Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07PODGORICA240
2007-07-10 13:23:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Podgorica
Cable title:  

A/S FRIED DISCUSSES KOSOVO WITH GOM

Tags:  PREL MW SR 
pdf how-to read a cable
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RAAUZYUW RUEHPOD0240 1911323-UUUU--RHMCSUU.
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R 101323Z JUL 07
FM AMEMBASSY PODGORICA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC
INFO EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE
RUFOADA/JAC MOLESWORTH RAF MOLESWORTH UK
RUEHBW/AMEMBASSY BELGRADE
RUEHPS/USOFFICE PRISTINA
RUEHPOD/AMEMBASSY PODGORICA
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TAGS: PREL MW SR
SUBJECT: A/S FRIED DISCUSSES KOSOVO WITH GOM

REF: PODGORICA 227

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UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 PODGORICA 000240

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E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL MW SR
SUBJECT: A/S FRIED DISCUSSES KOSOVO WITH GOM

REF: PODGORICA 227

PODGORICA 00000240 001.3 OF 002


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1. (SBU) SUMMARY AND COMMENT: MONTENEGRIN PRESIDENT VUJANOVIC
AND FOREIGN MINISTER ROCEN, MEETING SEPARATELY WITH VISITING EUR
A/S DANIEL FRIED JULY 9, REITERATED THE GOM POSITION ON KOSOVO:
MONTENEGRO SEEKS A BROADLY SUPPORTED INTERNATIONAL SOLUTION IN
THE UNSC FOR KOSOVO, AND WILL NOT RECOGNIZE KOSOVO SEPARATELY.
FM ADDED THAT RUSSIAN PRESIDENT PUTIN, MEETING WITH THE GOM IN
ZAGREB JUNE 26, SAID RUSSIA "WILL NOT OUT-SERB THE SERBS" OVER
KOSOVO. FRIED EXPRESSED UNDERSTANDING FOR THE GOM POSITION,
OUTLINED THE USG APPROACH, AND SAID BELGRADE WILL NOT BE ALLOWED
TO BLOCK A SOLUTION, NOR MAKE THE U.S. AN ENEMY OF SERBIA.
GIVEN INTERNAL ETHNIC ISSUES AND THEIR POSITION AS NEIGHBOR TO
BOTH PROTAGONISTS, THE GOM REMAINS DETERMINED NOT TO TAKE A
VISIBLE ROLE IN THE KOSOVO DEBATE. OTHER ISSUES DISCUSSED
REPORTED SEPTEL. THIS CABLE WAS NOT CLEARED BY A/S FRIED. END
SUMMARY AND COMMENT.



MEETING WITH FM ROCEN

--------------




2. (SBU) MONTENEGRIN FOREIGN MINISTER MILAN ROCEN TOLD EUR A/S
DANIEL FRIED ON JULY 9 THAT A "SUSTAINABLE SOLUTION" MUST BE
FOUND FOR KOSOVO, SUPPORTED BY THE ENTIRE EU WITHOUT EXCEPTION.
HE CAUTIONED THAT SERBIA WOULD INTRODUCE A PROPOSAL FOR THE
PARTITION OF KOSOVO, OR A SERBIA OF "ONE COUNTRY, TWO SYSTEMS"
-- THAT WOULD GIVE KOSOVO A HIGH LEVEL OF AUTONOMY, STOPPING
SHORT OF UN MEMBERSHIP. THE FM STATED THAT MONTENEGRO "CAN'T
RECOGNIZE KOSOVO UNILATERALLY," ADDING THAT THE GOM WILL EXPLAIN
ITS POSITION TO THE GOS, AS IT ATTEMPTS TO CONTINUE GOOD
RELATIONS WITH BOTH SERBIA AND KOSOVO. ROCEN OFFERED THAT
RUSSIAN PRESIDENT PUTIN, MEETING WITH THE GOM IN ZAGREB JUNE 26,
SAID RUSSIA "WILL NOT OUT-SERB THE SERBS" OVER KOSOVO. HE
REPORTED THAT RUSSIA ASKED BELGRADE TO STATE WHAT THEY WANT, SO
THAT RUSSIA CAN SUPPORT THEM, THEN SHRUGGED, SEEMINGLY
INDICATING THAT THE RUSSIAN QUERY HAD REMAINED WITHOUT A CLEAR
ANSWER.




3. (SBU) FRIED RESPONDED THAT THE USG UNDERSTANDS THE GOM
POSITION ON KOSOVO, EXPLAINING THAT THE USG WILL SOON OFFER
ANOTHER UNSC RESOLUTION ON KOSOVO TO RUSSIA. FRIED STRESSED
THAT WITH U.S. TROOPS IN KOSOVO, IT WAS IMPERATIVE THAT PROGRESS
BE MADE ON THE ISSUE.



MEETING WITH PRESIDENT VUJANOVIC

--------------




4. (SBU) SPEAKING OF KOSOVO AND ITS EFFECT ON MONTENEGRO,
PRESIDENT VUJANOVIC REMINDED FRIED THAT DURING THEIR MAY 1
MEETING IN WASHINGTON, VUJANOVIC HAD STRESSED THE IMPORTANCE TO
MONTENEGRO OF INTERNAL STABILITY. FRIED ASSURED VUJANOVIC THAT
THE USG WOULD NOT PRESSURE THE GOM ON KOSOVO, OUTLINING THE
CURRENT USG APPROACH IN THE UNSC, INCLUDING ANTICIPATION OF THE
INTRODUCTION OF A NEW RESOLUTION THE WEEK OF JULY 9 FRIED NOTED
HIS HOPE THAT RUSSIA WILL LET THE NEW RESOLUTION BE ADOPTED,
STRESSING THAT PRESIDENT BUSH MEANT IT WHEN HE SAID KOSOVO WILL
BE INDEPENDENT.




5. (SBU) VUJANOVIC SAID THE GOM HAD THREE MAIN POINTS ON KOSOVO:



1) KOSOVO IS AN INTERNATIONAL PROBLEM THAT REQUIRES AN
INTERNATIONAL SOLUTION;



2) THEREFORE, THE UNSC MUST ADDRESS THE SITUATION, AND DEVISE A
SOLUTION SUPPORTED BY THE ENTIRE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY;



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3) THE EFFORT WILL REQUIRE PATIENCE, TO WORK OUT A SOLUTION THAT
IS "MUTUALLY ACCEPTABLE."




5. (SBU) FRIED RESPONDED THAT REPRESENTATIVES OF THE SERBIAN
COMMUNITIES NEEDED TO ENGAGE, AND TO UNDERSTAND THE GUARANTEES
FOR THEM AND THE CHURCHES UNDER THE AHTISAARI PLAN. NATO WAS
THERE TO PROTECT, ESPECIALLY TO PROTECT SERBS FROM EXTREMISTS.
HE ADDED THAT EVEN IF BELGRADE REJECTS EVERYTHING, IT WAS
NECESSARY TO PRESS ON TO A RESOLUTION IN KOSOVO. THE USG WOULD
NOT HOWEVER ALLOW "SILLY" RHETORIC FROM SERBIAN PM KOSTUNICA TO
MAKE THE U.S. THE ENEMY OF SERBIA.



RELATIONS WITH SERBIA

--------------




6. (SBU) FM ROCEN COMMENTED FURTHER ON MONTENEGRO'S RELATIONS
WITH SERBIA, NOTING THAT SERBIAN FM VUK JEREMIC HAD VISITED
PODGORICA ON JULY 6. ROCEN SAID MONTENEGRO MUST HAVE THE BEST
POSSIBLE RELATIONS WITH SERBIA, NOTING EXTENSIVE ECONOMIC,
CULTURAL AND FAMILY TIES BETWEEN THE STATES. AS THE MAJOR
COUNTRY IN THE REGION, SERBIA SHOULD "TAKE ITS PLACE ON THE
EUROPEAN TRAIN."
BARNES
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