AHTISAARI COMES TO NATO AND OUTLINES WAY FORWARD

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 USNATO 000111

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KCRM NATO PGOV PHUM PREL SR
SUBJECT: AHTISAARI COMES TO NATO AND OUTLINES WAY FORWARD
ON KOSOVO STATUS PROPOSAL

REF: SECSTATE 18717


1. (SBU) SUMMARY: On February 16, UN Special Envoy for
Kosovo, (UNSEK) Martti Ahtisaari updated the NAC and non-NATO
KFOR troop contributors on the Kosovo status process and his
vision for the way forward. Ahtisaari said that prospects
for a negotiated settlement by both sides were exhausted.
The only way forward, therefore was his proposed settlement
which he presented to the parties during the February 2
visits to Belgrade and Pristina. Ahtisaari will begin
consultations with the parties in Vienna on February 21, at
which point they will be afforded one last opportunity to
suggest changes. Ahtisaari is planning on hosting one final
high-level meeting of the parties in Vienna in early March,
indicating March 10 as a likely date. He hopes to submit his
comprehensive package to the U.N. Security Council by the end
of March. END SUMMARY


2. (SBU) SYG: Opening Remarks: NATO Secretary General de
Hoop Scheffer (SYG) said that during his February 15 trip to
Kosovo he met with members of Kosovo,s Unity Team, including
President Sejdiu, Prime Minister Ceku, Kosovo Serb leaders in
Mitrovica, U.N. Special Representative for Kosovo, Joachim
Rucker, and COMKFOR. The SYG reiterated NATO,s full support
for Ahtisaari and the process, while emphasizing that KFOR
remains ready to maintain a safe and secure environment
during the transition period. The SYG said he stressed that
the partition of Kosovo was not an option and that Kosovo,s
government must stay united. The SYG said based on his
meetings that it was clear that the Kosovo Serbs remain
apprehensive about the future.

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STATUS TALKS UPDATE
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3. (SBU) Ahtisaari outlined progress in the talks since his
last visit in October noting that this is the third time he
has briefed the NAC. He again thanked the Alliance for
KFOR,s role in providing a forceful and visible presence,
particularly north of the Ibar River. He hoped his proposed
settlement could bring peace and stability to the region and
again called on NATO*in coordination with a future EU/ESDP
mission*to fulfill the lead role in the building of a new
Kosovo Security Force (KSF) and the disbandment of the Kosovo
Protection Corps (KPC). Ahtisaari said that a negotiated
compromise between the two parties is an illusion as both
sides have hardened their positions. His proposal, while not
ideal, was realistic and reflected attempts to incorporate
proposals by both sides. He emphasized that two thirds of
the document dealt with minority rights and calls for the
continued presence of the international community until such
time as responsibility for protection of minority rights
could be handed over to the Kosovo authorities. He made
clear that following consultations by both parties in Vienna
and a possible follow on high-level meeting between the two
parties in early March, he intends to bring his proposal to
the U.N. Security Council for its consideration by April 1.

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SECURITY POST-STATUS
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4. (SBU) Ahtisaari reiterated points he had made to the NAC
in October on NATO,s future role post-status as the
international military presence in Kosovo. He stated that
NATO and KFOR would take on the new task of building and
training a new Kosovo Security Force that would reach initial
operating capability within a year following the final
settlement. NATO would have to work closely with the
international civilian representative and the Kosovo
authorities to develop a formal selection process that would
vet potential candidates for the new force. He further said
that NATO would have the executive authority over both the
KSF and the KPC, including disbandment and reintegration of
former KPC personnel back into civil society. He called for
a strong NATO-EU link during the transition and
implementation phases of the settlement.

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PERMREP REACTION LARGELY POSITIVE
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5. (SBU) Many of the PermReps led by the Contact Group
members, expressed support for Ahtisaari, stressing the
importance of international unity, and emphasized the
importance of a closer and deeper relationship between NATO
and the EU on Kosovo. DCM Olson delivered talking points
(REFTEL) echoed by the U.K. and the Dutch emphasizing to the
Council that further delay risked instability and would only
encourage radicals on both sides as witnessed by the riots in
Pristina on February 10. PermReps from Bulgaria, Greece,
Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, and Sweden added that they were

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hopeful that the upcoming consultations in Vienna would
enable both parties to achieve a more balanced negotiated
agreement and that there be some flexibility in timelines
should there be constructive progress between the two
parties. The Turkish and Hungarian PermReps noted the
proposal,s text on minority rights and called on the
international community to ensure that the Kosovo authorities
implement the necessary standards to ensure their protection.
The Latvian and Georgian PermReps stressed Kosovo,s
uniqueness and that it not be a precedent for resolution of
other frozen conflicts.

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U.N IS NEXT STOP
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6. (SBU) In responding to PermRep,s inquiries on the process
going forward, Ahtisaari stated that his aim is for complete
unanimity in the Security Council on his proposal for final
status and stressed the importance of not forgetting the
tragic history of Kosovo and that present-day Serbia,
although not directly responsible, cannot escape its past.
Ahtisaari mentioned a telling ancedote: Serbian Foreign
Minister Vuk Draskovic complained that Serbia should not be
punished for Milosevic's crimes; Ahtisaari replied that it
could not be rewarded for them either. He warned of a greater
danger of instability if there are prolonged negotiations
stressing that the time had come for the Security Council to
take on the responsibility. Ahtisaari promised the Council
that he would use all that was necessary in order to achieve
unity in the U.N. on this issue.
OLSON