Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07ZAGREB51
2007-01-18 13:18:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Zagreb
Cable title:
ADVISOR TO PRESIDENT MESIC TO VISIT KOSOVO AND
how-tonull C O N F I D E N T I A L ZAGREB 00051 SIPDIS O 181318Z JAN 07 FM AMEMBASSY ZAGREB TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 7157 INFO RUEHZG/NATO EU COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUEHBW/AMEMBASSY BELGRADE PRIORITY 1926 RUEHMO/AMEMBASSY MOSCOW PRIORITY 0959 RUEHVJ/AMEMBASSY SARAJEVO PRIORITY 0202 RUEHSQ/AMEMBASSY SKOPJE PRIORITY 2568 RUEHTI/AMEMBASSY TIRANA PRIORITY 0810 RUEHPS/USOFFICE PRISTINA PRIORITY 0568
C O N F I D E N T I A L ZAGREB 000051
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR EUR DICARLO, EUR/SCE
DEPT PLEASE PASS TO SPECIAL REP WISNER
BELGRADE PLEASE PASS TO PODGORICA
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/17/2017
TAGS: PREL UN UNMIK PGOV YI EU OPDC HR
SUBJECT: ADVISOR TO PRESIDENT MESIC TO VISIT KOSOVO AND
BELGRADE
REF: STATE 5652
Classified By: Ambassador Robert A. Bradtke for reasons 1.4(b) and (d).
C O N F I D E N T I A L ZAGREB 000051
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR EUR DICARLO, EUR/SCE
DEPT PLEASE PASS TO SPECIAL REP WISNER
BELGRADE PLEASE PASS TO PODGORICA
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/17/2017
TAGS: PREL UN UNMIK PGOV YI EU OPDC HR
SUBJECT: ADVISOR TO PRESIDENT MESIC TO VISIT KOSOVO AND
BELGRADE
REF: STATE 5652
Classified By: Ambassador Robert A. Bradtke for reasons 1.4(b) and (d).
1. (C) President Mesic's Special Advisor for International
Relations Budimir Loncar told the Ambassador January 17 that
he will travel to Kosovo next week to have discussions with
Albanian and Serb leaders. This trip, according to Loncar,
resulted from a visit to Zagreb by a group of Serb mayors
from Kosovo, who met with President Mesic in late December
and said they would welcome a visit by Loncar. Loncar told
the Ambassador that before agreeing to the visit, he received
assurances that it would also be welcomed by the Kosovar
Albanian leadership. Loncar said that PM Ceku and other
members of the Kosovar leadership had agreed to meet with him
on January 22 and 23.
2. (C) Loncar also said that he had spoken by phone with Serb
President Tadic who said he had "no problem" with the visit.
Tadic also agreed to a visit by Loncar to Belgrade following
his stop in Kosovo. However, Tadic told Loncar that he was
uncertain whether he would be able to personally receive
Loncar, given the expected post-election discussions on
forming a new Serbian government. Tadic predicted a long and
difficult coalition negotiation.
3. (C) Drawing on reftel, Ambassador reviewed the timeline
for concluding the Kosovo status process and urged Loncar to
use his visit to encourage all parties to work with UN
Special Envoy Ahtisaari. Loncar expressed his support for
Ahtisaari's efforts and may try to contact him prior to
visiting Kosovo.
4. (C) COMMENT: Having served as Yugoslav Foreign Minister
from 1987 to 91, Loncar has good relations with leaders
throughout the region. As the Department is aware, Loncar is
planning to visit New York and Washington to attend the
Congressional prayer breakfast. Loncar has asked for our
assistance in arranging a meeting with Ambassador Wisner,
whom he met during Wisner's October visit to Zagreb, and we
have suggested that he also meet with Deputy Assistant
Secretary DiCarlo. Loncar and his boss President Mesic have
SIPDIS
strong concerns about the impact of a final status decision
on the pro-European, pro-democratic forces in Serbia, and we
believe that meetings with Ambassador Wisner and DAS Dicarlo
would help to overcome Croatian nervousness about the
impending final status decision. END COMMENT.
BRADTKE
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR EUR DICARLO, EUR/SCE
DEPT PLEASE PASS TO SPECIAL REP WISNER
BELGRADE PLEASE PASS TO PODGORICA
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/17/2017
TAGS: PREL UN UNMIK PGOV YI EU OPDC HR
SUBJECT: ADVISOR TO PRESIDENT MESIC TO VISIT KOSOVO AND
BELGRADE
REF: STATE 5652
Classified By: Ambassador Robert A. Bradtke for reasons 1.4(b) and (d).
1. (C) President Mesic's Special Advisor for International
Relations Budimir Loncar told the Ambassador January 17 that
he will travel to Kosovo next week to have discussions with
Albanian and Serb leaders. This trip, according to Loncar,
resulted from a visit to Zagreb by a group of Serb mayors
from Kosovo, who met with President Mesic in late December
and said they would welcome a visit by Loncar. Loncar told
the Ambassador that before agreeing to the visit, he received
assurances that it would also be welcomed by the Kosovar
Albanian leadership. Loncar said that PM Ceku and other
members of the Kosovar leadership had agreed to meet with him
on January 22 and 23.
2. (C) Loncar also said that he had spoken by phone with Serb
President Tadic who said he had "no problem" with the visit.
Tadic also agreed to a visit by Loncar to Belgrade following
his stop in Kosovo. However, Tadic told Loncar that he was
uncertain whether he would be able to personally receive
Loncar, given the expected post-election discussions on
forming a new Serbian government. Tadic predicted a long and
difficult coalition negotiation.
3. (C) Drawing on reftel, Ambassador reviewed the timeline
for concluding the Kosovo status process and urged Loncar to
use his visit to encourage all parties to work with UN
Special Envoy Ahtisaari. Loncar expressed his support for
Ahtisaari's efforts and may try to contact him prior to
visiting Kosovo.
4. (C) COMMENT: Having served as Yugoslav Foreign Minister
from 1987 to 91, Loncar has good relations with leaders
throughout the region. As the Department is aware, Loncar is
planning to visit New York and Washington to attend the
Congressional prayer breakfast. Loncar has asked for our
assistance in arranging a meeting with Ambassador Wisner,
whom he met during Wisner's October visit to Zagreb, and we
have suggested that he also meet with Deputy Assistant
Secretary DiCarlo. Loncar and his boss President Mesic have
SIPDIS
strong concerns about the impact of a final status decision
on the pro-European, pro-democratic forces in Serbia, and we
believe that meetings with Ambassador Wisner and DAS Dicarlo
would help to overcome Croatian nervousness about the
impending final status decision. END COMMENT.
BRADTKE