Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07BELGRADE644
2007-05-14 06:41:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Belgrade
Cable title:  

KOSOVO: SERBIA WEEKLY UPDATE (5/7 - 5/11)

Tags:  PGOV PREL PHUM PBTS KPAO SR MW YI 
pdf how-to read a cable
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PP RUEHAG RUEHAST RUEHDA RUEHDBU RUEHDF RUEHFL RUEHIK RUEHKW RUEHLA
RUEHLN RUEHLZ RUEHPOD RUEHROV RUEHSR RUEHVK RUEHYG
DE RUEHBW #0644/01 1340641
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 140641Z MAY 07
FM AMEMBASSY BELGRADE
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 0802
INFO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC 1344
RUFOADA/JAC MOLESWORTH RAF MOLESWORTH UK
RHMFISS/CDR USEUCOM VAIHINGEN GE
RXFEAA/HQ AFSOUTH NAPLES IT
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 BELGRADE 000644 

SIPDIS

SIPDIS
SENSITIVE

E.O.12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL PHUM PBTS KPAO SR MW YI
SUBJECT: KOSOVO: SERBIA WEEKLY UPDATE (5/7 - 5/11)

REF: BELGRADE 623

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 BELGRADE 000644

SIPDIS

SIPDIS
SENSITIVE

E.O.12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL PHUM PBTS KPAO SR MW YI
SUBJECT: KOSOVO: SERBIA WEEKLY UPDATE (5/7 - 5/11)

REF: BELGRADE 623


1. (U) This cable summarizes the week's notable events relating to
Serbia and Kosovo.


2. (SBU) Summary: For the week of May 7, Kosovo news was muted by
the dominant story of last-minute government formation.
Nevertheless, Belgrade media still reported on speculation about the
draft UNSC resolution and indirect comments from Serbian politicians
referencing Kosovo status as a factor in government formation.
Serbia's diplomatic lobbying against a UNSC resolution continues
apace, conspicuously affecting other multilateral deliberations.
End Summary.


UNSC: THE VIEW FROM BELGRADE
--------------


3. (U) On 5/8, PM Kostunica expressed strong support for Russia's
proposed UNSC resolution on Kosovo. Kostunica repeated that a new
resolution must uphold Serbia's territorial sovereignty and
integrity. The Foreign Ministry released an announcement calling
for any resolution to respect the territorial integrity of Serbia,
reaffirm UNSCR 1244 and continue talks between Belgrade and Pristina
with "balanced international mediation."


4. (SBU) As reported in reftel, Serbia cited its diplomatic lobbying
of UNSC members as a factor in other multilateral decisions.


5. (SBU) On 5/11, Belgrade media widely covered the report by
Belgian PermRep Verbeke of the UNSC's trip to Belgrade and Pristina
last month. The text of the report has not provoked much reaction
here yet, with most attention focused on the larger question of
Russia's intentions. Nevertheless, Serbian officials can be
expected to use out of context passages about low numbers of IDP
returns and unattained standards as part of their diplomatic
lobbying efforts.


6. (U) Meanwhile, USG statements on Kosovo matters from both the
Ambassador and Washington received consistent and thorough coverage
in Serbia. In a 5/10 interview with Blic, the Ambassador stressed
that the Kosovo question is completely separate from political
processes in Serbia. "The Serbian government has had its
opportunity for over a year to present its case and negotiate. Now

that process is over, and the action has moved to New York where a
resolution has been worked on that will lead to the supervised
independence of Kosovo." The Ambassador said that the U.S. would
continue working with Russia on Kosovo, but will not accept new
negotiations. "We aim to bring a settlement of Kosovo status to a
conclusion now, meaning this month, at the latest next month.
Either we do it through a controlled process, through the Security
Council, or things will happen in an uncontrolled way through which
it will be much more difficult to provide safety and security for
all the people involved in this process." The Ambassador warned
that the status quo will not hold.


7. (U) Belgrade media also gave wide coverage to U/S Burns' comments
this week in favor of a new UNSC resolution paving the way for
Kosovo's independence. The press highlighted Burns' statements that
the U.S. will continue to work with the other members of the UNSC,
the majority of whom support the Ahtisaari plan, on a resolution
which would lead to a vote this month.


KOSOVO A MINOR ISSUE IN GOVERNMENT FORMATION
--------------


8. (SBU) Kosovo status was only referred to only obliquely during
the government formation discussions. The only public comments came
from newly elected Radical Speaker of Parliament Nikolic, who
referenced on 5/11 Serbia's need for a "legitimate" government in
advance of possible foreign recognition of Kosovo independence.
Nikolic also raised Kosovo when discussion the possibility of Serbia
declaring a state of emergency, saying that a Kosovo resolution
could lead to such a decision. Nikolic downplayed all of his
comments about declaring a state of emergency a day after, saying he
was only noting the technical possibility existed. Privately, the
Prime Minister alluded to the U.S. and other countries' pressure to
resolve Kosovo as partly to blame in the strong performance of the
Radicals in the elections (which he tied to his party's decision to
elect Nikolic as Speaker). Also privately, former Minister for
Human Rights (and DS ally) Rasim Ljajic told emboff that he saw the
political divide which emerged from the vote for Nikolic based on
Kosovo policy.

DIPLOMATIC ACTIVITY
--------------


BELGRADE 00000644 002 OF 002



9. (U) Russia: Speculation on how Russia will vote at the UNSC
continued to be a major story in Serbia this week. RTS and other
Serbian media reported that Russia continues to push for an
agreement acceptable to both Belgrade and Pristina.


10. (U) EU/Germany: Belgrade wires reported that PM Kostunica
expressed concern to Germany Chancellor Merkel in a phone call
regarding the EU's support for Kosovo independence.


11. (U) EU: Belgrade press also covered EU foreign policy chief
Solana's reiteration of the EU's support for a new UNSC resolution
on Kosovo. Stefan Lehne, the EU's envoy to UNOSEK, also made news
here on 5/8 voicing support for a new UNSC resolution as soon as
possible.


12. (U) NATO: Serbian Army Chief of Staff Ponos's visit to NATO
received attention in Belgrade media, particularly his statements
that both the Serbian army and NATO share interest in keeping Kosovo
stable and view violence in Kosovo unacceptable. Media also noted
that NATO SYG Scheffer reiterated that the Alliance understood the
sensitive nature of the issue to Serbia, and also supports
Ahtisaari's plan as a resolution for Kosovo.


13. (U) Slovakia: Serbian media also gave coverage to Slovakian PM
Fico's comments in Russia that Ahtisaari's report is unacceptable
and that the other countries also understood the possibility of
altering that plan

POLT