Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07PODGORICA93
2007-03-30 11:49:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Podgorica
Cable title:
EUR/SCE DIRECTOR HOH'S VISIT EXTENSIVELY COVERED IN LOCAL
how-toVZCZCXRO9991 RR RUEHAG RUEHAST RUEHDA RUEHDBU RUEHDF RUEHFL RUEHIK RUEHKW RUEHLA RUEHLN RUEHLZ RUEHROV RUEHSR RUEHVK RUEHYG DE RUEHPOD #0093 0891149 ZNR UUUUU ZZH R 301149Z MAR 07 FM AMEMBASSY PODGORICA TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 0138 INFO RUFOADA/JAC MOLESWORTH RAF MOLESWORTH UK RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE RUEHPOD/AMEMBASSY PODGORICA 0145
UNCLAS PODGORICA 000093
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: SOCI PREL OPRC MW
SUBJECT: EUR/SCE DIRECTOR HOH'S VISIT EXTENSIVELY COVERED IN LOCAL
MEDIA
REF: PODGORICA 91
UNCLAS PODGORICA 000093
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: SOCI PREL OPRC MW
SUBJECT: EUR/SCE DIRECTOR HOH'S VISIT EXTENSIVELY COVERED IN LOCAL
MEDIA
REF: PODGORICA 91
1. (U) Summary: The Montenegrin print and electronic media
extensively covered EUR/SCE Director Christopher Hoh's March
25-29 visit to Montenegro and his meetings with Montenegrin
officials, as well with NGOs, religious leaders, and human
rights figures. Hoh stressed the need for continued reform, USG
satisfaction with its good relations with Montenegro, and
support for the Ahtissari proposal on Kosovo. Hoh met directly
with the press (public TV, and the four leading papers),on
March 28. End summary.
2. (U) On March 28, Mr. Hoh met with PM Zeljko Sturanovic,
Deputy PM for European Integration Gordana Djurovic, and Defense
Minister Boro Vucinic. The press quoted Mr. Hoh as saying during
the meetings that the "tradition of good relations between U.S.
and Montenegro will continue and strengthen in line with the new
status of Montenegro as an independent and sovereign state." He
praised Montenegrin authorities for preserving peace and
multiethnic harmony during the crisis in former SFRY and
assessed as positive Montenegrin efforts to advance European and
trans-Atlantic integration. Mr. Hoh also underscored the need
for further reforms in the areas of labor legislation and the
judiciary. The press noted that the USAID project for
Montenegro's accession to the WTO, as well as other similar USG
funded projects, have helped created a better business
environment in the country.
3. (U) The Public Television of Montenegro (TVCG) aired a
15-minute interview with Mr. Hoh in its primetime news program
on March 28. His interview with editors of the four daily
newspapers conducted on March 28 at Podgorica's American Corner
focused on the USG views of its relationship with Montenegro, in
areas such as Kosovo, NATO, and fighting organized crime,
corruption, and terrorism and resulted in frontpage stories in
their March 29 editions.
4. (U) On Kosovo, the most influential newspaper "Vijesti"
highlighted Hoh's satisfaction with the "responsible attitude"
of Montenegrin authorities in respect of the Kosovo issue. Hoh
noted that Montenegro has played an important role in the region
in many cases, serving as an example in how to promote harmony
and solve divisive issues like independence without escalating
tensions.
Hoh added that he would not speculate about the upcoming UNSC
decision on Kosovo, repeating that the U.S. supports the idea of
supervised independence for Kosovo.
5. (U) State-owned "Pobjeda" noted Hoh's characterization of
NATO as an alliance of democracies, with his advice that
Montenegro take a "step by step" approach in joining the
alliance. Anti-government "Dan" focused on Mr. Hoh's statement
regarding the GoM's abilities to fight against organized crime
and corruption, specifically his assessment that the GoM has an
excellent anti-corruption program on paper but the real
challenge is how this program will be implemented. The September
9, 2006, arrest of a dozen ethnic Albanians (including three
American citizens) - a.k.a. "Eagle's Flight" remains a prominent
local story, and journalists pressed Hoh about the role of the
USG in the arrests. In reply, Hoh underscored the important
role of the USG in providing consular assistance to the arrested
Americans, which was the story carried by pro-government
"Republika."
6. (U) The Public Television of Montenegro (TVCG) and private
NTV Montena on March 27, as well as the daily newspapers
"Pobjeda," "Dan," and "Republika" on March 28 reported on the
sidescan sonar donated by the USG to the Regional Center for
Underwater DeMining in Bijela. The press reported that the
EUR/SCE director Christopher Hoh and Charge marked the entry
into service of the sonar "and noted that the civilian Demining
Center in Bijela was potentially a unique contribution by
Montenegro to PfP and the NATO community."
7. (U) This cable was not cleared by EUR/SCE Hoh before his
departure.
BARNES
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: SOCI PREL OPRC MW
SUBJECT: EUR/SCE DIRECTOR HOH'S VISIT EXTENSIVELY COVERED IN LOCAL
MEDIA
REF: PODGORICA 91
1. (U) Summary: The Montenegrin print and electronic media
extensively covered EUR/SCE Director Christopher Hoh's March
25-29 visit to Montenegro and his meetings with Montenegrin
officials, as well with NGOs, religious leaders, and human
rights figures. Hoh stressed the need for continued reform, USG
satisfaction with its good relations with Montenegro, and
support for the Ahtissari proposal on Kosovo. Hoh met directly
with the press (public TV, and the four leading papers),on
March 28. End summary.
2. (U) On March 28, Mr. Hoh met with PM Zeljko Sturanovic,
Deputy PM for European Integration Gordana Djurovic, and Defense
Minister Boro Vucinic. The press quoted Mr. Hoh as saying during
the meetings that the "tradition of good relations between U.S.
and Montenegro will continue and strengthen in line with the new
status of Montenegro as an independent and sovereign state." He
praised Montenegrin authorities for preserving peace and
multiethnic harmony during the crisis in former SFRY and
assessed as positive Montenegrin efforts to advance European and
trans-Atlantic integration. Mr. Hoh also underscored the need
for further reforms in the areas of labor legislation and the
judiciary. The press noted that the USAID project for
Montenegro's accession to the WTO, as well as other similar USG
funded projects, have helped created a better business
environment in the country.
3. (U) The Public Television of Montenegro (TVCG) aired a
15-minute interview with Mr. Hoh in its primetime news program
on March 28. His interview with editors of the four daily
newspapers conducted on March 28 at Podgorica's American Corner
focused on the USG views of its relationship with Montenegro, in
areas such as Kosovo, NATO, and fighting organized crime,
corruption, and terrorism and resulted in frontpage stories in
their March 29 editions.
4. (U) On Kosovo, the most influential newspaper "Vijesti"
highlighted Hoh's satisfaction with the "responsible attitude"
of Montenegrin authorities in respect of the Kosovo issue. Hoh
noted that Montenegro has played an important role in the region
in many cases, serving as an example in how to promote harmony
and solve divisive issues like independence without escalating
tensions.
Hoh added that he would not speculate about the upcoming UNSC
decision on Kosovo, repeating that the U.S. supports the idea of
supervised independence for Kosovo.
5. (U) State-owned "Pobjeda" noted Hoh's characterization of
NATO as an alliance of democracies, with his advice that
Montenegro take a "step by step" approach in joining the
alliance. Anti-government "Dan" focused on Mr. Hoh's statement
regarding the GoM's abilities to fight against organized crime
and corruption, specifically his assessment that the GoM has an
excellent anti-corruption program on paper but the real
challenge is how this program will be implemented. The September
9, 2006, arrest of a dozen ethnic Albanians (including three
American citizens) - a.k.a. "Eagle's Flight" remains a prominent
local story, and journalists pressed Hoh about the role of the
USG in the arrests. In reply, Hoh underscored the important
role of the USG in providing consular assistance to the arrested
Americans, which was the story carried by pro-government
"Republika."
6. (U) The Public Television of Montenegro (TVCG) and private
NTV Montena on March 27, as well as the daily newspapers
"Pobjeda," "Dan," and "Republika" on March 28 reported on the
sidescan sonar donated by the USG to the Regional Center for
Underwater DeMining in Bijela. The press reported that the
EUR/SCE director Christopher Hoh and Charge marked the entry
into service of the sonar "and noted that the civilian Demining
Center in Bijela was potentially a unique contribution by
Montenegro to PfP and the NATO community."
7. (U) This cable was not cleared by EUR/SCE Hoh before his
departure.
BARNES