SERB AND KOSOVAR WOMEN LEADERS MEET IN VIENNA

UNCLAS VIENNA 002764

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

STATE FOR EUR/AGS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV AU
SUBJECT: SERB AND KOSOVAR WOMEN LEADERS MEET IN VIENNA



1. (U) Demonstrating her continuing interest in international
women's diplomacy, Austrian foreign minister Ursula Plassnik hosted
a meeting of prominent women from Serbia and Kosovo in Vienna
November 5-6. The choice of dates was deliberate - to coincide and
contrast with another round of troika-led status talks in the
Austrian capital. Participants in the symposium called "Shaping our
European Future - Networking of Serbian and Kosovar Women," included
Minister of Youth Snezana Samardzic-Markovic and Deputy Foreign
Minister Milica Delevic from Serbia, Kosovar politicians Nekibe
Kelmendi and Edita Tahiri, Serbian human rights activist Natasa
Kandic, the women's rights activist and chairperson of the Kosovar
public broadcasting corporation Vjosa Dobruna, as well as Radmila
Milivojevic, Vice-President of the Serbian Economic Chamber, and
Flaka Surroi, Director of the largest Kosovar media group.


2. (U) Opening the event, Plassnik emphasized the conference sought
to seek common ground between the parties and build confidence in
areas not adequately addressed so far by the status talks. "What we
need is a broad, more intensive dialogue between neighbors and
targeted networking. ... We have to mobilize people who are able to
build confidence in Serbia and Kosovo. Regardless of what Kosovo's
status eventually turns out to be, the people of Kosovo and Serbia
will continue to be neighbors," emphasized Plassnik.


3. (U) After the two-day session, news reports noted that, while
Kosovo Albanian and Serb women had agreed on a common European
perspective for their regions, they had not moved on their
entrenched positions regarding the future status of Kosovo.
According to Serb State Secretary for Labor and Social Affairs,
Lilijana Lucic, Serb participants had focused on issues such as
poverty, unemployment, inadequate educational infrastructure, while
their counterparts from Pristina had almost exclusively emphasized
the political dimension o the problem. Plassnik said the meeting
had helped to overcome mental barriers on both sides. Some
proposals put forth at the conference, such as shool partnerships
betwen Kosovar and Serb schoos and strengthening regional networks
of female ntrepreneurs, were encouraging signals, Plassnik
oncluded.

MCCAW