KOSOVO: SERBIA WEEKLY UPDATE (4/30-5/4)

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 BELGRADE 000597

SIPDIS

SIPDIS
SENSITIVE

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PBTS UNSC PGOV PREL PHUM KPAO SR
SUBJECT: KOSOVO: SERBIA WEEKLY UPDATE (4/30-5/4)

REFS: A) BELGRADE 582 B) BELGRADE 569 AND PREVIOUS


1. (U) This cable summarizes notable events relating to
Serbia and Kosovo.

SUMMARY
--------------


2. (sbu) This was an abbreviated week for Kosovo-related news owing
to a 2-day May Day holiday. Media focus at the beginning of the week
was on the SCM visit that concluded in Kosovo over the preceding
weekend (ref a). Serbian media also continues its (seemingly
orchestrated) offensive to make as much political hay as possible out
of real or perceived statements critical of the Ahtisaari plan or the
UNSC process.

SCM VISIT FOLLOW-UP
--------------


3. (SBU) Serbian press reporting, both electronic and print, has
consistently portrayed a far different picture of the recent
Security Council Mission (SCM) to Belgrade and Kosovo than facts on
the ground would warrant. The press focused most of its attention
during the Belgrade portion of the visit on three issues: the
government's claim that the visit represented a renewed negotiations
process; the changing attitudes in the UNSC evidenced by a remark by
the South African PermRep; and the need for the SCM to visit more
Serb enclaves and the IDP rally in Jarinje. This focus was sustained
despite a far more balanced and nuanced press conference given by the
head of the SCM, Belgian PermRep Verbeke, at the end of the Belgrade
portion of the visit that highlighted, inter alia, that New York and
the Ahtisaari plan would continue to be the focus of UNSC
deliberations and that the visit must be a balanced one (ref a).
Serbian press also covered Verbeke's initial oral report in NY later
in the week, reporting his assessment that the mission served its
purpose and provided an opportunity for the diplomats of the UNSC to
see the Kosovo situation first hand.

GOS ACTIVITIES
--------------


4. (sbu) On May 3, CCK Head (and DSS VP) Sanda Raskovic-Ivic said
that the US-EU Kosovo document announced earlier in the week
flagrantly dictates a solution and ignores the views of Russia, China
and some non-permanent members of the UNSC. FonMin Draskovic told
B92 that the US and EU are putting pressure for a new Kosovo
resolution to be put before the end of May despite differences with
Russia. Presidential adviser and future FONMIN hopeful Vuk Jeremic
said the US and EU are simply emphasizing their official positions
ahead of the UNSC debate.


5. (sbu) Local press widely reported this week that an undiscovered
mass grave, containing the bodies of Kosovo Albanians from the
conflict of the late 1990s, could exist but the news is still not
officially confirmed. On the basis of a statement by a witness that
a truck unloaded bodies near the site during the 1999 NATO bombing,
the War Crimes Prosecutor's Office requested a court in Belgrade
investigate, and a preliminary exhumation should begin on June 5.
The existence of this potential site has long been known to Serbian
and UNMIK authorities. On the basis of preliminary information sent
to Embassy RLA by UNMIK in February, RLA, S/WCI and UNMIK reps met
with War Crimes Investigative Judge Dilparic February 13 to secure
GoS agreement to excavate the site. This resulted in an agreement
that a preliminary dig would be held in presence of UNMIK. After some
delay in the issuing of the dig permit (Dilparic held things up
requesting more specific information about the target area),a
follow-up meeting in April was held at the proposed place of the dig
in Raska and there was an agreement to start the dig in early June.

OTHER DIPLOMATIC INITIATIVES
--------------


6. (sbu) Serbian press reported Swedish FonMin Carl Bildt's
criticism of statements by former USG official Richard Holbrook to
the effect that official Washington would recognize the unilaterally
proclaimed independence of Kosovo. Bildt said such an approach
represents "playing with fire", and said that in order to resolve the
future status of Kosovo, the UNSC had first to adopt a resolution.
Some analysts note that the presumed intent of the statement was to
forge European consensus around the need for a UNSCR in order to
solidify EU backing for a new resolution, local press portrayed it
more as a straight admonition of USG policy. The same process played
out later in the week when Norwegian Diplomat Kai Eide stated that a
unilateral recognition of Kosovo's independence without a UNSC
resolution would be dangerous as this would mean that Kosovo's status
would not be legal, which would in turn create problems for the
international community planning to enter Kosovo with a new EU-led
mission. Eide then stressed that the UNSC members must do everything
it can to reach an agreement.

BELGRADE 00000597 002 OF 002




7. (u) Serbian Press Spun the London CG POLDIRs Meeting in
reporting May 4, highlighting that Russian Deputy FonMin Titov
reiterated his proposal to draft an overview of the implementation of
Res. 1244 and to encourage the negotiation process between Belgrade
and Pristina brokered by the international community. Serbian public
broadcaster RTS characterized the meeting as being held at the
initiative of Russia and aimed at resolving the Kosovo problem by
taking into account the UNSC mission visits to the region.


8. (sbu) German Deputy FonMin Erler did passably well in hewing to
agreed CG positions in Belgrade meetings May 3. Local press played
up his statement that Germany opposes any announcement of one-sided
recognition of Kosovo until Res. 1244 is implemented, but also
reported that Erler informed Belgrade's leadership about the
positions of all 27 EU members which consider Ahtisaari's plan for
resolving the Kosovo status as a compromise to which there is no
reasonable alternative. Local press also mentioned Erler's statement
that the responsibility for resolution of the Kosovo issue is with
the UN, and that the UN will decide whether or not Res. 1244 would be
replaced.


POLT