KOSOVO: DACI CONVENES "DEMOCRATIC LEAGUE OF

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 PRISTINA 000141

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR DRL, INL, AND EUR/SCE, NSC FOR BRAUN, USUN FOR
DREW SCHUFLETOWSKI, USOSCE FOR STEVE STEGER

E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/22/2017
TAGS: PGOV KDEM UNMIK YI
SUBJECT: KOSOVO: DACI CONVENES "DEMOCRATIC LEAGUE OF
DARDANIA"

REF: PRISTINA 29

PRISTINA 00000141 001.2 OF 002


Classified By: COM TINA KAIDANOW FOR REASONS 1.4 (B) AND (D).


1. (C) SUMMARY: The break-away faction of the ruling
Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK) held its first political
convention on February 17, endorsing ex-Assembly Speaker
Nexhat Daci as its leader and approving his hand-picked slate
of deputy presidents. The party chose the name "Democratic
League of Dardania" (LDD). The new group has not applied to
register with the OSCE, but has already secured enough
members in the Kosovo Assembly to form its own caucus. There
was little outside participation at the convention, and the
group's reception among the populace has been tepid, despite
attempts to portray itself as heir to the mantle of the late
President Rugova. USOP and USKFOR are helping manage the
tensions that remain between LDD and LDK officials in the
municipal governments in eastern Kosovo, USKFOR's area of
responsibility and the area of greatest LDD support. END
SUMMARY.

DACI FORMS HIS NEW PARTY


2. (SBU) On February 17, ex-Assembly Speaker Nexhat Daci and
a core group of MPs and municipal leaders who defected with
him from the ruling Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK) held a
convention to formally adopt its new name -- the Democratic
League of Dardania (LDD) -- and elect its leadership. (NOTE:
The reference to 'Dardania' is one of the group's continuing
attempts to cast itself as the true successor to the LDK of
the late President Ibrahim Rugova, who had promoted use of
his Dardania flag as a future flag for an independent Kosovo.
END NOTE.)


3. (C) A total of 463 delegates from both Kosovo and diaspora
branches attended the convention, though diaspora delegates
dominated the speeches. The delegates approved a party
platform and slate of officials, hand-picked by Daci, by
acclamation rather than by secret ballot. There were no
serious challenges. Five members of the 25-member presidency
are deputy presidents: Besa Gaxherri, an MP from Peja and
long-standing LDK activist; Adem Salihaj, removed as Deputy
Prime Minister when Daci was removed as Assembly Speaker and
currently holding the post of LDD-Ferizaj leader; Xhemajl
Hyseni, mayor of Gjilan; and Berim Ramosaj, economic advisor
to the late President Rugova. MP Lulzim Zeneli, a former LDK
spokesman and youth leader, was chosen as General Secretary.
Delegates later approved a 115-member General Council on
February 18.


4. (SBU) Surprisingly, many who abandoned the LDK after being
left out of party power structures fared no better in the
LDD. These included Naser Rugova, the late President
Rugova's cousin; Sejd Tolaj, who for a while had manipulated
the LDK Youth Forum into Daci,s corner; Fadil and Gani Geci,
who along with their band of brothers sparked the brawl at
the LDK convention in December; and Pristina Deputy Mayor
Shefki Gashi, who delivered Daci his only LDK-Pristina branch
support. There were no untoward displays of dissent at the
convention, but recent media reports indicate early
dissatisfaction with Daci's "autocratic" leadership style.
COOL RECEPTION FOR LDD, BUT STRENGTH IN MUNICIPALITIES


5. (C) LDD has received a cool reception. Unlike the broad
showing at the LDK convention, few observers attended the LDD
event. After Daci told journalists he hoped the "two
brothers" ) LDD and LDK ) could cordially divide LDK branch
office properties, LDK acting President Eqrem Kryeziu made
clear that coalition junior partner Alliance for the Future
of Kosovo (AAK) party, not LDD, is its "little brother."
Among diplomatic offices, to our knowledge only the German
Head of Office has visited Daci since LDD's formation.


6. (C) USKFOR's strong presence has helped keep at a low
simmer LDD-LDK turf battles in southeastern Kosovo
municipalities, the U.S. military's area of operation. In
Gjilan, the only municipality with an openly Daci-supporting

PRISTINA 00000141 002.2 OF 002


mayor, a January explosion outside the offices may have been
related to a dispute over the disposition of LDK office
space. USKFOR sharply condemned the explosion and pledged to
take rigorous steps to curb such violence, including a Gjilan
curfew if necessary. At USKFOR prodding, mayor Hyseni and
LDK-Gjilan leader/deputy mayor Lirije Kajtazi appeared
together on a local radio show to discuss security and final
status. Although Hyseni and Kajtazi continue to vie for the
support of Gjilan's LDK sub-branches, there have been no
similar security incidents.


7. (C) COMMENT: With at least six votes in the Assembly, the
LDD may yet cause trouble for the ruling coalition. As its
hold on branch leader positions in three key municipalities
indicates, LDD also has some popular support. However, it is
and likely will remain a vehicle for Daci's personal
ambitions, one that is run in accordance with his worst
traits as a politician. We are confident that our and
USKFOR's attention to LDD-LDK dynamics will continue to keep
intra-municipal friction manageable. END COMMENT.


8. (SBU) U.S. Office Pristina clears this cable in its
entirety for release to U.N. Special Envoy Martti Ahtisaari.
KAIDANOW