SOUTHERN SERBIA: AMBASSADOR HIGHLIGHTS USG INVESTMENT AND

UNCLAS BELGRADE 000077

SIPDIS

DEPARTMENT PASS TO AID

SIPDIS

E.O.12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL EAID PHUM SR MW YI
SUBJECT: SOUTHERN SERBIA: AMBASSADOR HIGHLIGHTS USG INVESTMENT AND
URGES ALBANIANS TO VOTE



1. SUMMARY: The Ambassador's 1/17 visit to southern Serbia
emphasized USG commitment to the region and support for Albanians to
participate in Serbian elections. National and local media covered
the Ambassador's opening of a USG and GOS funded commercial road and
meeting with Albanian leaders running for parliament. END SUMMARY.


2. On 1/17, the Ambassador, Mayor of Bujanovac, Nagip Arifi, and
GOS Coordination Body Representatives and inaugurated the Miratovac
- Lucane Corridor, which connects central Serbia to the Macedonian
border. It extends from Miratovac (Presevo) to Lucane (Bujanovac),
and is 33.15 km long and lins seven villages in a significant part
of the valley that were previously connected only by a small dirt
road. The completion of the Corridor, valued at a total of $6.4
million, is a joint success of the GOS, local communities, and the
USG. It was initiated through USAID's Community Revitalization
through Democratic Action (CRDA-E) program, and includes $2.9
million from the USG, a GOS Coordination Body matching contribution
of $2.8 million, and local community contribution of $700,000.


3. Because of this road, citizens now have better access to locally
available services, such as medical care, local government,
educational instittions, and businesses. Even at this point, a
sinificant investment of local resources has alreadybegun along
the corridor, and some of the burgeoning business opportunities were
showcased at an exhibit for the Ambassador. In public remarks
commemorating the event, the Ambassador said the road is a tangible
product of USG investment and partnership among the international
community, local partners and the GOS. There were several
enthusiastic receptions (and signs thanking the US) by local
residents for the Ambassador and Mayor Arifi during their tour of
the corridor.


4. The Ambassador also met with the Presevo Valley Albanians running
for parliament in the 1/21 Serbian elections. In a public meeting
with the ten candidates including Riza Halimi (PVD),Skender Destani
(DUD) and Nagip Arifi (PVD),the Ambassador expressed strong USG
support for Presevo Valley Albanians to vote in Serbia's
parliamentary elections in Serbia and take part in the creation of
the country's and the region's future. The Ambassador said a
boycott (which has been called for by some Presevo Valley Albanians)
only hurts the electorate's ability to have its voice heard in
Belgrade. The Ambassador drew a parallel with the Contact Group's
support for Kosovo Serbs to participate in Kosovo institutions. The
Presevo Valley Albanians thanked the Ambassador for his and the
USG's support, noting that "any help from the United States is
always close to our heart." Halimi says they are optimistic for two
MPs, noting that if the diaspora could vote "three would be
possible." Destani noted that the Ambassador's visit "will increase
the number of voters" among the Presevo Valley Albanian community.


5. COMMENT: The Ambassador's visit and calls for Albanians to
participate in Serbia's elections follows a similar visit by the UK
Ambassador last week and messages from Pristina, Tirana, Belgrade
and the OSCE. The visit helped emphasize the linkage between USG
investment in the region and the Contact Group principle of
integrating southern Serbia firmly with Belgrade. The participation
of Presevo Valley Albanians in Serbia's election are a huge
political success for our efforts in Southern Serbia. Albanian
representation in the Serbian parliament would represent a big step
forward for communities from this part of Serbia. END COMMENT.
POLT