violence in the Sandzak
as the conflict boils and as each side seeks to enlist others to
their cause. Post will continue to encourage calm and dialogue to
cool tensions, but sees no resolution to the conflict without some
neutral entity's mediation. End Comment.

MUNTER