Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07SKOPJE454
2007-06-07 14:47:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Skopje
Cable title:  

MACEDONIA: ALBANIAN FM BASHA'S JUNE 1 VISIT TO

Tags:  PGOV PREL AL MK 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXRO8596
RR RUEHAG RUEHAST RUEHDA RUEHDBU RUEHDF RUEHFL RUEHIK RUEHKW RUEHLA
RUEHLN RUEHLZ RUEHPOD RUEHROV RUEHSR RUEHVK RUEHYG
DE RUEHSQ #0454 1581447
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 071447Z JUN 07
FM AMEMBASSY SKOPJE
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 6153
INFO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHINGTON DC
RUEHSQ/USDAO SKOPJE MK
RUESEN/SKOPJE BETA
RHEHAAA/WHITE HOUSE WASHINGTON DC
UNCLAS SKOPJE 000454 

SIPDIS

SIPDIS
SENSITIVE

DEPT FOR EUR/SCE

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL AL MK
SUBJECT: MACEDONIA: ALBANIAN FM BASHA'S JUNE 1 VISIT TO
SKOPJE

REF: SKOPJE 404

SUMMARY

UNCLAS SKOPJE 000454

SIPDIS

SIPDIS
SENSITIVE

DEPT FOR EUR/SCE

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL AL MK
SUBJECT: MACEDONIA: ALBANIAN FM BASHA'S JUNE 1 VISIT TO
SKOPJE

REF: SKOPJE 404

SUMMARY


1. (SBU) During his first official visit to Skopje June 1,
Albanian Foreign Minister Basha and FM Milososki discussed
their hopes for a positive US signal on NATO membership for
Adriatic Charter aspirants during President Bush's upcoming
visit to Tirana. They considered stronger cooperation on EU
membership issues, including FM Milososki's proposal for a
memorandum of cooperation between their respective EU
integration secretariats. Both ministers publicly reiterated
their support for the Ahtisaari plan for Kosovo and for an
implementing UNSCR. The discussions with FM Basha
underscored the GOM's desire to demonstrate, in advance of
President Bush's visit to Tirana, its constructive approach
to ties with its neighbors and its consistent support for a
speedy resolution of Kosovo's status. End summary

LOOKING FOR A STRONG SIGNAL FROM THE US ON NATO MEMBERSHIP


2. (SBU) During his June 1 visit to Skopje, Albanian FM Basha
met with FM Milososki to discuss bilateral relations and both
countries' shared NATO and EU membership aspirations.
According to MFA State Counselor Shenol Devaya, Milososki
told Basha that President Bush's June 10 visit to Albania and
his planned lunch meeting with the Adriatic Charter prime
ministers would send a positive signal to Albania, Croatia
and Macedonia concerning their hopes for NATO membership
invitations in 2008. Local media also reported that both
ministers expected the President's visit to the region would
provide a boost to their NATO candidacies.

COOPERATION ON EU MEMBERSHIP ISSUES AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT


3. (SBU) Milososki proposed signing a memorandum of
cooperation between the GOA and GOM on EU integration issues,
which FM Basha reportedly said he would consider. The
memorandum would call for increased coordination and
communication between the EU integration secretariats of both
countries, and would be modeled on similar agreements the GOM
has entered into with Slovenia and Croatia. Both ministers
pledged to increase bilateral cooperation in all fields,
according to Devaya, with a focus on development of regional
infrastructure to support increased economic development.

CONTINUED SUPPORT FOR KOSOVO


4. (U) FM Milososki and FM Basha reiterated, both privately
and publicly, their continued support for the Ahtisaari plan
for Kosovo, and agreed that a UNSCR was the best way forward
for ensuring stability and security in the region, according
to MFA officials. They also agreed that any delay in
reaching a final decision on Kosovo's status would threaten
to destabilize the region. (NOTE: Local press reported that
the Government of Serbia quickly responded through diplomatic
channels to the ministers' public statements in support of
the Ahtisaari plan and a UNSCR, reportedly claiming that the
statements reflected interference in Serbia's internal
affairs. END NOTE.)

COMMENT


5. (SBU) FM Milososki's positive meetings with FM Basha were
followed immediately by Kosovo PM Ceku's June 2 visit to
Skopje, during which Ceku met with PM Gruevski and his
eAlbanian coalition partner, DPA VP Menduh Thaci. Both sets
of discussions appeared timed to demonstrate, in advance of
President Bush's visit to Tirana, the GOM's constructive ties
with its neighbors and its consistent and public support for
the Ahtisaari plan and a UNSCR.
MILOVANOVIC