South Serbia Fears "Neglect" by Belgrade and the

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 BELGRADE 001641 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV PREL PHUM SR KV BK SUBJECT: South Serbia Fears "Neglect" by Belgrade and the International Community REF: BELGRADE 1482 SUMMARY -------------- ¶1. (SBU) According to Serb and Albanian leaders in Southern Serbia, the central government is neglecting the region's economic and political needs, and is only focused on the immediate security issues stemming from a decision on Kosovo. In meetings with international representatives, at an OSCE commemoration of six years of working in the region, both sides said that past progress in police, judicial and local government reform could backslide as international attention shifted. The security situation is stable, but interlocutors have noticed an increase in Gendarmerie activities. Both Albanian and Serb leaders have a mutual interest in a stable and prosperous Southern Serbia and must decide to continue working together - and with the central authorities - even while international focus - and funds - moves elsewhere post Kosovo status. End Summary. Belgrade Not Present -------------- ¶2. (SBU) During separate December 6 meetings in the Southern Serbia town of Bujanovac, Serb and Albanian leaders told the DCM, the OSCE Ambassador and representatives of other diplomatic missions that central government authorities had neglected the region and had shown little commitment to resolving its long-term development needs. Both sides faulted Belgrade's lack of involvement in the region, noting that only the Minister for Public Administration and Local Government (Milan Markovic of the Democratic Party) had visited the region since the new government was formed in May 2007. Stojanca Arsic, Serb leader from Bujanovac said local Serbs needed further support from Belgrade authorities, particularly in regard to economic development, citing deficiencies in infrastructure and power supply. Albanian leader Ragmi Mustafa said there also had been little involvement from central authorities on judicial and local reforms, saying "we can't have a serious conversation when one side is not listening." Riza Halimi, the only Albanian Member of Parliament, said he had tried to raise his concerns with the government regarding the lack of involvement in the region, but had received no response. Southern Serbia Still needs the International Community -------------- -------------- ¶3. (SBU) Both Serb and Albanian leaders stressed they needed the international community's continued involvement in the region, while voicing concerns that this involvement was waning. The international community needed to facilitate greater communication between regional and central authorities, said local DSS Serb representative Goran Taskovic. Bujanovac DS representative Miodrag Milkovic singled out the EU, saying that the EU needed to form a "partnership relationship" with the region. Mustafa said that as long as there was no international representative on the government's Coordinating Body for South Serbia, the institution would be unable to appropriately function. Halimi said that as a decision on Kosovo neared closer, he hoped that "the region would not be forgotten during these hard and difficult times." ¶4. (SBU) Following the Albanian leaders' presentations, DCM noted that both groups actually agreed on the two main themes, perception of decreased Belgrade and international community attention. She was disappointed, however, that both groups continued to focus on their problems and seek outside assistance rather than working together to articulate a vision for the future. The UK Ambassador and Italian DCM reinforced DCM's points. During a follow-on reception, both Serb and Albanian leaders faulted OSCE for the organization of separate meetings and said they were both able and willing to sit at the same table to work on problem-solving and strategic planning. Southern Serbia's Security Situation Stable -------------- ¶5. (SBU) While Serbia's military appears to be acting in a restrained manner, there is little straightforward information regarding the increased actions of the Gendarmerie in the region. In a separate December 6 meeting, the Serbian Army's Land Forces Commander in Nis, Lieutenant General Mladen Cirkovic told the DCM that the military was prepared to defend Southern Serbia and said he did not expect the military would be involved in the Kosovo status solution. Cirkovic said the military was prepared to help the Serbian Red Cross if there was a refugee crisis post status. He said the police were involved in dealing with "extremists" in the Administrative Boundary area and admitted that he had minimal contact with the Gendarmerie. Requests for the DCM to meet with the Gendarmerie's regional headquarters were denied, citing busy schedules. Local NGO representatives in Bujanovac told the DCM, on December 6, that there had been an increased presence of the Gendarmerie in the region over the past several weeks, with BELGRADE 00001641 002 OF 002 additional paramilitaries deployed and patrolling the areas. Local leaders stated their concern that any unrest in Kosovo could fuel the radicals in both ethnic communities in Southern Serbia, leading to a more polarized political situation. Comment -------------- ¶6. (SBU) While the central government's neglect of Southern Serbia merits attention, complaints by local leaders that the international community is disengaging from the region appears driven by a concern that the region will be forgotten once Kosovo status is determined. Although the international community remains engaged, local leaders need to facilitate further cooperation among themselves to capitalize upon previous reforms and to prevent backsliding. The two ethnic communities have voiced and shown their willingness to work together on issues of mutual importance, such as economic growth, and need to engage central authorities as a unified front. Post will continue to assure local leaders that we are engaged and watching Southern Serbia during this tense period to make certain that there is no "spillover" from a decision on Kosovo. Post will also encourage central authorities to take a more proactive role in working with local leaders to assure the region's continued political stability and future economic development. End Comment. MUNTER