CROATIAN PRESIDENT SUPPORTS AHTISAARI PLAN FOR

C O N F I D E N T I A L ZAGREB 000168 SIPDIS SIPDIS FOR EUR, EUR/SCE BALIAN E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/14/2017 TAGS: PREL PGOV HR YI REGIONAL ISSUES SUBJECT: CROATIAN PRESIDENT SUPPORTS AHTISAARI PLAN FOR KOSOVO REF: ZAGREB 0149 Classified By: Ambassador Robert A. Bradtke for reasons 1.4(b) and (d). ¶1. (U) Ambassador met July 13 with President Stjepan Mesic to discuss the Ahtisaari plan for Kosovo final status. Other issues covered septel. ¶2. (C) The Ambassador began by noting that he had been in touch with US Kosovo envoy Frank Wisner, who had expressed appreciation for presidential foreign policy advisor Budimir Loncar's recent visit to New York for consultations. Wisner was also grateful for the efforts of Loncar and Croatian Serb parliamentarian Milorad Pupovac for their recent visits to Kosovo and Belgrade to consult with Kosovar Serbs and the Serbian government, as well as for the Croatian Government office being opened in Kosovo. Finally, the Ambassador noted the USG's full support for Ahtisaari's proposal and timeline on Kosovo's final status. ¶3. (C) Mesic replied that Croatia was interested in seeing Kosovo's final status settled as soon as possible. He noted his support for the Loncar/Pupovac delegation to Kosovo as well as his personal engagement with both Kosovar Albanians and Serbs on the status issue. His message to the Serbs has been that they should participate in the development of Kosovar institutions. Most Kosovar Serbs, he noted, are oriented towards Belgrade, but some do think differently. ¶4. (C) Mesic said his impression was that it was clear to most Serbs that Kosovo will obtain independence. He said he had discussed the Kosovo issue with both Serbian President Tadic and PM Kostunica. It was clear to Tadic that Kosovo's destiny was independence. This was clear to Kostunica as well, but he saw a chance to capture some votes from the Radicals by taking a harder line. ¶5. (C) Mesic praised Ahtisaari's work on Kosovo status, saying that the GOC fully supported his proposal. That said, this was not an issue where Croatia could bring much influence to bear on Serbia. ¶6. (C) The Ambassador noted that Wisner had said there were divisions among the Kosovar Serbs regarding the possible partition of Kosovo. The US, the Ambassador said, would not accept such a partition. Mesic replied that Belgrade would likely not support partition in any case, due to the likelihood that Albanians in Serbia proper would seek the same solution. ¶7. (C) Mesic concluded the topic by noting GOC willingness to send Loncar and Pupovac back to Kosovo if that would help support our joint goals. BRADTKE