KOSOVO: SERBIA APPLAUDS RUSSIAN CALL FOR NEW TALKS

UNCLAS BELGRADE 000383

SIPDIS

SIPDIS
SENSITIVE

E.O.12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL PHUM PBTS KPAO SR MW YI
SUBJECT: KOSOVO: SERBIA APPLAUDS RUSSIAN CALL FOR NEW TALKS



1. (U) Summary: Prime Minister Kostunica and other Serbian leaders
rushed to lend their strong support to Russian Foreign Minister
Lavrov and Security Council Secretary Ivanov's statements over the
weekend in favor of continued talks on Kosovo status under a new
mediator. The statements, along with the similar comments by the
Russian Ambassador in Belgrade, were the focus of all local media.
By contrast, Lavrov's comment that Russia will not necessarily
"block" a UNSC decision on Kosovo did not receive as much media
attention and was ignored by Serbian politicians. End Summary.

RUSSIAN AMBASSADOR SPEAKS OUT, TOO
--------------


2. (U) Belgrade media reported Lavrov and Ivanov's support for more
Kosovo negotiations as well as similar comments by the Russian
Ambassador. Ambassador Alexeev told Belgrade daily Vecernje Novosti
that "Russia was opposed to anyone, even the UNSC, deciding on that
on which only Belgrade and Pristina can decide through
negotiations." Alexeev added that Ahtisaari's "one-sided" plan "is
against international law, Resolution 1244, and Belgrade's
standpoint, which is clear and precise: any violation of territorial
integrity and Serbian sovereignty is unacceptable...The U.N. will
have to resolve the important preliminary issue: is the Security
Council even authorized to consider something that is against the
U.N. Charter? Russia believes that it is not." Alexeev explained
that Russia wants to see "real" talks between Belgrade and Pristina,
"without favoritism, without pressure, threats, and blackmail."
(Monday Headlines: pro-government Politika's front page, "Ivanov:
Find substitution for Ahtisaari;" Blic, "Russia reiterates its
demand - Change Ahtisaari, keep negotiations;" Press, "Ahtisaari
must fall.")


KOSTUNICA IMMEDIATELY SUPPORTS
--------------


3. (U) PM Kostunica immediately put out a statement of support
saying, "The Serbian Government strongly supports Russia's
initiative for the continuance of the negotiating process on
determining the status of Kosovo along with a new UN intermediary."
Kostunica added, "Serbia would constructively participate in the new
negotiating process and take on its share of responsibility for
finding a compromise and just solution." PM advisor and Kosovo
negotiator Slobodan Samardzic reiterated that the Russian FM was a
"voice of reason" after Ahtisaari "spent 14 months
without...reaching a compromise."


3. (U) Outgoing Serbian FM Draskovic called Lavrov's position
"logical" as there have not been any "essential negotiations in
Vienna" and Ahtisaari's proposal is not a "compromise."


4. (U) While there was no immediate reaction from President Tadic's
office, his advisor Leon Kojen called Lavrov's proposal "extremely
constructive." Kojen added that continued negotiations were the
only way to avoid a further destabilization of the situation in the
region over Kosovo.


5. (SBU) Comment: Kostunica reacted immediately, and selectively, to
frame the Russians' comments. He did not, for instance, address
Russia's first direct statement that it would not necessarily block
a UNSCR on behalf of Serbia ("not being more Serbian than the
Serbs") The PM has again rushed to present the Russian Kosovo
policy he hopes for, rather than perhaps the full breadth of Ivanov
and Lavrov's more nuanced statements.

POLT