Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07PODGORICA46
2007-02-27 16:04:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Podgorica
Cable title:
MONTENEGRO WELCOMES ICJ RULING
how-toVZCZCXRO9091 PP RUEHPOD DE RUEWCSE #0209 0581544 ZNR UUUUU ZZH BT UNCLAS SVC SIPDIS QQQQ ZUI RUEHPOD0046 0581604 MESSAGE REJECTED - CONTAINS UNRECOGNIZED ORIGINATOR -- ERRORED MESSAGE FOLLOWS -- PAAUZYUW RUEHPOD0046 0581604-UUUU--RHMCSUU. ZNR UUUUU ZZH P R 271604Z FEB 07 FM AMEMBASSY PODGORICA TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC INFO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE RUFOADA/JAC MOLESWORTH RAF MOLESWORTH UK RUEHNO/USMISSION USNATO RUEHPS/USOFFICE PRISTINA RHEHAAA/NSC WASHINGTON DC RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC RUEHPOD/AMEMBASSY PODGORICA B T
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 PODGORICA 000046
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
STATE FOR EUR/SCE, S/WCI
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL KAWC KPAO MW SR
SUBJECT: MONTENEGRO WELCOMES ICJ RULING
REF: A. A) THE HAGUE 355
B. B) PODGORICA 36
PODGORICA 00000046 001.3 OF 002
SENSITIVE BUT UNCLASSIFIED - PLEASE HANDLE ACCORDINGLY
SUMMARY
-------
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 PODGORICA 000046
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
STATE FOR EUR/SCE, S/WCI
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL KAWC KPAO MW SR
SUBJECT: MONTENEGRO WELCOMES ICJ RULING
REF: A. A) THE HAGUE 355
B. B) PODGORICA 36
PODGORICA 00000046 001.3 OF 002
SENSITIVE BUT UNCLASSIFIED - PLEASE HANDLE ACCORDINGLY
SUMMARY
--------------
1. (U) MONTENEGRO'S PRESIDENT AND OPPOSITION ALIKE WELCOMED THE
FEBRUARY 26 RULING BY THE INTERNATIONAL COURT OF JUSTICE (ICJ)
THAT ABSOLVED MONTENEGRO FROM LIABILITY IN BOSNIA AND
HERZEGOVINA'S 1993 GENOCIDE SUIT AGAINST THE FORMER YUGOSLAVIA.
PRESIDENT VUJANOVIC SAID THE ICJ'S DECISION CONFIRMED THE WISDOM
OF MONTENEGROS SEPARATION FROM SERBIA. THE OPPOSITION GENERALLY
SAW THE RULING AS VINDICATING THE STANCE OF THE FORMER SERBIA
AND MONTENEGRO, THAT THE FORMER STATE GOVERNMENT IN BELGRADE WAS
NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR GENOCIDE. END SUMMARY.
PRESIDENTIAL REACTION
--------------
2. (U) AT A FEBRUARY 27 PRESS CONFERENCE, PRESIDENT FILIP
VUJANOVIC (DPS),AS HEAD OF STATE, TERMED IT "HISTORICALLY
SIGNIFICANT" THAT MONTENEGRO WAS EXCLUDED AS A PARTY TO THE
BOSNIAN LAWSUIT AGAINST SERBIA AND MONTENEGRO FOR GENOCIDE.
"MONTENEGRO HAD NO PASSIVE LIABILITY IN THE CASE, GIVEN THAT
SERBIA WAS THE SUCCESSOR TO ALL OBLIGATIONS OF THE FORMER
YUGOSLAVIA," VUJANOVIC TOLD JOURNALISTS. THE PRESIDENT ALSO
NOTED THAT MONTENEGRO HAS ALREADY EXPRESSED ITS REGRETS FOR THE
GENOCIDE IN SREBRENICA. HE ADDED MONTENEGRO COULD NOT PREVENT
THE CRIMES BECAUSE IT HAD NO COMMAND AUTHORITY OVER THE ARMY AND
PARAMILITARY UNITS IN BOSNIA AT THAT TIME. NOTE: EVEN THOUGH HE
IS A SENIOR MEMBER OF THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY OF SOCIALISTS (DPS),
WHICH IS THE LARGEST COMPONENT OF THE RULING COALITION,
PRESIDENT VUJANOVIC SPEAKS PUBLICLY AS THE HEAD OF STATE, AND
NOT FOR THE GOVERNMENT, OR FOR HIS PARTY. END NOTE.
NO GOM REACTION
--------------
3. (U) IN CONTRAST TO THE PRESIDENT'S STATEMENT, THE GOVERNMENT
OF MONTENEGRO HAS NOT FORMALLY COMMENTED ON THE DECISION. BOTH
THE PRIME MINISTER'S OFFICE AND THE FOREIGN MINISTRY INFORMED
POST THAT THE GOM HAS NO PLANS TO MAKE A STATEMENT. THE
SPOKESMAN OF THE RULING DEMOCRATIC PARTY OF SOCIALISTS (DPS)
NOTED THE DECISION, BUT MADE NO SUBSTANTIVE REMARKS. THE SOCIAL
DEMOCRAT PARTY (SDP),AS JUNIOR PARTNER IN THE GOVERNING
COALITION, SAID THE ICJ RULING CONFIRMED EARLIER SDP STATEMENTS
THAT MONTENEGRO WAS NOT INVOLVED IN THE LEGAL CASE, FOR IT HAD
SEPARATED FROM SERBIA, AND WAS NOT AN AGGRESSOR.
THE OPPOSITION SPEAKS
--------------
4. (U) NEBOJSA MEDOJEVIC OF THE MOVEMENT FOR CHANGE (PZP)
STATED THAT ALL MONTENEGRINS SHOULD BE HAPPY WITH THE ICJ RULING
FOR "THE DARK PERIOD IS BEHIND US AND WE CAN FINALLY TURN TO OUR
JOINT FUTURE, TO COOPERATE IN ORDER TO INTEGRATE THIS TURBULENT
REGION INTO EUROPE." HE ADDED THAT THE ICJ HAD "DECIDED THAT
THE TRAGEDY THAT HAD HAPPENED IN THE FORMER YUGOSLAVIA HAS TO BE
RESOLVED BASED ON THE PRINCIPLE OF INDIVIDUAL RESPONSIBILITY."
PREDRAG POPOVIC, LEADER OF THE PEOPLE'S PARTY (NS),WELCOMED THE
RULING BUT SAID THE FINDING THAT SERBIA HAD FAILED TO PREVENT
GENOCIDE OR TO PUNISH ITS PERPETRATORS INDICATED THAT THE ISSUE
OF WAR CRIMES WAS STILL OPEN.
B T
#0046
N
-- END OF ERRORED MESSAGE --
PODGORICA 00000046 002.3 OF 002
5. (U) THE SERB NATIONALIST PARTIES WERE GENERALLY PLEASED WITH
THE RULING. GORAN DANILOVIC OF THE SERBIAN PEOPLE'S PARTY (SNS)
SAID THE ICJ RULING SHOWED THAT SERBIA AND MONTENEGRO COULD NOT
BE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR GENOCIDE ON THE WHOLE TERRITORY OF
BOSNIA. THE DEMOCRATIC SERBIAN PARTY (DSS) PRAISED THE ICJ FOR
RESPECTING INTERNATIONAL LAW IN ITS DECISIONS, IN CONTRAST TO
THE ICTY'S DECISIONS. THE DSS ALSO CALLED ON PARLIAMENT SPEAKER
RANKO KRIVOKAPIC (SDP) TO RESIGN FOR ALLEGEDLY IMPLYING EARLIER
THIS MONTH THAT MONTENEGRO SHOULD PAY REPARATIONS TO CROATIA.
COMMENT
--------------
6. (SBU) THE ICJ RULING CAME ON THE SAME DAY AS A VISIT FROM A
SENIOR EU OFFICIAL, WHICH HELPED FOCUS MOST MONTENEGRIN
REACTIONS ON MONTENEGRO'S RESPONSIBILITIES UNDER INTERNATIONAL
LAW. THE LOW PROFILE TAKEN BY THE GOM IS PERHAPS ATTRIBUTABLE
TO THE FACT THAT MANY OF ITS MOST SENIOR MEMBERS HAVE BEEN IN
POSITIONS IN AUTHORITY CONTINUOUSLY SINCE 1990, INCLUDING DURING
THE PERIOD OF THE WAR IN BOSNIA (1992-95). THE GOVERNMENT IS
ALSO INCREASINGLY CONCERNED ABOUT POTENTIAL FINANCIAL
LIABILITIES IN ONGOING CASES STEMMING FROM ACTIONS TAKEN IN
1991-92 (REF B).
BARNES
B T
#0046
N
-- END OF ERRORED MESSAGE --
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
STATE FOR EUR/SCE, S/WCI
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL KAWC KPAO MW SR
SUBJECT: MONTENEGRO WELCOMES ICJ RULING
REF: A. A) THE HAGUE 355
B. B) PODGORICA 36
PODGORICA 00000046 001.3 OF 002
SENSITIVE BUT UNCLASSIFIED - PLEASE HANDLE ACCORDINGLY
SUMMARY
--------------
1. (U) MONTENEGRO'S PRESIDENT AND OPPOSITION ALIKE WELCOMED THE
FEBRUARY 26 RULING BY THE INTERNATIONAL COURT OF JUSTICE (ICJ)
THAT ABSOLVED MONTENEGRO FROM LIABILITY IN BOSNIA AND
HERZEGOVINA'S 1993 GENOCIDE SUIT AGAINST THE FORMER YUGOSLAVIA.
PRESIDENT VUJANOVIC SAID THE ICJ'S DECISION CONFIRMED THE WISDOM
OF MONTENEGROS SEPARATION FROM SERBIA. THE OPPOSITION GENERALLY
SAW THE RULING AS VINDICATING THE STANCE OF THE FORMER SERBIA
AND MONTENEGRO, THAT THE FORMER STATE GOVERNMENT IN BELGRADE WAS
NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR GENOCIDE. END SUMMARY.
PRESIDENTIAL REACTION
--------------
2. (U) AT A FEBRUARY 27 PRESS CONFERENCE, PRESIDENT FILIP
VUJANOVIC (DPS),AS HEAD OF STATE, TERMED IT "HISTORICALLY
SIGNIFICANT" THAT MONTENEGRO WAS EXCLUDED AS A PARTY TO THE
BOSNIAN LAWSUIT AGAINST SERBIA AND MONTENEGRO FOR GENOCIDE.
"MONTENEGRO HAD NO PASSIVE LIABILITY IN THE CASE, GIVEN THAT
SERBIA WAS THE SUCCESSOR TO ALL OBLIGATIONS OF THE FORMER
YUGOSLAVIA," VUJANOVIC TOLD JOURNALISTS. THE PRESIDENT ALSO
NOTED THAT MONTENEGRO HAS ALREADY EXPRESSED ITS REGRETS FOR THE
GENOCIDE IN SREBRENICA. HE ADDED MONTENEGRO COULD NOT PREVENT
THE CRIMES BECAUSE IT HAD NO COMMAND AUTHORITY OVER THE ARMY AND
PARAMILITARY UNITS IN BOSNIA AT THAT TIME. NOTE: EVEN THOUGH HE
IS A SENIOR MEMBER OF THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY OF SOCIALISTS (DPS),
WHICH IS THE LARGEST COMPONENT OF THE RULING COALITION,
PRESIDENT VUJANOVIC SPEAKS PUBLICLY AS THE HEAD OF STATE, AND
NOT FOR THE GOVERNMENT, OR FOR HIS PARTY. END NOTE.
NO GOM REACTION
--------------
3. (U) IN CONTRAST TO THE PRESIDENT'S STATEMENT, THE GOVERNMENT
OF MONTENEGRO HAS NOT FORMALLY COMMENTED ON THE DECISION. BOTH
THE PRIME MINISTER'S OFFICE AND THE FOREIGN MINISTRY INFORMED
POST THAT THE GOM HAS NO PLANS TO MAKE A STATEMENT. THE
SPOKESMAN OF THE RULING DEMOCRATIC PARTY OF SOCIALISTS (DPS)
NOTED THE DECISION, BUT MADE NO SUBSTANTIVE REMARKS. THE SOCIAL
DEMOCRAT PARTY (SDP),AS JUNIOR PARTNER IN THE GOVERNING
COALITION, SAID THE ICJ RULING CONFIRMED EARLIER SDP STATEMENTS
THAT MONTENEGRO WAS NOT INVOLVED IN THE LEGAL CASE, FOR IT HAD
SEPARATED FROM SERBIA, AND WAS NOT AN AGGRESSOR.
THE OPPOSITION SPEAKS
--------------
4. (U) NEBOJSA MEDOJEVIC OF THE MOVEMENT FOR CHANGE (PZP)
STATED THAT ALL MONTENEGRINS SHOULD BE HAPPY WITH THE ICJ RULING
FOR "THE DARK PERIOD IS BEHIND US AND WE CAN FINALLY TURN TO OUR
JOINT FUTURE, TO COOPERATE IN ORDER TO INTEGRATE THIS TURBULENT
REGION INTO EUROPE." HE ADDED THAT THE ICJ HAD "DECIDED THAT
THE TRAGEDY THAT HAD HAPPENED IN THE FORMER YUGOSLAVIA HAS TO BE
RESOLVED BASED ON THE PRINCIPLE OF INDIVIDUAL RESPONSIBILITY."
PREDRAG POPOVIC, LEADER OF THE PEOPLE'S PARTY (NS),WELCOMED THE
RULING BUT SAID THE FINDING THAT SERBIA HAD FAILED TO PREVENT
GENOCIDE OR TO PUNISH ITS PERPETRATORS INDICATED THAT THE ISSUE
OF WAR CRIMES WAS STILL OPEN.
B T
#0046
N
-- END OF ERRORED MESSAGE --
PODGORICA 00000046 002.3 OF 002
5. (U) THE SERB NATIONALIST PARTIES WERE GENERALLY PLEASED WITH
THE RULING. GORAN DANILOVIC OF THE SERBIAN PEOPLE'S PARTY (SNS)
SAID THE ICJ RULING SHOWED THAT SERBIA AND MONTENEGRO COULD NOT
BE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR GENOCIDE ON THE WHOLE TERRITORY OF
BOSNIA. THE DEMOCRATIC SERBIAN PARTY (DSS) PRAISED THE ICJ FOR
RESPECTING INTERNATIONAL LAW IN ITS DECISIONS, IN CONTRAST TO
THE ICTY'S DECISIONS. THE DSS ALSO CALLED ON PARLIAMENT SPEAKER
RANKO KRIVOKAPIC (SDP) TO RESIGN FOR ALLEGEDLY IMPLYING EARLIER
THIS MONTH THAT MONTENEGRO SHOULD PAY REPARATIONS TO CROATIA.
COMMENT
--------------
6. (SBU) THE ICJ RULING CAME ON THE SAME DAY AS A VISIT FROM A
SENIOR EU OFFICIAL, WHICH HELPED FOCUS MOST MONTENEGRIN
REACTIONS ON MONTENEGRO'S RESPONSIBILITIES UNDER INTERNATIONAL
LAW. THE LOW PROFILE TAKEN BY THE GOM IS PERHAPS ATTRIBUTABLE
TO THE FACT THAT MANY OF ITS MOST SENIOR MEMBERS HAVE BEEN IN
POSITIONS IN AUTHORITY CONTINUOUSLY SINCE 1990, INCLUDING DURING
THE PERIOD OF THE WAR IN BOSNIA (1992-95). THE GOVERNMENT IS
ALSO INCREASINGLY CONCERNED ABOUT POTENTIAL FINANCIAL
LIABILITIES IN ONGOING CASES STEMMING FROM ACTIONS TAKEN IN
1991-92 (REF B).
BARNES
B T
#0046
N
-- END OF ERRORED MESSAGE --