Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07PARIS1588
2007-04-19 15:34:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Paris
Cable title:
FRANCE AND KOSOVO UNSCR; LOCAL SERBIAN EFFORTS
how-toVZCZCXYZ0010 OO RUEHWEB DE RUEHFR #1588 1091534 ZNY CCCCC ZZH O 191534Z APR 07 FM AMEMBASSY PARIS TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 6629 INFO RUEHGG/UN SECURITY COUNCIL COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUEHBW/AMEMBASSY BELGRADE PRIORITY 0764 RUEHKI/AMEMBASSY KINSHASA PRIORITY 1481 RUEHMO/AMEMBASSY MOSCOW PRIORITY 5814 RUEHPS/USOFFICE PRISTINA PRIORITY RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK PRIORITY 1216
C O N F I D E N T I A L PARIS 001588
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/19/2017
TAGS: UNSC PREL YI RS UNMIK FR
SUBJECT: FRANCE AND KOSOVO UNSCR; LOCAL SERBIAN EFFORTS
REF: STATE 49723
Classified By: CHARGE D'AFFAIRES THOMAS J. WHITE FOR REASONS 1.4 (B) AN
D (D)
C O N F I D E N T I A L PARIS 001588
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/19/2017
TAGS: UNSC PREL YI RS UNMIK FR
SUBJECT: FRANCE AND KOSOVO UNSCR; LOCAL SERBIAN EFFORTS
REF: STATE 49723
Classified By: CHARGE D'AFFAIRES THOMAS J. WHITE FOR REASONS 1.4 (B) AN
D (D)
1. (C) France has stood closely by us throughout the Kosovo
final status process. Notwithstanding upcoming French
presidential elections, we do not anticipate any change in
France's position. That said, we believe that it will be
important for our leadership to engage with France's new
government on Kosovo as soon as possible, particularly if the
Security Council vote does not take place before mid-May,
when a government will be constituted. Incoming GOF
officials will need to familiarize themselves with the issue
quickly, and it will be vital that they not delay the process
while doing so. The Secretary may wish to consider
mentioning Kosovo, if she chooses to address current issues
in her congratulatory phone call to the new foreign minister,
once appointed.
--------------
SERBIAN LOBBYING IN FRANCE
--------------
2. (C) The Serbian Embassy in Paris has been actively engaged
for the past month in locally lobbying all UNSC members.
According to a Serbian diplomat, Belgrade recently instructed
their embassies to cease lobbying efforts until after the
Security Council mission to Kosovo. Despite said
instructions, Serbian FM Vuk Draskovic will visit Paris April
25-27. Officially his visit is part of Belgrade's efforts to
lobby the GOF, but the Serbian Embassy regards the mission a
boondoggle by an outgoing foreign minister with little
political future. French authorities have made it clear to
Serbian diplomats in Paris that they do not want to see
Draskovic, but as a courtesy will tentatively meet with him
at the political director level.
3. (C) Local Serbian diplomats have urged President Tadic to
send Vuk Jeremic to Paris in order to symbolically show that
DS remains solidly engaged in efforts to lobby key UNSC
members. However, Jeremic, who we understand is Tadic's
choice for foreign minister, insists he cannot leave Belgrade
until after the Serbian government is formed, according to
these sources. Jeremic travels to Paris frequently and was
credited by local diplomats with securing Chirac's position
on NATO PfP for Serbia at a time when the French MFA refused
to engage on the issue.
Please visit Paris' Classified Website at:
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/eur/paris/index.c fm
WHITE
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/19/2017
TAGS: UNSC PREL YI RS UNMIK FR
SUBJECT: FRANCE AND KOSOVO UNSCR; LOCAL SERBIAN EFFORTS
REF: STATE 49723
Classified By: CHARGE D'AFFAIRES THOMAS J. WHITE FOR REASONS 1.4 (B) AN
D (D)
1. (C) France has stood closely by us throughout the Kosovo
final status process. Notwithstanding upcoming French
presidential elections, we do not anticipate any change in
France's position. That said, we believe that it will be
important for our leadership to engage with France's new
government on Kosovo as soon as possible, particularly if the
Security Council vote does not take place before mid-May,
when a government will be constituted. Incoming GOF
officials will need to familiarize themselves with the issue
quickly, and it will be vital that they not delay the process
while doing so. The Secretary may wish to consider
mentioning Kosovo, if she chooses to address current issues
in her congratulatory phone call to the new foreign minister,
once appointed.
--------------
SERBIAN LOBBYING IN FRANCE
--------------
2. (C) The Serbian Embassy in Paris has been actively engaged
for the past month in locally lobbying all UNSC members.
According to a Serbian diplomat, Belgrade recently instructed
their embassies to cease lobbying efforts until after the
Security Council mission to Kosovo. Despite said
instructions, Serbian FM Vuk Draskovic will visit Paris April
25-27. Officially his visit is part of Belgrade's efforts to
lobby the GOF, but the Serbian Embassy regards the mission a
boondoggle by an outgoing foreign minister with little
political future. French authorities have made it clear to
Serbian diplomats in Paris that they do not want to see
Draskovic, but as a courtesy will tentatively meet with him
at the political director level.
3. (C) Local Serbian diplomats have urged President Tadic to
send Vuk Jeremic to Paris in order to symbolically show that
DS remains solidly engaged in efforts to lobby key UNSC
members. However, Jeremic, who we understand is Tadic's
choice for foreign minister, insists he cannot leave Belgrade
until after the Serbian government is formed, according to
these sources. Jeremic travels to Paris frequently and was
credited by local diplomats with securing Chirac's position
on NATO PfP for Serbia at a time when the French MFA refused
to engage on the issue.
Please visit Paris' Classified Website at:
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/eur/paris/index.c fm
WHITE