FOREIGN MINISTER REVIEWS RANGE OF ISSUES WITH CHARGE

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 PODGORICA 000222 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL MARR PGOV MW SUBJECT: FOREIGN MINISTER REVIEWS RANGE OF ISSUES WITH CHARGE REF: A. A) PODGORICA 205 ¶B. B) PODGORICA 206 ¶C. C) DOD/DTRA-PODGORICA (BROWNING-CARLSON) E-MAIL 6/1/07 ¶D. D) PODGORICA 221 PODGORICA 00000222 001.3 OF 003 SENSITIVE BUT UNCLASSIFIED - PLEASE HANDLE ACCORDINGLY ¶1. (SBU) SUMMARY: A MEETING WITH THE FOREIGN MINISTER ON MONDAY JUNE 25 COVERED A VARIETY OF TOPICS INCLUDING THE CANCELLATION OF THE TENDER FOR THE THERMAL POWER PLANT, THE CONSTITUTION PROCESS, THE TRIAL OF AMERICAN CITIZENS CHARGED WITH SUPPORTING TERRORIST ACTIVITY, DEFENSE RELATIONS, VISA SERVICES IN MONTENEGRO (REF D) AND INTEREST IN DEVELOPING SUPPORT FOR NATO (SEPTEL). THE CHARGE PRESENTED A COPY OF ASSISTANT SECRETARY FRIED'S TESTIMONY ON U.S. POLICY TOWARD RUSSIA AND PROVIDED AN UPDATE ON THE CONFIRMATION PROCESS OF THE AMBASSADORIAL NOMINEE. END SUMMARY. -------------- -------------- RULING COALITION RELATIONSHIP SOURED BY CANCELLED TENDER -------------- -------------- TENDER SACRIFICED TO CONSTITUTION -------------- ¶2. (SBU) THE MINISTER OBSERVED THAT HE WASN'T CLEAR WHETHER THE D IN THE SDP PARTY NAME "STOOD FOR DEMOCRATIC OR DEMAGOGIC." HE SAID THE SOCIAL DEMOCRATIC PARTY WAS HAVING ITS OWN INTERNAL STRUGGLES (NOTE: THE SDP CONGRESS IS ON JULY 28) AND SEEMED NOSTALGIC FOR THE SOCIALIST PAST. HE EMPHASIZED THAT WHILE THE GOVERNMENT WAS UNDER NO OBLIGATION TO ACCEPT THE PARLIAMENTARY RESOLUTION CALLING FOR THE CANCELLATION OF THE THERMO POWER PLANT TENDER (REF A) IT HAD DONE SO IN THE INTEREST OF MOVING FORWARD ON A NEW CONSTITUTION. HOWEVER HE SAID THAT HE HAD MADE CLEAR TO IN A GOVERNMENT MEETING EARLIER IN THE DAY THAT THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD BE PREPARED FACE A REFERENDUM AND NEW ELECTION RATHER THAN AGREEING TO UNACCEPTABLE COMPROMISES IN ORDER TO ACHIEVE PARLIAMENTARY CONSENSUS ON THE CONSTITUTION. WHILE TIMING WAS IMPORTANT AND THERE WERE DEADLINES IMPOSED BY THE COUNCIL OF EUROPE, THE GOAL WAS TO HAVE A CONSTITUTION WHICH MEETS MODERN EUROPEAN STANDARDS AND TAKES INTO ACCOUNT THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE VENICE COMMISSION (REF B). DPS REMAINS COMMITTED TO PRIVATIZATION -------------- ¶3. (SBU) TURNING AGAIN TO THE FAILED PRIVATIZATION, THE MINISTER SAID ALTHOUGH THE GOVERNMENT, READ DOMINANT DEMOCRATIC PARTY OF SOCIALISTS (DPS),HAD DEMONSTRATED FORBEARANCE IN DEALING WITH THE ACTIONS OF ITS JUNIOR COALITION PARTNER, IT WOULD NOT BE DETERRED FROM ITS COMMITMENT TO CONTINUING PRIVATIZATION. CHARGE SUGGESTED THAT THE MOST EFFECTIVE WAY OF DEMONSTRATING THIS COMMITMENT WOULD BE THE SUCCESSFUL COMPLETION OF A PRIVATIZATION PROJECT IN THE NEAR FUTURE. -------------- "EAGLE'S FLIGHT" -------------- DELAY IN INITIAL CONSULAR ACCESS FAULTED -------------- ¶4. (SBU) CHARGE RAISED THE CASE OF AMERICAN CITIZENS CURRENTLY ON TRIAL CHARGED WITH SUPPORTING TERRORIST ACTIONS. SHE SAID IN HER OPINION THE FOUR-DAY DELAY BETWEEN THE ARREST -- OPERATION "EAGLE'S FLIGHT -- AND THE INITIAL CONSULAR ACCESS HAD CREATED A HOST OF PROBLEMS FOR THE MONTENEGRIN GOVERNMENT AND EXPRESSED B T #0222 N -- END OF ERRORED MESSAGE -- PODGORICA 00000222 002.3 OF 003 THE HOPE THAT IN ANY FUTURE CASES THE GOVERNMENT OF MONTENEGRO WOULD ENSURE PROMPT CONSULAR ACCESS TO DETAINED AMERICAN CITIZENS. THE MINISTER REPLIED THAT THE DELAY HAD INDEED BEEN UNACCEPTABLE AND IN FUTURE THE EMBASSY SHOULD FEEL FREE TO SEEK THE ASSISTANCE OF THE MINISTRY IN REQUESTING PROMPT ACCESS. ¶5. (SBU) ROCEN SAID THAT HE HAD PLANNED TO RAISE THE CASE TO MAKE OFFICIALLY KNOWN THE GOVERNMENT'S STRONG EXCEPTION TO THE CALLS OF A MEMBER OF THE UNITED STATES CONGRESS FOR EXTRAORDINARY ACTION TO BE TAKEN BY THE PRESIDENT OF MONTENEGRO. THE MEMBER HAD INITIALLY CONTACTED THE MONTENEGRIN AMBASSADOR IN WASHINGTON TO TELL HIM THAT PRESIDENT VUJANOVIC SHOULD PARDON THE AMERICANS, WITH NO REGARD FOR THE FACT THAT THERE IS AN ON-GOING JUDICIAL PROCESS. SUBSEQUENTLY THE MEMBER HAD PHONED THE PRIME MINISTER DIRECTLY LAST WEEK ON THE SAME SUBJECT. HE HAD SPOKEN TO THE PRIME MINISTER IN WHAT THE FOREIGN MINISTER DESCRIBED AS LANGUAGE WHICH WAS THREATENING AND INAPPROPRIATE FOR USE WITH A FOREIGN HEAD OF GOVERNMENT. THE PRIME MINISTER, A FORMER MINISTER OF JUSTICE, HAD EXPLAINED THE MONTENEGRIN LEGAL PROCESS AND NOTED THE GOVERNMENT WAS COMMITTED TO PROVIDING A FAIR, OBJECTIVE TRIAL. A SENIOR JUDGE HAD BEEN ASSIGNED TO THE CASE WITH THIS GOAL IN MIND. THE FOREIGN MINISTER ASKED RHETORICALLY HOW THE U.S., A GREAT PROPONENT OF THE RULE OF LAW AND JUDICIAL INDEPENDENCE AS WELL AS LEADER OF THE WAR ON TERRORISM, COULD COUNTENANCE SUCH ACTIONS. THE CHARGE SAID SHE WAS ONLY LEARNING OF THE CALLS TODAY AND THAT MEMBERS OF CONGRESS WERE INDEPENDENT ACTORS. CONCERNS ABOUT ALBANIAN DIASPORA -------------- ¶6. (SBU) ROCEN CONTINUED THAT MONEY FROM THE DIASPORA IN THE U.S. HAD FINANCED MUCH ACTIVITY IN KOSOVO AND HAD FINANCED ACTIVITIES THAT POSED A DANGER TO MONTENEGRO. CHARGE SAID SHE WAS NOT INFORMED OF SPECIFIC FUNDING ACTIVITIES, BUT THAT U.S. ENTITIES HAD LEGAL OBLIGATIONS TO ENSURE THAT THEIR FUNDRAISING ACTIVITIES DIDN'T SUPPORT TERRORISM ABROAD, A MATTER ABOUT WHICH SHE HAD REMINDED A VISITING DELEGATION OF ALBANIAN AMERICANS NOT LONG AGO. THE FOREIGN MINISTER SAID THE TRIAL WAS A SENSITIVE MATTER FOR THE GOM GIVEN ITS ETHNIC ALBANIAN MINORITY AND ITS DESIRE FOR GOOD RELATIONS WITH NEIGHBORING ALBANIA. -------------- DEFENSE REFORM AND RELATIONS -------------- OPPOSITION SERB NATIONALIST WANTS TO KEEP TANKS -------------- -- ¶7. (SBU) THE FOREIGN MINISTER WAS HIGHLY CRITICAL OF RECENT REMARKS OF SERBIAN LIST LEADER ANDRIJA MANDIC CALLING FOR THE RETENTION OF BATTLE TANKS (NOTE: MONTENEGRO, WITH UNDP/OSCE ASSISTANCE, WILL DESTROY 61 OF ITS 62 T-54/T-55S) FOR THE MONTENEGRIN MILITARY, DESCRIBING THEM AS ABSURD. HE WENT ON TO SAY THE U.S. SHOULD BE COGNIZANT OF WHO IT WAS DEALING WITH SO CLOSELY. (NOTE: MANDIC IS A FORMER IV RECIPIENT.) THE MINISTER SAID RATHER SOMBERLY THAT MANDIC BRAGGED THAT DURING THE 1999 KOSOVO CAMPAIGN HE HAD BEEN PREPARED TO SHOOT DOWN NATO AIRCRAFT. WMD AGREEMENT -------------- ¶8. (SBU) QUERIED ABOUT A REPORT THAT MONTENEGRO WAS SEEKING A VISIT BY A SENIOR U.S. OFFICIAL TO SIGN THE WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION ANTI-PROLIFERATION AGREEMENT, THE MINISTER SAID THAT WAS CORRECT AND SUCH A VISIT WOULD BE IMPORTANT EVEN BEYOND THE SIGNING OF AN AGREEMENT (WHICH ALLOWS FOR THE PROVISION OF TRAINING AND EQUIPMENT). HE SEEMED TO LINK SUCH A VISIT TO B T #0222 N -- END OF ERRORED MESSAGE -- PODGORICA 00000222 003.3 OF 003 PUTTING THE DEFENSE PRETENSIONS OF OPPOSITION POLITICIANS IN THEIR PLACE. (NOTE -- POLOFF WAS SEPARATELY INFORMED BY MFA A/FM RADULOVIC THAT SO FAR ONLY TWO OF SIX CONCERNED MINISTRIES HAVE SIGNED OFF ON THE AGREEMENT, AND THE GOM REPLY TO THE DRAFT PROVIDED BY THE USG (REF C) WILL NOT BE READY UNTIL THE BEGINNING OF JULY. END NOTE.) -------------- -------------- STATE DEPARTMENT TESTIMONY TO SENATE ON RUSSIA, MONTENEGRO -------------- -------------- ¶9. (U) CHARGE PROVIDED THE FM A COPY OF ASSISTANT SECRETARY FRIED'S JUNE 21 TESTIMONY ON RUSSIA BEFORE THE SFRC, NOTING IT PROVIDED A VERY LUCID OVERVIEW OF U.S. RELATIONS WITH RUSSIA AND WOULD SURELY BE OF INTEREST. CHARGE ALSO REVIEWED THE NEXT STEPS IN THE CONFIRMATION PROCESS FOR THE NEW AMBASSADOR AND NOTED THAT THE SFRC HAD SCHEDULED A BUSINESS COMMITTEE MEETING FOR JUNE 27. SHE PROVIDED A COPY OF THE NOMINEE'S STATEMENT TO THE COMMITTEE. -------------- COMMENT -------------- ¶10. (SBU) ROCEN WAS TIRED AND RATHER SUBDUED. HE WAS MORE OPENLY CRITICAL OF THE GOVERNMENT'S COALITION PARTNER AND OF INDIVIDUALS THAN HE HAS BEEN IN THE PAST. RECENTLY, HE BECAME NEEDLESSLY EMBROILED IN A PUBLIC SPAT WITH EU AMBASSADORS OVER AN MFA NOTE WHICH SOUGHT TO HAVE FOREIGN MISSIONS SEEK ALL APPOINTMENTS WITH HIGH-LEVEL OFFICIALS VIA THE MFA. HE CALLED IN THE GERMAN AMBASSADOR AND ACCUSED HIM OF LEAKING THE SUBSTANCE OF THE EU'S COMPLAINT (WHICH HAD BEEN MADE THROUGH A MEETING WITH THE DEPUTY FM. THE SLOVENE AMBASSADOR IS CONVINCED THE LEAK TO THE PRESS CAME FROM WITHIN THE MFA). IT WOULD APPEAR THAT A BARRAGE OF PRESS CRITICISM AND/OR A PUNISHING TRAVEL SCHEDULE ARE TAKING A TOLL ON THE NORMALLY JOCULAR FM. BARNES B T #0222 N -- END OF ERRORED MESSAGE --