ALBANIAN REACTION TO KOSOVO ELECTIONS

UNCLAS TIRANA 000997 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV PREL KV AL SUBJECT: ALBANIAN REACTION TO KOSOVO ELECTIONS REF: TIRANA 834 ¶1. (U) Across the political spectrum, Albanians responded positively to the November 17 elections in Kosovo. All major players (President Bamir Topi, PM Sali Berisha, Speaker Jozefina Topalli, opposition leader Edi Rama) personally phoned PDK Chair Hashim Thaci to congratulate him on his expected victory. Their public statements emphasized these elections as meeting the challenge of democratic governance and reinforcing Kosovo's readiness for independence. (Text of MFA and Presidency statements e-mailed to EUR/SCE.) ¶2. (U) Opposition leader Edi Rama was reportedly the first to phone Thaci, a longtime ally. Rama said publicly that "the democratic, free and de facto independent Kosovo has won," while a more measured statement emerged from the Office of the President describing Kosovo as "capable and fully ready for expected independence." Opposition Movement for Socialist Integration (LSI) deputy chairman Pellumb Xhufi hit Serbia hardest in his party's statement, denouncing Belgrade's "boycott" of the elections. ¶3. (SBU) COMMENT: Across political lines, Albanian politicians demonstrated this weekend their unified position on Kosovo. The positive, measured response underscores unyielding support for independence reinforced in a steady and politically mature manner. WITHERS