Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07BELGRADE323
2007-03-09 13:33:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Belgrade
Cable title:
KOSOVO: SERBIA WEEKLY UPDATE (3/5 - 3/9)
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UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 BELGRADE 000323
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
E.O.12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL PHUM PBTS KPAO SR MW YI
SUBJECT: KOSOVO: SERBIA WEEKLY UPDATE (3/5 - 3/9)
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 BELGRADE 000323
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
E.O.12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL PHUM PBTS KPAO SR MW YI
SUBJECT: KOSOVO: SERBIA WEEKLY UPDATE (3/5 - 3/9)
1. (U) This cable summarizes notable events relating to
Serbia and Kosovo.
2. (U) Summary: For the week of March 5, Serbia's
preparation for the final, top-level round of UNOSEK talks,
as well as the visits of A/S Fried and NATO SYG Scheffer
were the most notable events related to Kosovo and Serbia.
According to a national poll (sent to desk),Serbians are
more divided on Kosovo than ever. Serbian leaders' hard-
line rhetoric on Kosovo is an important factor behind
Serbians' opinion that keeping Kosovo (60%) is more
important than joining the EU (33%). End Summary.
UNOSEK: the view from Belgrade
--------------
3. (U) Both PM Kostunica and President Tadic will attend
the final, top-level round of UNOSEK talks on March 10. PM
Kostunica's office attacked the Ahtisaari proposal, revised
after the last two weeks of consultations, as "worse than
the previous one since it coincides with the position of
the Albanian separatists."
4. (U) Radical Party leader Nikolic said that his party is
capable of "carrying out a new October 5th" (citing
Milosevic's ouster) if Kosovo is separated from Serbia.
Polls indicate hardening view on Kosovo
--------------
4. (SBU) Rhetoric from Serbian leaders, particularly PM
Kostunica, that Serbia (and the UNSC) will not accept an
independent Kosovo, appears to be contributing to hard-line
public views on the issue. According to an Embassy-
sponsored TNS Medium Gallup poll, 33% of Serbians think EU
accession is more important than keeping Kosovo while 59%
think the latter is the higher priority (up from 53% in
December).
5. (SBU) Serbians' opinions are hardening on Kosovo issues
with significantly fewer number of undecided respondents.
The number of undecided respondents dropped from 14% to 8%
in the question cited above. However, the percent of
Serbians who would consider harsher reactions to Kosovo
independence seemed to show a modest drop. In the recent
poll, 58% would do nothing (up from 54% in December),23%
would protest peacefully (down from 27%) and 9% would
support the use of force. Interestingly, respondents from
Belgrade were the hardest line on these issues.
Diplomatic Activity
--------------
6. (SBU) While A/S Fried's visit and major policy speech in
Belgrade did not focus on Kosovo, but on the future of
Serbia in Euro-Atlantic institutions, he fielded several
questions on Kosovo at his March 6 press conference in Nis.
In response to a question about a possible veto in the
UNSC, A/S Fried said it was too early to guess how members
would vote, but that Kosovo will be resolved this year.
A/S Fried added that it would be a mistake to assume that
one country could prevent the adoption of a decision on
Kosovo's future status. He called on Serbian leaders to
act responsibly and bring concrete ideas on the table
because the issues deal with real people in Kosovo.
7. (SBU) SYG Scheffer briefed NATO Ambassadors at the end
of his March 8 visit to Belgrade. The SYG called the
atmospherics "positive" -- more with Tadic than with
Kostunica. On Kosovo, he said while the Alliance firmly
supports the Ahtisaari plan. He hailed constructive steps
put forward by CHOD Ponos -- specifically CHOD-COMKFOR
communication. On the political side, SYG noted Serbia's
participation in Brussels (weighing in on Kosovo) as a sign
of Serbia taking advantage of PfP. While NATO "cannot
afford to leave Serbia behind," it is up to Tadic to lead
Serbians towards Euro-Atlantic integration, the SYG
concluded.
7. (U) In interviews with a Belgrade daily on March 8, both
the Ambassador and his British counterpart called for
Serbia's constructive approach to UNOSEK talks. The
Ambassador noted that the common goal should be to secure a
safe and dignified life for the people in Kosovo, including
Kosovo Serbs, not to score domestic political points. The
British Ambassador added that Serbia should form a new
government as soon as possible and that he sees the country
BELGRADE 00000323 002 OF 002
as a partner and future EU member.
POLT
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
E.O.12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL PHUM PBTS KPAO SR MW YI
SUBJECT: KOSOVO: SERBIA WEEKLY UPDATE (3/5 - 3/9)
1. (U) This cable summarizes notable events relating to
Serbia and Kosovo.
2. (U) Summary: For the week of March 5, Serbia's
preparation for the final, top-level round of UNOSEK talks,
as well as the visits of A/S Fried and NATO SYG Scheffer
were the most notable events related to Kosovo and Serbia.
According to a national poll (sent to desk),Serbians are
more divided on Kosovo than ever. Serbian leaders' hard-
line rhetoric on Kosovo is an important factor behind
Serbians' opinion that keeping Kosovo (60%) is more
important than joining the EU (33%). End Summary.
UNOSEK: the view from Belgrade
--------------
3. (U) Both PM Kostunica and President Tadic will attend
the final, top-level round of UNOSEK talks on March 10. PM
Kostunica's office attacked the Ahtisaari proposal, revised
after the last two weeks of consultations, as "worse than
the previous one since it coincides with the position of
the Albanian separatists."
4. (U) Radical Party leader Nikolic said that his party is
capable of "carrying out a new October 5th" (citing
Milosevic's ouster) if Kosovo is separated from Serbia.
Polls indicate hardening view on Kosovo
--------------
4. (SBU) Rhetoric from Serbian leaders, particularly PM
Kostunica, that Serbia (and the UNSC) will not accept an
independent Kosovo, appears to be contributing to hard-line
public views on the issue. According to an Embassy-
sponsored TNS Medium Gallup poll, 33% of Serbians think EU
accession is more important than keeping Kosovo while 59%
think the latter is the higher priority (up from 53% in
December).
5. (SBU) Serbians' opinions are hardening on Kosovo issues
with significantly fewer number of undecided respondents.
The number of undecided respondents dropped from 14% to 8%
in the question cited above. However, the percent of
Serbians who would consider harsher reactions to Kosovo
independence seemed to show a modest drop. In the recent
poll, 58% would do nothing (up from 54% in December),23%
would protest peacefully (down from 27%) and 9% would
support the use of force. Interestingly, respondents from
Belgrade were the hardest line on these issues.
Diplomatic Activity
--------------
6. (SBU) While A/S Fried's visit and major policy speech in
Belgrade did not focus on Kosovo, but on the future of
Serbia in Euro-Atlantic institutions, he fielded several
questions on Kosovo at his March 6 press conference in Nis.
In response to a question about a possible veto in the
UNSC, A/S Fried said it was too early to guess how members
would vote, but that Kosovo will be resolved this year.
A/S Fried added that it would be a mistake to assume that
one country could prevent the adoption of a decision on
Kosovo's future status. He called on Serbian leaders to
act responsibly and bring concrete ideas on the table
because the issues deal with real people in Kosovo.
7. (SBU) SYG Scheffer briefed NATO Ambassadors at the end
of his March 8 visit to Belgrade. The SYG called the
atmospherics "positive" -- more with Tadic than with
Kostunica. On Kosovo, he said while the Alliance firmly
supports the Ahtisaari plan. He hailed constructive steps
put forward by CHOD Ponos -- specifically CHOD-COMKFOR
communication. On the political side, SYG noted Serbia's
participation in Brussels (weighing in on Kosovo) as a sign
of Serbia taking advantage of PfP. While NATO "cannot
afford to leave Serbia behind," it is up to Tadic to lead
Serbians towards Euro-Atlantic integration, the SYG
concluded.
7. (U) In interviews with a Belgrade daily on March 8, both
the Ambassador and his British counterpart called for
Serbia's constructive approach to UNOSEK talks. The
Ambassador noted that the common goal should be to secure a
safe and dignified life for the people in Kosovo, including
Kosovo Serbs, not to score domestic political points. The
British Ambassador added that Serbia should form a new
government as soon as possible and that he sees the country
BELGRADE 00000323 002 OF 002
as a partner and future EU member.
POLT