Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07PODGORICA227
2007-07-02 10:54:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Podgorica
Cable title:
SERBS IN MONTENEGRO PROTEST U.S. POLICY ON KOSOVO
how-toVZCZCXRO0877 RR RUEHPOD DE RUEWCSE #8343 1831036 ZNR UUUUU ZZH BT UNCLAS SVC SIPDIS QQQQ ZUI RUEHPOD0227 1831054 MESSAGE REJECTED - CONTAINS UNRECOGNIZED ORIGINATOR -- ERRORED MESSAGE FOLLOWS -- RAAUZYUW RUEHPOD0227 1831054-UUUU--RHMCSUU. ZNR UUUUU ZZH R 021054Z JUL 07 FM AMEMBASSY PODGORICA TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC INFO EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE RUFOADA/JAC MOLESWORTH RAF MOLESWORTH UK RUEHPOD/AMEMBASSY PODGORICA B T
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 PODGORICA 000227
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL MW SR
SUBJECT: SERBS IN MONTENEGRO PROTEST U.S. POLICY ON KOSOVO
PODGORICA 00000227 001.3 OF 003
SENSITIVE BUT UNCLASSIFIED - PLEASE HANDLE ACCORDINGLY
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 PODGORICA 000227
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL MW SR
SUBJECT: SERBS IN MONTENEGRO PROTEST U.S. POLICY ON KOSOVO
PODGORICA 00000227 001.3 OF 003
SENSITIVE BUT UNCLASSIFIED - PLEASE HANDLE ACCORDINGLY
1. (SBU) SUMMARY: SMALL BUT STRIDENT, TWO LOCALLY-BASED ETHNIC
SERB ORGANIZATIONS, THE ASSOCIATION OF DISPLACED PERSONS IN
MONTENEGRO AND THE SERBIAN NATIONAL COUNCIL OF MONTENEGRO, HAVE
STRONGLY OPPOSED THE USG POLICY SUPPORTING INDEPENDENCE FOR
KOSOVO. IN LETTERS TO THE EMBASSY, AND A JUNE 21 DEMONSTRATION,
THE GROUPS REJECTED THE U.S. POSITION ON KOSOVO. THE ASSOCIATION
OF DISPLACED PERSONS IN AN ADDITIONAL HARSH DECLARATION ADOPTED
ON THE ANNIVERSARY OF THE 1389 BATTLE OF KOSOVO, CALLED FOR THE
ENTRY OF SERBIAN "SECURITY FORCES" INTO KOSOVO AND "REQUESTED"
THAT THE GOM (AND GOS) DECLARE THE U.S. EMBASSY PERSONA NON
GRATA. THE GROUPS' ACTIONS, IN CONTRAST TO THEIR WORDS, HAVE
BEEN PEACEFUL SO FAR. END SUMMARY.
FLORID RHETORIC
--------------
2. (SBU) RESPONDING TO PRESIDENT BUSH'S DECLARATION OF USG
SUPPORT FOR THE INDEPENDENCE OF KOSOVO, TWO SMALL GROUPS OF
ETHNIC SERBS HAVE EMPLOYED FLORID RHETORIC TO REJECT NOT ONLY
THE USG POSITION, BUT ALSO TO "REQUEST" THAT THE GOM (AND GOS)
DECLARE THE U.S. EMBASSIES PERSONA NON GRATA. THE GROUPS ARE
THE ASSOCIATION OF DISPLACED PERSONS IN MONTENEGRO (THE
"ASSOCIATION"),WHICH HAS ABOUT 200 DISPLACED KOSOVAR SERBS
RESIDENT IN MONTENEGRO AS MEMBERS, AND THE SERBIAN NATIONAL
COUNCIL OF MONTENEGRO (SNV),WHICH WAS ORIGINALLY ESTABLISHED AN
NGO WITH SEVERAL HUNDRED MEMBERS, ETHNIC SERBS WHO ARE CITIZENS
OF MONTENEGRO. THE PRESIDENT OF THE SNV, MOMCILO VUKSANOVIC,
WAS ELECTED AS AN MP LAST SEPTEMBER AS A MEMBER OF THE SERBIAN
LIST.
3. (SBU) THE GROUPS HAVE OPERATED IN TANDEM, DRAFTING LETTERS TO
POST AND ORGANIZING A DEMONSTRATION IN FRONT OF THE EMBASSY ON
THE EVENING OF JUNE 21. A SUBSET OF THE ASSOCIATION, CALLING
ITSELF THE ASSOCIATION OF DISPLACED PERSONS IN MONTENEGRO
"KOSMET" [NOTE: I.E., KOSOVO AND METOHIJA. END NOTE.] SENT POST
AN ADDITIONAL, MUCH HARSHER, "ST. VITUS'S DAY" DECLARATION ON
JUNE 28. (NOTE: ST. VITUS'S DAY, JUNE 28, MARKS THE HISTORIC
BATTLE OF KOSOVO IN 1389 - IT IS ALSO THE DAY THAT SERB
ASSASSINS KILLED ARCHDUKE FERDINAND IN SARAJEVO IN 1914. END
NOTE.) POST ESTIMATES THAT THE ASSOCIATION OF DISPLACED PERSONS
IN MONTENEGRO "KOSMET" HAS SOME FIFTY MEMBERS, ALL OF WHOM ARE
ALSO MEMBERS OF THE LARGER ASSOCIATION.
4. (SBU) THE COMMON THEME IS THAT THE USG, BY SUPPORTING
INDEPENDENCE FOR KOSOVO, IS ADVANCING GENOCIDE AND ETHNIC
CLEANSING BY ALBANIANS, CREATING AN "OUTLAW" STATE. THE GROUPS
CHARACTERIZE THE USG, AND NOT MERELY THE POLICY, AS DESPOTIC AND
MURDEROUS. CONVERSELY, THE GROUPS DEMONSTRATORS ON JUNE 21
(ABOUT 90-100, MOSTLY YOUNG MALES, ACCORDING TO EMBASSY GUARD
FORCE, 300 ACCORDING TO THE GROUPS' STATEMENT TO THE MEDIA),
WERE WELL-BEHAVED. CURIOUSLY, THE ASSOCIATION SOUGHT A MEETING
WITH POST AT THE SAME TIME THAT IT DEMANDED THE CLOSURE OF THE
U.S. EMBASSY.
5. (SBU) THE ST. VITUS'S DAY DECLARATION IS THE HARSHEST OF THE
COMMUNICATIONS TO DATE. INFORMAL EMBASSY TRANSLATION:
CONSIDERING THE FACT THAT THE STATE OF SERBIA IS A FULL-FLEDGED
MEMBER OF THE UN; CONSIDERING THE PRINCIPLE OF STATE SOVEREIGNTY
AND TERRITORIAL INTEGRITY OF THE STATE OF SERBIA WHICH IS
GUARANTEED BY THE SERBIAN CONSTITUTION AND CONFIRMED BY THE
RESOLUTION 1244 OF THE U.N. SECURITY COUNCIL, IN RELATION WITH
AN ATTEMPT TO FORCIBLY SEIZE KOSOVO AND METOHIJA FROM SERBIA
AIMED AT CREATING A NEW ALBANIAN "MONSTER" STATE IN THE BALKANS
BASED ON GENOCIDE AND THE ETHNIC CLEANSING OF THE SERBIAN
PEOPLE, CONTRARY TO INTERNATIONAL LAW AND OTHER HIGHEST NORMS OF
THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY, IN WHICH OFFICIAL AMERICA HAS TAKEN
THE LEAD, THE ASSEMBLY OF THE ASSOCIATION OF DISPLACED PERSONS
IN MONTENEGRO "KOSMET", AT ITS REGULAR SESSION HELD ON JUNE 27,
2007, ADOPTED A
DECLARATION OF VIDOVDAN (ST VITUS' DAY)
B T
#0227
N
-- END OF ERRORED MESSAGE --
PODGORICA 00000227 002.3 OF 003
BY WHICH THE STATE LEADERSHIPS OF SERBIA AND MONTENEGRO ARE
REQUESTED TO:
1. CANCEL URGENTLY AND COMPULSORILY THE HOSPITALITY [GIVEN] TO
THE U.S. EMBASSIES AND ITS AMBASSADORS TO BELGRADE AND
PODGORICA, FOR THEIR PRESENCE AND ACTIONS PROVOKE FEAR OF NEW
WAR CLASHES IN THIS REGION. IN ADDITION TO THAT, OFFICIAL
AMERICA HAS BEEN RECOGNIZED AS A SYNONYM FOR BLOOD, DESPOTISM,
BARBARITY, LEGALIZATION OF CRIME, AND BANISHMENT.
-- PURSUANT TO THE RESOLUTION 1244, SEND THE STATE SECURITY
FORCES INTO THE AREA OF KOSMET WITHOUT HESITATION. THIS IS ALL
THE MORE NECESSARY, FOR PEACE HAS NOT BEEN ESTABLISHED IN THAT
PART OF SERBIA AFTER EIGHT YEARS. THE MINIMAL CONDITIONS FOR THE
RETURN OF 300,000 EXILES HAVE NOT BEEN CREATED. THE REMAINING
NATION-BUILDING SERBS AND MONTENEGRINS IN THE PROVINCE ARE BEING
FIRED UPON EVERY DAY, WHERE THE ALBANIAN CRIMINAL PERPETRATORS
REMAIN UNDISCOVERED THANKS TO THEIR ABETTORS FROM THE QUASI-UN
PEACEKEEPING TROOPS.
2. WE PUBLICLY EXPRESS GRATITUDE TO THE STATE LEADERSHIP OF
RUSSIA AND PRESIDENT VLADIMIR PUTIN FOR HIS CONSISTENCY IN
TRYING TO PREVENT THE REDRAWING OF INTERNATIONALLY RECOGNIZED
STATE BORDERS OF SOVEREIGN STATES, AND FOR THE SUPPORT WHICH
OFFICIAL RUSSIA OFFERS TO SERBIA WITH THE VIEW OF PRESERVING ITS
SOVEREIGNTY AND TERRITORIAL INTEGRITY.
3. WE SEND AN OFFICIAL PROTEST TO THE U.S. EMBASSY IN PODGORICA
AND TO THE DIPLOMATIC REPRESENTATIVES OF OTHER COUNTRIES OF THE
SO CALLED "CIVILIZED WEST", WHICH ADVOCATE THE FORCED SEIZURE OF
KOSOVO AND METOHIJA IN FAVOR OF THE ALBANIAN NATIONAL MINORITY,
WITH THE MESSAGE THAT READS:
WE SHALL NEVER EVER GIVE UP KOSOVO AND METOHIJA, AN ODE TO OUR
EXISTENCE, AN ANTHEM OF OUR LIFE."
END INFORMAL TRANSLATION.
ASSOCIATION OF DISPLACED PERSONS IN MONTENEGRO
-------------- -
6. (SBU) THE HEAD OF THE LARGER ASSOCIATION OF DISPLACED PERSONS
SAID THAT THE JUNE 28 DECLARATION ABOVE WAS FORMALLY ADOPTED
ONLY BY A SMALLER "KOSMET" SUB-GROUP, BUT THAT HE AGREED WITH
IT. (NOTE: AT THEIR REQUEST, THE PRINCIPAL OFFICER MET WITH
REPRESENTATIVES OF THIS ASSOCIATION IN SEPTEMBER 2005. AT THAT
TIME, THEY COMPLAINED ABOUT THE BAD SITUATION IN MONTENEGRO FOR
INTERNALLY DISPLACED PERSONS FROM KOSOVO. THEY EXPLAINED THAT
THE ASSOCIATION GATHERS 15 NGOS OF DISPLACED PERSONS FROM KOSOVO
AND REFUGEES FROM BOSNIA AND CROATIA, AND THAT ITS OFFICES ARE
CO-LOCATED WITH A COLLECTIVE CENTER IN SUTOMORE, ON THE COAST
NEAR BAR. END NOTE.)
SERBIAN NATIONAL COUNCIL OF MONTENEGRO
--------------
7. (SBU) THE SERBIAN NATIONAL COUNCIL OF MONTENEGRO (SNV) WAS
ORIGINALLY ESTABLISHED AS AN NGO, AND HAS SEVERAL HUNDRED
MEMBERS. (NOTE: NOW THAT IT HAS AN MP, THE SNV SHOULD
RE-REGISTER AS A POLITICAL PARTY, BUT THERE IS NO INDICATION IT
HAS DONE SO -- UNDERSCORING THE WEAKNESSES IN BOTH THE NGO AND
PARTY REGISTRATION LAWS. END NOTE.) THE MEMBERS ARE ETHNIC SERB
CITIZENS OF MONTENEGRO. THE CURRENT PRESIDENT OF THE SNV,
MOMCILO VUKSANOVIC, WAS ELECTED AS AN MP LAST SEPTEMBER AS A
MEMBER OF THE SERBIAN LIST, A COALITION OF NATIONALIST SERB
PARTIES IN MONTENEGRO HEADED BY ANDRIJA MANDIC OF THE SERBIAN
PEOPLES PARTY. VUKSANOVIC HAD BEEN A MEMBER OF THE SERBIA AND
MONTENEGRO PARLIAMENT FROM THE SOCIALIST PEOPLE'S PARTY (SNP).
B T
#0227
N
-- END OF ERRORED MESSAGE --
PODGORICA 00000227 003.3 OF 003
THE SNV, AND VUKSANOVIC, ARE SEEN AS CLOSE TO THE NATIONALIST
POLITICAL LEADERSHIP IN BELGRADE, AND TO THE SERBIAN NATIONAL
COUNCIL OF NORTH KOSOVO AND METOHIJA, BASED IN MITROVICA, KOSOVO.
COMMENT
--------------
8. (SBU) IT IS DIFFICULT TO JUDGE THE NUMBER OF KOSOVAR SERBS IN
MONTENEGRO; UNLIKE ROMA OR ALBANIANS FROM KOSOVO, OR REFUGEES
FROM CROATIA OR BOSNIA, KOSOVAR SERBS GENERALLY HOLD SERBIAN OR
EVEN MONTENEGRIN IDENTIFICATION PAPERS. THE JUNE 21
DEMONSTRATION WAS ADVERTISED IN ADVANCE, AND IT IS LIKELY THAT
MANY OF THE 90-ODD WHO CAME TO THE EMBASSY ARE NOT MEMBERS OF
EITHER GROUP.
9. (SBU) POST DOES NOT BELIEVE THE GROUPS TYPIFY
MONTENEGRO-BASED ETHNIC SERB VIEWS ABOUT THE USG ROLE IN THE
REGION. WHILE THE LARGER SERB PARTIES IN MONTENEGRO CLEARLY
WANT THE GOM TO SUPPORT THE GOS'S EFFORTS TO RETAIN KOSOVO, THEY
HAVE NOT EMPLOYED SUCH SHARP RHETORIC, AGAINST EITHER THE GOM OR
USG.
BARNES
B T
#0227
N
-- END OF ERRORED MESSAGE --
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL MW SR
SUBJECT: SERBS IN MONTENEGRO PROTEST U.S. POLICY ON KOSOVO
PODGORICA 00000227 001.3 OF 003
SENSITIVE BUT UNCLASSIFIED - PLEASE HANDLE ACCORDINGLY
1. (SBU) SUMMARY: SMALL BUT STRIDENT, TWO LOCALLY-BASED ETHNIC
SERB ORGANIZATIONS, THE ASSOCIATION OF DISPLACED PERSONS IN
MONTENEGRO AND THE SERBIAN NATIONAL COUNCIL OF MONTENEGRO, HAVE
STRONGLY OPPOSED THE USG POLICY SUPPORTING INDEPENDENCE FOR
KOSOVO. IN LETTERS TO THE EMBASSY, AND A JUNE 21 DEMONSTRATION,
THE GROUPS REJECTED THE U.S. POSITION ON KOSOVO. THE ASSOCIATION
OF DISPLACED PERSONS IN AN ADDITIONAL HARSH DECLARATION ADOPTED
ON THE ANNIVERSARY OF THE 1389 BATTLE OF KOSOVO, CALLED FOR THE
ENTRY OF SERBIAN "SECURITY FORCES" INTO KOSOVO AND "REQUESTED"
THAT THE GOM (AND GOS) DECLARE THE U.S. EMBASSY PERSONA NON
GRATA. THE GROUPS' ACTIONS, IN CONTRAST TO THEIR WORDS, HAVE
BEEN PEACEFUL SO FAR. END SUMMARY.
FLORID RHETORIC
--------------
2. (SBU) RESPONDING TO PRESIDENT BUSH'S DECLARATION OF USG
SUPPORT FOR THE INDEPENDENCE OF KOSOVO, TWO SMALL GROUPS OF
ETHNIC SERBS HAVE EMPLOYED FLORID RHETORIC TO REJECT NOT ONLY
THE USG POSITION, BUT ALSO TO "REQUEST" THAT THE GOM (AND GOS)
DECLARE THE U.S. EMBASSIES PERSONA NON GRATA. THE GROUPS ARE
THE ASSOCIATION OF DISPLACED PERSONS IN MONTENEGRO (THE
"ASSOCIATION"),WHICH HAS ABOUT 200 DISPLACED KOSOVAR SERBS
RESIDENT IN MONTENEGRO AS MEMBERS, AND THE SERBIAN NATIONAL
COUNCIL OF MONTENEGRO (SNV),WHICH WAS ORIGINALLY ESTABLISHED AN
NGO WITH SEVERAL HUNDRED MEMBERS, ETHNIC SERBS WHO ARE CITIZENS
OF MONTENEGRO. THE PRESIDENT OF THE SNV, MOMCILO VUKSANOVIC,
WAS ELECTED AS AN MP LAST SEPTEMBER AS A MEMBER OF THE SERBIAN
LIST.
3. (SBU) THE GROUPS HAVE OPERATED IN TANDEM, DRAFTING LETTERS TO
POST AND ORGANIZING A DEMONSTRATION IN FRONT OF THE EMBASSY ON
THE EVENING OF JUNE 21. A SUBSET OF THE ASSOCIATION, CALLING
ITSELF THE ASSOCIATION OF DISPLACED PERSONS IN MONTENEGRO
"KOSMET" [NOTE: I.E., KOSOVO AND METOHIJA. END NOTE.] SENT POST
AN ADDITIONAL, MUCH HARSHER, "ST. VITUS'S DAY" DECLARATION ON
JUNE 28. (NOTE: ST. VITUS'S DAY, JUNE 28, MARKS THE HISTORIC
BATTLE OF KOSOVO IN 1389 - IT IS ALSO THE DAY THAT SERB
ASSASSINS KILLED ARCHDUKE FERDINAND IN SARAJEVO IN 1914. END
NOTE.) POST ESTIMATES THAT THE ASSOCIATION OF DISPLACED PERSONS
IN MONTENEGRO "KOSMET" HAS SOME FIFTY MEMBERS, ALL OF WHOM ARE
ALSO MEMBERS OF THE LARGER ASSOCIATION.
4. (SBU) THE COMMON THEME IS THAT THE USG, BY SUPPORTING
INDEPENDENCE FOR KOSOVO, IS ADVANCING GENOCIDE AND ETHNIC
CLEANSING BY ALBANIANS, CREATING AN "OUTLAW" STATE. THE GROUPS
CHARACTERIZE THE USG, AND NOT MERELY THE POLICY, AS DESPOTIC AND
MURDEROUS. CONVERSELY, THE GROUPS DEMONSTRATORS ON JUNE 21
(ABOUT 90-100, MOSTLY YOUNG MALES, ACCORDING TO EMBASSY GUARD
FORCE, 300 ACCORDING TO THE GROUPS' STATEMENT TO THE MEDIA),
WERE WELL-BEHAVED. CURIOUSLY, THE ASSOCIATION SOUGHT A MEETING
WITH POST AT THE SAME TIME THAT IT DEMANDED THE CLOSURE OF THE
U.S. EMBASSY.
5. (SBU) THE ST. VITUS'S DAY DECLARATION IS THE HARSHEST OF THE
COMMUNICATIONS TO DATE. INFORMAL EMBASSY TRANSLATION:
CONSIDERING THE FACT THAT THE STATE OF SERBIA IS A FULL-FLEDGED
MEMBER OF THE UN; CONSIDERING THE PRINCIPLE OF STATE SOVEREIGNTY
AND TERRITORIAL INTEGRITY OF THE STATE OF SERBIA WHICH IS
GUARANTEED BY THE SERBIAN CONSTITUTION AND CONFIRMED BY THE
RESOLUTION 1244 OF THE U.N. SECURITY COUNCIL, IN RELATION WITH
AN ATTEMPT TO FORCIBLY SEIZE KOSOVO AND METOHIJA FROM SERBIA
AIMED AT CREATING A NEW ALBANIAN "MONSTER" STATE IN THE BALKANS
BASED ON GENOCIDE AND THE ETHNIC CLEANSING OF THE SERBIAN
PEOPLE, CONTRARY TO INTERNATIONAL LAW AND OTHER HIGHEST NORMS OF
THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY, IN WHICH OFFICIAL AMERICA HAS TAKEN
THE LEAD, THE ASSEMBLY OF THE ASSOCIATION OF DISPLACED PERSONS
IN MONTENEGRO "KOSMET", AT ITS REGULAR SESSION HELD ON JUNE 27,
2007, ADOPTED A
DECLARATION OF VIDOVDAN (ST VITUS' DAY)
B T
#0227
N
-- END OF ERRORED MESSAGE --
PODGORICA 00000227 002.3 OF 003
BY WHICH THE STATE LEADERSHIPS OF SERBIA AND MONTENEGRO ARE
REQUESTED TO:
1. CANCEL URGENTLY AND COMPULSORILY THE HOSPITALITY [GIVEN] TO
THE U.S. EMBASSIES AND ITS AMBASSADORS TO BELGRADE AND
PODGORICA, FOR THEIR PRESENCE AND ACTIONS PROVOKE FEAR OF NEW
WAR CLASHES IN THIS REGION. IN ADDITION TO THAT, OFFICIAL
AMERICA HAS BEEN RECOGNIZED AS A SYNONYM FOR BLOOD, DESPOTISM,
BARBARITY, LEGALIZATION OF CRIME, AND BANISHMENT.
-- PURSUANT TO THE RESOLUTION 1244, SEND THE STATE SECURITY
FORCES INTO THE AREA OF KOSMET WITHOUT HESITATION. THIS IS ALL
THE MORE NECESSARY, FOR PEACE HAS NOT BEEN ESTABLISHED IN THAT
PART OF SERBIA AFTER EIGHT YEARS. THE MINIMAL CONDITIONS FOR THE
RETURN OF 300,000 EXILES HAVE NOT BEEN CREATED. THE REMAINING
NATION-BUILDING SERBS AND MONTENEGRINS IN THE PROVINCE ARE BEING
FIRED UPON EVERY DAY, WHERE THE ALBANIAN CRIMINAL PERPETRATORS
REMAIN UNDISCOVERED THANKS TO THEIR ABETTORS FROM THE QUASI-UN
PEACEKEEPING TROOPS.
2. WE PUBLICLY EXPRESS GRATITUDE TO THE STATE LEADERSHIP OF
RUSSIA AND PRESIDENT VLADIMIR PUTIN FOR HIS CONSISTENCY IN
TRYING TO PREVENT THE REDRAWING OF INTERNATIONALLY RECOGNIZED
STATE BORDERS OF SOVEREIGN STATES, AND FOR THE SUPPORT WHICH
OFFICIAL RUSSIA OFFERS TO SERBIA WITH THE VIEW OF PRESERVING ITS
SOVEREIGNTY AND TERRITORIAL INTEGRITY.
3. WE SEND AN OFFICIAL PROTEST TO THE U.S. EMBASSY IN PODGORICA
AND TO THE DIPLOMATIC REPRESENTATIVES OF OTHER COUNTRIES OF THE
SO CALLED "CIVILIZED WEST", WHICH ADVOCATE THE FORCED SEIZURE OF
KOSOVO AND METOHIJA IN FAVOR OF THE ALBANIAN NATIONAL MINORITY,
WITH THE MESSAGE THAT READS:
WE SHALL NEVER EVER GIVE UP KOSOVO AND METOHIJA, AN ODE TO OUR
EXISTENCE, AN ANTHEM OF OUR LIFE."
END INFORMAL TRANSLATION.
ASSOCIATION OF DISPLACED PERSONS IN MONTENEGRO
-------------- -
6. (SBU) THE HEAD OF THE LARGER ASSOCIATION OF DISPLACED PERSONS
SAID THAT THE JUNE 28 DECLARATION ABOVE WAS FORMALLY ADOPTED
ONLY BY A SMALLER "KOSMET" SUB-GROUP, BUT THAT HE AGREED WITH
IT. (NOTE: AT THEIR REQUEST, THE PRINCIPAL OFFICER MET WITH
REPRESENTATIVES OF THIS ASSOCIATION IN SEPTEMBER 2005. AT THAT
TIME, THEY COMPLAINED ABOUT THE BAD SITUATION IN MONTENEGRO FOR
INTERNALLY DISPLACED PERSONS FROM KOSOVO. THEY EXPLAINED THAT
THE ASSOCIATION GATHERS 15 NGOS OF DISPLACED PERSONS FROM KOSOVO
AND REFUGEES FROM BOSNIA AND CROATIA, AND THAT ITS OFFICES ARE
CO-LOCATED WITH A COLLECTIVE CENTER IN SUTOMORE, ON THE COAST
NEAR BAR. END NOTE.)
SERBIAN NATIONAL COUNCIL OF MONTENEGRO
--------------
7. (SBU) THE SERBIAN NATIONAL COUNCIL OF MONTENEGRO (SNV) WAS
ORIGINALLY ESTABLISHED AS AN NGO, AND HAS SEVERAL HUNDRED
MEMBERS. (NOTE: NOW THAT IT HAS AN MP, THE SNV SHOULD
RE-REGISTER AS A POLITICAL PARTY, BUT THERE IS NO INDICATION IT
HAS DONE SO -- UNDERSCORING THE WEAKNESSES IN BOTH THE NGO AND
PARTY REGISTRATION LAWS. END NOTE.) THE MEMBERS ARE ETHNIC SERB
CITIZENS OF MONTENEGRO. THE CURRENT PRESIDENT OF THE SNV,
MOMCILO VUKSANOVIC, WAS ELECTED AS AN MP LAST SEPTEMBER AS A
MEMBER OF THE SERBIAN LIST, A COALITION OF NATIONALIST SERB
PARTIES IN MONTENEGRO HEADED BY ANDRIJA MANDIC OF THE SERBIAN
PEOPLES PARTY. VUKSANOVIC HAD BEEN A MEMBER OF THE SERBIA AND
MONTENEGRO PARLIAMENT FROM THE SOCIALIST PEOPLE'S PARTY (SNP).
B T
#0227
N
-- END OF ERRORED MESSAGE --
PODGORICA 00000227 003.3 OF 003
THE SNV, AND VUKSANOVIC, ARE SEEN AS CLOSE TO THE NATIONALIST
POLITICAL LEADERSHIP IN BELGRADE, AND TO THE SERBIAN NATIONAL
COUNCIL OF NORTH KOSOVO AND METOHIJA, BASED IN MITROVICA, KOSOVO.
COMMENT
--------------
8. (SBU) IT IS DIFFICULT TO JUDGE THE NUMBER OF KOSOVAR SERBS IN
MONTENEGRO; UNLIKE ROMA OR ALBANIANS FROM KOSOVO, OR REFUGEES
FROM CROATIA OR BOSNIA, KOSOVAR SERBS GENERALLY HOLD SERBIAN OR
EVEN MONTENEGRIN IDENTIFICATION PAPERS. THE JUNE 21
DEMONSTRATION WAS ADVERTISED IN ADVANCE, AND IT IS LIKELY THAT
MANY OF THE 90-ODD WHO CAME TO THE EMBASSY ARE NOT MEMBERS OF
EITHER GROUP.
9. (SBU) POST DOES NOT BELIEVE THE GROUPS TYPIFY
MONTENEGRO-BASED ETHNIC SERB VIEWS ABOUT THE USG ROLE IN THE
REGION. WHILE THE LARGER SERB PARTIES IN MONTENEGRO CLEARLY
WANT THE GOM TO SUPPORT THE GOS'S EFFORTS TO RETAIN KOSOVO, THEY
HAVE NOT EMPLOYED SUCH SHARP RHETORIC, AGAINST EITHER THE GOM OR
USG.
BARNES
B T
#0227
N
-- END OF ERRORED MESSAGE --