Kosovo Weekly Report (May 14- 18, 2007)

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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

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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