Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07BELGRADE1659
2007-12-13 11:12:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Belgrade
Cable title:
(C) SERBIA TO TRY TO GET MANPADS DESTRUCTION BACK ON TRACK
how-toVZCZCXRO0796 RR RUEHFL RUEHKW RUEHLA RUEHROV RUEHSR DE RUEHBW #1659 3471112 ZNY CCCCC ZZH R 131112Z DEC 07 FM AMEMBASSY BELGRADE TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 1884 INFO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE
C O N F I D E N T I A L BELGRADE 001659
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
PM/WRA FOR MARK ADAMS
E.O. 12958: DECL 12/12/2017
TAGS: MARR MASS PARM PTER PREL MW SR
SUBJECT: (C) SERBIA TO TRY TO GET MANPADS DESTRUCTION BACK ON TRACK
BEFORE BILATERAL DEFENSE CONSULTATIONS
REF: A) STATE 162123 B) BELGRADE 1509
Classified By: DCM Jennifer Brush, reasons 1.4 (b,d).
Summary
-------
C O N F I D E N T I A L BELGRADE 001659
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
PM/WRA FOR MARK ADAMS
E.O. 12958: DECL 12/12/2017
TAGS: MARR MASS PARM PTER PREL MW SR
SUBJECT: (C) SERBIA TO TRY TO GET MANPADS DESTRUCTION BACK ON TRACK
BEFORE BILATERAL DEFENSE CONSULTATIONS
REF: A) STATE 162123 B) BELGRADE 1509
Classified By: DCM Jennifer Brush, reasons 1.4 (b,d).
Summary
--------------
1. (C) Assistant Minister for Defense Dusan Spasojevic said the
Government of Serbia would accept the U.S. interpretation of the
bilateral agreement on the destruction of Man Portable Air Defense
Systems (MANPADS) and would fulfill the terms of their agreement.
Spasojevic said that the MOD would identify new MANPADS for
destruction and ship them to the destruction facility by December 17.
Spasojevic looked forward to Bilateral Defense Consultations in
Washington, later this month, but worried that domestic politics
would sideline mil-mil relations for the coming months and reform
momentum would slow. Despite Spasojevic's commitment, Post is
uncertain that the MOD has the logistical capacity and political will
to put the MANPADS destruction back on track in the near term. End
Summary.
Serbia to Identify new MANPADS for Destruction
-------------- ---
2. (C) Assistant Minister for Defense Dusan Spasojevic, in response
to reftel points, on December 11 told Defense Attache and Poloff that
he was committed to get the MANPADS contract "back on track."
Spasojevic said he would have the Ministry identify an additional 720
MANPADs from Serbia's stockpiles and ship them to the Krusik company
(a domestic company that has a contract with MOD for this and has
performed previous MANPAD destruction) for destruction by December
17. This final complement would bring the total of missiles
destroyed under the 2005 program to 5000, and fulfill the terms of
Serbia's 2005 agreement with the United States. Spasojevic said he
wanted to have the final shipment en route in time for his Bilateral
Defense Consultations (BDC) in Washington, beginning December 17.
Upcoming Defense Consultations at an Important Moment
-------------- --------------
3. (C) Spasojevic said his visit to Washington was coming at a very
important time given the decision regarding Kosovo status.
Spasojevic said President Tadic had told him on several occasions
that he wanted him to go to Washington for the consultations since
Minister of Defense Sutanovac was unable to attend. (Comment: The
President has told Cabinet officials they are not allowed to travel
internationally indefinitely. End Comment.) Spasojevic said he was
hoping to confirm meetings with Senator Inhofe and with House Foreign
Affairs Committee staff. Spasojevic said he wanted "the visit to
sound positive back in Serbia," upon his return to Belgrade on
December 19. Referring to anti-Western rhetoric in Belgrade, he
expressed concern that it would be difficult to maintain the mil-mil
relationship if "politicians start screwing it up."
4. (C ) Not all within the MOD share Spasojevic's commitment.
Assistant Minister for Material Resources Ilija Pilipovic has told
the DATT in the past he was interested in expressing an interest in
selling Serbia's stockpiled missiles on the open market where he
expected to realize profits greater than the United States has agreed
to pay for MANPADS destruction. Pilipovic had previously argued for
reducing the number of weapons needed to satisfy the terms of the
agreement by 720, the number he claimed had remained in Montenegro
after the 2006 break-up of the Serbia-Montenegro State Union -- an
argument that Spasojevic, at our insistence, dismissed. Nonetheless,
on December 4, Pilipovic told the DATT that he would try to go to
Montenegro the week of December 10 to convince the Government of
Montenegro to return part of its stock of MANPADS to Serbia for this
purpose.
Comment
--------------
5. (C) Despite Spasojevic's interest in honoring the MANPADs
agreement, post has little reason to believe that others in the
ministry share his optimism and that he will be able to make good on
his commitment to finishing this job.. Post will continue to press
the MANPADs issue with the MOD, and encourages Department
interlocutors to raise the matter positively at the BDC. End
Comment.
MUNTER
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
PM/WRA FOR MARK ADAMS
E.O. 12958: DECL 12/12/2017
TAGS: MARR MASS PARM PTER PREL MW SR
SUBJECT: (C) SERBIA TO TRY TO GET MANPADS DESTRUCTION BACK ON TRACK
BEFORE BILATERAL DEFENSE CONSULTATIONS
REF: A) STATE 162123 B) BELGRADE 1509
Classified By: DCM Jennifer Brush, reasons 1.4 (b,d).
Summary
--------------
1. (C) Assistant Minister for Defense Dusan Spasojevic said the
Government of Serbia would accept the U.S. interpretation of the
bilateral agreement on the destruction of Man Portable Air Defense
Systems (MANPADS) and would fulfill the terms of their agreement.
Spasojevic said that the MOD would identify new MANPADS for
destruction and ship them to the destruction facility by December 17.
Spasojevic looked forward to Bilateral Defense Consultations in
Washington, later this month, but worried that domestic politics
would sideline mil-mil relations for the coming months and reform
momentum would slow. Despite Spasojevic's commitment, Post is
uncertain that the MOD has the logistical capacity and political will
to put the MANPADS destruction back on track in the near term. End
Summary.
Serbia to Identify new MANPADS for Destruction
-------------- ---
2. (C) Assistant Minister for Defense Dusan Spasojevic, in response
to reftel points, on December 11 told Defense Attache and Poloff that
he was committed to get the MANPADS contract "back on track."
Spasojevic said he would have the Ministry identify an additional 720
MANPADs from Serbia's stockpiles and ship them to the Krusik company
(a domestic company that has a contract with MOD for this and has
performed previous MANPAD destruction) for destruction by December
17. This final complement would bring the total of missiles
destroyed under the 2005 program to 5000, and fulfill the terms of
Serbia's 2005 agreement with the United States. Spasojevic said he
wanted to have the final shipment en route in time for his Bilateral
Defense Consultations (BDC) in Washington, beginning December 17.
Upcoming Defense Consultations at an Important Moment
-------------- --------------
3. (C) Spasojevic said his visit to Washington was coming at a very
important time given the decision regarding Kosovo status.
Spasojevic said President Tadic had told him on several occasions
that he wanted him to go to Washington for the consultations since
Minister of Defense Sutanovac was unable to attend. (Comment: The
President has told Cabinet officials they are not allowed to travel
internationally indefinitely. End Comment.) Spasojevic said he was
hoping to confirm meetings with Senator Inhofe and with House Foreign
Affairs Committee staff. Spasojevic said he wanted "the visit to
sound positive back in Serbia," upon his return to Belgrade on
December 19. Referring to anti-Western rhetoric in Belgrade, he
expressed concern that it would be difficult to maintain the mil-mil
relationship if "politicians start screwing it up."
4. (C ) Not all within the MOD share Spasojevic's commitment.
Assistant Minister for Material Resources Ilija Pilipovic has told
the DATT in the past he was interested in expressing an interest in
selling Serbia's stockpiled missiles on the open market where he
expected to realize profits greater than the United States has agreed
to pay for MANPADS destruction. Pilipovic had previously argued for
reducing the number of weapons needed to satisfy the terms of the
agreement by 720, the number he claimed had remained in Montenegro
after the 2006 break-up of the Serbia-Montenegro State Union -- an
argument that Spasojevic, at our insistence, dismissed. Nonetheless,
on December 4, Pilipovic told the DATT that he would try to go to
Montenegro the week of December 10 to convince the Government of
Montenegro to return part of its stock of MANPADS to Serbia for this
purpose.
Comment
--------------
5. (C) Despite Spasojevic's interest in honoring the MANPADs
agreement, post has little reason to believe that others in the
ministry share his optimism and that he will be able to make good on
his commitment to finishing this job.. Post will continue to press
the MANPADs issue with the MOD, and encourages Department
interlocutors to raise the matter positively at the BDC. End
Comment.
MUNTER