Kosovo Weekly Report (May 14- 18, 2007)

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 BELGRADE 000694 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PBTS PREL PGOV SR SUBJECT: Kosovo Weekly Report (May 14- 18, 2007) ¶1. (u) This report covers activities related to Kosovo for the week of May 14. ¶2. (sbu) Summary: Kosovo news took a back seat again this week to the announcement of the formation of a coalition government just before the deadline. Kostunica's policy speech during the government formation vote highlighted that long-standing rejectionist policies on Kosovo would continue in the new government. New FM Jeremic stated that the new government's policy on Kosovo would be the same as the previous government's. By the end of the week, attention had turned to analysis of the Secretary's visit to Moscow and the likely impacts on the Kosovo status process. Most media, mischaracterizing statements by A/S Fried in Brussels May 16, reported that the USG had rejected the possibility of unilateral recognition of an independent Kosovo in the event of the failure of a UNSCR. The Ambassador will correct the record in an appropriate way in an interview with BETA news service May 21. End summary. GOVERNMENT OF SERBIA ACTIVITIES ¶3. (sbu) In his half-hour speech in Parliament May 15 as part of the vote to ring in the new government, PM Kostunica underlined five priorities of the new government, and as expected accentuated the issue of the Kosovo status. He pointed out that EU membership was Serbia's proclaimed determination, but that association to the Union could not be compensation for the loss of Kosovo. Kostunica reminded that the Serbian constitution states that every state institution had a central obligation to preserve the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the country. Therefore, the first program principle of the new government relates to the clear defining of the state policy towards Kosovo "as Serbia's essential and inalienable part." And that this Government will lead a principled policy based on the belief that any one-sided recognition of Kosovo's independence would represent the harshest violation of the UN charter, and would have to count on this causing serious consequences in relations with recognizing states. Following the formation of the government May 15 and the announcement that it would include a new Ministry for Kosovo, CCK head Sanda Raskovic-Ivic confirmed that the new ministry would "absorb" the Coordination Center for Kosovo. ¶4. (sbu) On May 16, Belgrade media reported that President Tadic said that Serbia has a legitimate right to defend her interests liked with Kosovo, an nobody can asked her to give up Kosovo. Tadic told the press at a conference of European and Western Balkans socialist and social democratic parties that Serbia will never give up Kosovo or its pursuit of membership in the European Union. REPORTED USG STATEMENTS ¶5. (sbu) Local media carried the Ambassador's May 11 B92 interview, in which he said that the draft resolution has the necessary support. He added that Russia could lodge a veto but that his belief that a resolution would be adopted was based on the fact that the status quo in Kosovo is untenable. Meanwhile, local press carried U/S Burns' comment May 14 in Zagreb that Kosovo should gain independence by the end of May, a decision which the UNSC should vote on. He told reporters that at the summit of the Southeast Europe Cooperation Process, the US would proposed a resolution to its European allies which he estimated would lead towards Kosovo independence by the end of the month. ¶6. (sbu) Belgrade media reported May 15 that the Secretary said in advance of meetings in Moscow that the concerns of Russia and Serbia should be taken into consideration but that is not a reason to prolong efforts to resolve the status of Kosovo. Local media prominently reported on the Secretary's comments in Moscow that it would be "impossible" for Kosovo to be part of Serbia again. ¶7. (sbu) On May 17, most Belgrade media carried coverage of A/S Fried's comments at a press roundtable in Brussels May 16, in which he reiterated the USG's preference for reaching a solution to Kosovo through the UNSC process and highlighted the choice between a controlled versus an uncontrolled outcome. Unfortunately, virtually all press, keying off a facile AP summary, wholly mis-characterized his comments as a USG rejection of the possibility of unilateral recognition. In coordination with A/S Fried, the Ambassador will correct the record in an interview with BETA news service May 21. DIPLOMATIC ACTIVITIES ¶8. (sbu) Russian PERMREP Churkin's assessment that the possibility of a Russian veto on the UNSC draft resolution is becoming more and more likely were reported May 14. Also on May 14, Tanjug reported that Swedish FonMin Karl Bildt said it was necessary to adopt a new UNSC resolution on Kosovo so that the EU can send its forces to Kosovo to replace NATO. He added we need clear timeframes, and these can be put in place only by a UNSC resolution. Meanwhile, the EU Council of Ministers decided to extend to September 1 the mandate of the European Union Planning Team (EUPT) for a possible police and judiciary operation in Kosovo which should e sent there once the final status of the province is defined and the UNSC approves the BELGRADE 00000694 002 OF 002 operation. ¶9. (sbu) The Brussels-based International Crisis Group, in a report published May 14, suggested that the West should consider a moratorium on Kosovo's membership to the UN to soften Moscow's opposition to the resolution drafted by US and EU partners. ICG recommended small revisions in the Ahtisaari's plan in order to demonstrate responsiveness to Russia's prerogatives, in particular creation of a Special Envoy for Minorities and 2-year moratorium before Kosovo can apply for UN membership. ¶10. (sbu) Following the Secretary's visit to Moscow, Belgrade electronic media reported that Russian FonMin Lavrov stated that respective stands of Russia and the U.S. are not getting closer even after the Secretary's talk with President Putin. However, he said both countries have agreed to tone down their rhetoric in a bid to improve strained ties. ¶11. (sbu) South African FonMin Zuma said on May 14 that her country will soon define its position on a Kosovo status settlement. In the meantime, the city council of Belgrade unanimously voted former president of South Africa Nelson Mandela an honorary citizen of Belgrade. ¶12. (sbu) Slovakian FonMin Jan Kubis declared May 16 in Belgrade that Slovakia will protect Serbia's legitimate interests on the occasion of the adoption of the resolution on Kosovo at the UNSC. He also said that the Slovakian delegation in the UNSC will act in accordance with the decision approved by the Slovakian parliament, and added that the new resolution on Kosovo needs to be approved as soon as possible as it is a precondition for regional stability and development. The new Foreign Minister called Slovakia Serbia's closest ally. ¶13. (sbu) Macedonian PM Gruevski announced on May 17 that Macedonia endorses the Kosovo status plan proposed by Ahtisaari and awaits action of the UNSC. ¶14. (sbu) Pro- government Politika printed on May 18 the alleged Russian proposal for Kosovo in the UNSC. According to Politika, Russia maintains that a new resolution for Kosovo should incorporate primarily a reaffirmation of UNSC Res. 1244, which guarantees Serbia's sovereignty and territorial integrity, and notes the need to resume Belgrade-Pristina negotiations with a balanced international mediation since political progress has been inadequate in defining Kosovo's status. By May 18, both the French-initiated draft and Russian elements had been printed in many Serbian dailies and weeklies. POLT