Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07BELGRADE709
2007-05-21 16:39:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Belgrade
Cable title:
AMBASSADOR, HUMAN RIGHTS GROUPS SHARE COMMON
how-toVZCZCXRO1618 RR RUEHAG RUEHAST RUEHDA RUEHDBU RUEHDF RUEHFL RUEHIK RUEHKW RUEHLA RUEHLN RUEHLZ RUEHPOD RUEHROV RUEHSR RUEHVK RUEHYG DE RUEHBW #0709 1411639 ZNR UUUUU ZZH R 211639Z MAY 07 FM AMEMBASSY BELGRADE TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 0869 INFO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE
UNCLAS BELGRADE 000709
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
E.O.12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL PHUM SR
SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR, HUMAN RIGHTS GROUPS SHARE COMMON
AGENDA FOR NEW GOVERNMENT
UNCLAS BELGRADE 000709
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
E.O.12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL PHUM SR
SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR, HUMAN RIGHTS GROUPS SHARE COMMON
AGENDA FOR NEW GOVERNMENT
1. (U) Summary: On the eve of the new government's
formation, the Ambassador sat down with human rights
groups to hear their concerns, discuss mutual
interests, and express support for their role in civic
society. The lively exchange, which took place at the
Embassy, reinforced the need to work cooperatively to
keep Serbia's political leadership on the path of
democratic reform and Euro-Atlantic integration. End
Summary.
2. (SBU) In a calculated show of public support for
Serbia's civil society sector, the Ambassador met with
key NGO leaders at the Embassy May 15. Virtually all
of the most influential NGO leaders in Serbia
attended, including Natasa Kandic (Humanitarian Law
Center),Sonja Biserko (Helsinki Committee),Biljana
Kovacevic-Vuco (Lawyers Committee for Human Rights
(YUCOM)),Dragan Popovic (Youth Initiative for Human
Rights),Miljenko Dereta (Civic Initiatives),Stasa
Zajovic (Women in Black),Borka Pavicevic (Center for
Cultural Decontamination),and Vesna Petrovic
(Belgrade Center for Human Rights). Local press was
also present.
3. (SBU) In his meeting, the Ambassador pledged the
full and continued support of the USG for the
courageous work of the human rights groups, and
informed the assembled leaders that he would highlight
the need to continue to support the work of NGO's in
his first round of meetings with the new government.
The Ambassador summarized some of the key issues on
which the Embassy would engage with the new government
(economic development, democratic principles, security
programs, ICTY cooperation, and constructive policy on
Kosovo and other neighbors),and urged the human
rights groups assembled to work cooperatively with the
new government to further their human rights agenda.
4. (SBU) Sonja Biserko of the Helsinki Committee began
the discussion noting that the new government was "a
reality for Serbia." Many concurred that last week's
DSS-SRS deal to vote in Tomislav Nikolic as speaker of
the Parliament had two important effects -- it left no
doubt about Kostunica's anti-democratic leanings, and
it ignited fear among Serbians (even within
Kostunica's DSS) of a resurgence of Radical power.
Miljenko Dereta of Civic Initiatives pointed out that
both these developments help further the public debate
on Serbia's future, clearly framing the choice between
democratic reform and the alternative of isolation and
economic stagnation.
5. (SBU) Biljana Kovacevic-Vuco of the Lawyers
Committee for Human Rights expressed skepticism that
they could work with a government that is constantly
attacking them and calling them traitors. Others said
they would find allies within government or work with
institutions, not individuals.
6. (SBU) Dragan Popovic of the Youth Initiative for
Human Rights commented that the first task of the new
government should be to stop all forms of political
violence; he noted that since October 2006 there have
been 118 incidents against NGOs, media
representatives, and minority party members. Others
said they anticipated a potential backlash against
them after the Kosovo decision. Ambassador Polt
emphasized that the U.S. Embassy would "be here to
help the first moment anything happens."
7. (SBU) Comment: Many NGO leaders have complained
recently of an up tick in hostility directed toward
them. This has been especially true of NGO's who
espouse a differing (read: more realistic) view on
Kosovo from the government's official line. Some of
them have expressed concern that their offices - or
their persons - could become targets of further
threats, intimidation and/or violence once a Kosovo
status decision plays out. The rhetoric of the
parliamentary debate that surrounded the Nikolic
election, with its hearkening back to the Milosevic-
era labeling of "traitors" and "patriots" further
crystallized these concerns. We will continue to
insist at the highest levels that the new government
ensure the safety of these organizations and their
employees as part of its responsible management of a
Kosovo outcome.
POLT
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
E.O.12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL PHUM SR
SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR, HUMAN RIGHTS GROUPS SHARE COMMON
AGENDA FOR NEW GOVERNMENT
1. (U) Summary: On the eve of the new government's
formation, the Ambassador sat down with human rights
groups to hear their concerns, discuss mutual
interests, and express support for their role in civic
society. The lively exchange, which took place at the
Embassy, reinforced the need to work cooperatively to
keep Serbia's political leadership on the path of
democratic reform and Euro-Atlantic integration. End
Summary.
2. (SBU) In a calculated show of public support for
Serbia's civil society sector, the Ambassador met with
key NGO leaders at the Embassy May 15. Virtually all
of the most influential NGO leaders in Serbia
attended, including Natasa Kandic (Humanitarian Law
Center),Sonja Biserko (Helsinki Committee),Biljana
Kovacevic-Vuco (Lawyers Committee for Human Rights
(YUCOM)),Dragan Popovic (Youth Initiative for Human
Rights),Miljenko Dereta (Civic Initiatives),Stasa
Zajovic (Women in Black),Borka Pavicevic (Center for
Cultural Decontamination),and Vesna Petrovic
(Belgrade Center for Human Rights). Local press was
also present.
3. (SBU) In his meeting, the Ambassador pledged the
full and continued support of the USG for the
courageous work of the human rights groups, and
informed the assembled leaders that he would highlight
the need to continue to support the work of NGO's in
his first round of meetings with the new government.
The Ambassador summarized some of the key issues on
which the Embassy would engage with the new government
(economic development, democratic principles, security
programs, ICTY cooperation, and constructive policy on
Kosovo and other neighbors),and urged the human
rights groups assembled to work cooperatively with the
new government to further their human rights agenda.
4. (SBU) Sonja Biserko of the Helsinki Committee began
the discussion noting that the new government was "a
reality for Serbia." Many concurred that last week's
DSS-SRS deal to vote in Tomislav Nikolic as speaker of
the Parliament had two important effects -- it left no
doubt about Kostunica's anti-democratic leanings, and
it ignited fear among Serbians (even within
Kostunica's DSS) of a resurgence of Radical power.
Miljenko Dereta of Civic Initiatives pointed out that
both these developments help further the public debate
on Serbia's future, clearly framing the choice between
democratic reform and the alternative of isolation and
economic stagnation.
5. (SBU) Biljana Kovacevic-Vuco of the Lawyers
Committee for Human Rights expressed skepticism that
they could work with a government that is constantly
attacking them and calling them traitors. Others said
they would find allies within government or work with
institutions, not individuals.
6. (SBU) Dragan Popovic of the Youth Initiative for
Human Rights commented that the first task of the new
government should be to stop all forms of political
violence; he noted that since October 2006 there have
been 118 incidents against NGOs, media
representatives, and minority party members. Others
said they anticipated a potential backlash against
them after the Kosovo decision. Ambassador Polt
emphasized that the U.S. Embassy would "be here to
help the first moment anything happens."
7. (SBU) Comment: Many NGO leaders have complained
recently of an up tick in hostility directed toward
them. This has been especially true of NGO's who
espouse a differing (read: more realistic) view on
Kosovo from the government's official line. Some of
them have expressed concern that their offices - or
their persons - could become targets of further
threats, intimidation and/or violence once a Kosovo
status decision plays out. The rhetoric of the
parliamentary debate that surrounded the Nikolic
election, with its hearkening back to the Milosevic-
era labeling of "traitors" and "patriots" further
crystallized these concerns. We will continue to
insist at the highest levels that the new government
ensure the safety of these organizations and their
employees as part of its responsible management of a
Kosovo outcome.
POLT