NEW SERBIAN FOREIGN MINISTER MAKES EARLY OFFICIAL

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 SARAJEVO 001157

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

DEPARTMENT FOR EUR (DICARLO),EUR/SCE (HOH, FOOKS); NSC FOR
BRAUN

E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/29/2017
TAGS: PREL PGOV PINR KJUS SR BK
SUBJECT: NEW SERBIAN FOREIGN MINISTER MAKES EARLY OFFICIAL
VISIT TO BOSNIA

REF: SARAJEVO 510

Classified By: Deputy Chief of Mission Judith B. Cefkin for reasons 1.4
(b),(d)


1. (C) Summary: During his first official visit to Bosnia May
28, new Serbian Foreign Minister Vuk Jeremic stressed his
government's commitment to improving relations with Bosnia
and Herzegovina and ICTY cooperation. Alkalaj provided post
a generally positive readout of his meeting with Jeremic.
The visit included a stop in Banja Luka for a dedication
ceremony for a new Serbian Consulate where Milorad Dodik
surprised FM Jeremic by publicly submitting an application
for dual citizenship. Press reports in general covered
Jeremic's visit in a positive light. End Summary

Bilateral and Regional Issues
--------------


2. (SBU) On May 28, new Serbian Foreign Minister Vuk Jeremic
paid an official visit to Bosnia and Herzegovina. On his
first official visit after assuming office as Foreign
Minister, Jeremic was hosted by Bosnian Foreign Minister Sven
Alkalaj in Sarajevo before traveling to Banja Luka to
officially open a new Serbian Consulate there. In public
comments after his meeting with Alkalaj, Jeremic stressed his
government's commitment to building neighborly relations with
BiH along with improving regional cooperation. He
highlighted the need for Serbia to complete cooperation with
the International Criminal Tribunal for Yugoslavia (ICTY) and
his government's intention to respect the International Court
of Justice (ICJ) decision regarding Serbia's failure to
prevent genocide. On Kosovo he repeated familiar Belgrade
talking points that Kosovo should remain part of Serbia with
a heightened degree of autonomy. For his part, Alkalaj
adopted a carefully crafted position, stating that Kosovo
status should ideally be resolved in a manner acceptable to
both Belgrade and Pristina.

Opening of Serbian Consulate in Banja Luka
--------------


3. (U) After visiting Sarajevo Jeremic traveled to Banja Luka
where he presided over the opening of a new Serbian
Consulate. At the ceremony Jeremic highlighted that, in
selecting Bosnia for his first official visit, he was
signaling Serbia's intention to improve relations with
Bosnia. RS Prime Minister Milorad Dodik told Jeremic how
much the consulate meant to the citizens of the RS and then
in front on the cameras handed Jeremic a request for Serbian
citizenship. This apparently unscripted action by Dodik
seemed to surprise Jeremic who quickly recovered stating that
his government would "work efficiently on the request."

BiH Foreign Minister appraisal of visit
--------------


4. (C) Bosnian Foreign Minister Sven Alkalaj provided the
Charge with a readout of Jeremic's visit on May 28. Alkalaj
said he was very pleased with his introductory meeting with
Jeremic. He commented that Jeremic impressed him as sincere,
and that he felt he had established a good rapport. Alkalaj
also noted that Jeremic has Bosnian heritage on his mother's
side of the family. (Note: During the conversation with the
Charge, Alkalaj took a cell phone call from Jeremic reporting
on his Banja Luka stop. The tenor of the conversation
sounded very friendly. End Note.) Alkalaj said Jeremic
expressed Belgrade's determination to improve relations with
Bosnia, and preemptively raised the issue of ICTY and the ICJ
verdict and told Alkalaj that results from increased ICTY
cooperation should be expected soon. Jeremic and Alkalaj
discussed a plan for the Bosnian Tri-Presidency to visit
Serbia in July. On the question of Dodik's application for
Serbian citizenship, Alkalaj told the Charge Dodik was free
to apply for any other citizenship he chooses, but that if
there is no dual-nationality recognition treaty in force,
Dodik stands to loose his Bosnian citizenship in 2010
(reftel).


5. (C) On Kosovo Jeremic told Alkalaj that the province must
remain a part of Serbia and that if the U.S. introduces a
UNSC resolution on Kosovo in the next few days, Serbia
expects the Russians to veto it. Alkalaj was skeptical and
indicated to us that his sources believe the Russians would
not use their veto. As he has in the past, Alkalaj again

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stressed that Bosnia hopes for a resolution the Kosovo status
at an early date but that it would not be politically
realistic to expect Bosnia to be among the first countries to
recognize a newly independent Kosovo. Alkalaj reiterated
that he does not expect a Kosovo independence to have a
destabilizing effect in Bosnia.

Comment
--------------


6. (C) The Jeremic visit received positive reactions on all
fronts. FM Jeremic's statements on Kosovo were not
unexpected, but he eschewed the more inflammatory rhetoric of
his predecessor Vuk Draskovic. The emphasis by FM Jeremic on
ICTY cooperation and ICJ implementation and his conciliatory
statements on closing a painful page in history and improving
bilateral relations were particularly well received. End
Comment
MCELHANEY