Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07BRATISLAVA33
2007-01-19 07:20:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Bratislava
Cable title:  

KUBIS TO SERBS: DON'T BUILD YOUR NEXT GOVERNMENT

Tags:  PREL UN UNMIK YI KO LO 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXYZ0000
PP RUEHWEB

DE RUEHSL #0033 0190720
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
P 190720Z JAN 07
FM AMEMBASSY BRATISLAVA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 0609
INFO RUEHZG/NATO EU COLLECTIVE
RUEHBW/AMEMBASSY BELGRADE 0058
RUEHPS/USOFFICE PRISTINA 0028
C O N F I D E N T I A L BRATISLAVA 000033 

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/20/2012
TAGS: PREL UN UNMIK YI KO LO
SUBJECT: KUBIS TO SERBS: DON'T BUILD YOUR NEXT GOVERNMENT
AROUND KOSOVO

Classified By: DCM Lawrence R. Silverman, for reason 1.4 b
and d.

C O N F I D E N T I A L BRATISLAVA 000033

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/20/2012
TAGS: PREL UN UNMIK YI KO LO
SUBJECT: KUBIS TO SERBS: DON'T BUILD YOUR NEXT GOVERNMENT
AROUND KOSOVO

Classified By: DCM Lawrence R. Silverman, for reason 1.4 b
and d.


1. (C) In a January 18 readout of Foreign Minister Jan Kubis'
January 15 visit to Serbia, PolDir Miroslav Lajcak told the
DCM that Kubis gave three firm messages to Serb leaders
(Tadic and Kostunica):
--Do not build the next government around Kosovo; make Europe
your priority;
--Form a government that strengthens your European
perspective;
--Don't count on the disunity of the EU; the EU will have a
common position in the end.
When Kostunica countered that Slovakia had a coalition
government with "non-standard" partners (referring to the
Slovak National Party, whose inclusion cost Prime Minister
Fico's Smer party suspension from the Party of European
Socialists),Kubis replied that Slovakia was already a member
of NATO and the EU. Kubis added that the Serbs should not
underestimate the talent of UN lawyers to find "good wording"
that will satisfy the various players.


2. (C) On timing, Lajcak pointed out that a new government
had 90 days to form itslef after the elections, giving the
Russians ammunition to use against even the efforts of
Ahtisaari before a legal government was in place. It is
uncertain what could happen between mid-March when
Ahtisaari's consultation process comes to an end and he
presents his plan to the UN, and the end of April.
Realistically, it might not be possible to reach final status
before the new government is formed. Nonetheless, technical
talks could start as planned at the beginning of February.
Slovakia stands firmly behind Ahtisaari and his timeline and
all efforts to get the Russians to back away from a veto, but
recognizes the real-time situation could result in a delay.
Lajcak said the bottom line on timing was, "Be firm, not
rigid." (Comment: Lajcak made no mention of the more
nationalist views of his President and Prime Minister, as he
has in the past, suggesting he thinks that the MFA view has
won out. End comment.
VALLEE