Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08BELGRADE1018
2008-09-30 10:18:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Belgrade
Cable title:  

SERBIA ACCEPTS A3 EXPANSION; NO INTENTION TO JOIN

Tags:  PGOV PMAR PREL KV SR 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXYZ0001
RR RUEHWEB

DE RUEHBW #1018/01 2741018
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
R 301018Z SEP 08
FM AMEMBASSY BELGRADE
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 0473
INFO RHEHNS/NSC WASHDC
RUEHNO/USMISSION USNATO 0003
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC
C O N F I D E N T I A L BELGRADE 001018 

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/30/2018
TAGS: PGOV PMAR PREL KV SR
SUBJECT: SERBIA ACCEPTS A3 EXPANSION; NO INTENTION TO JOIN
DUE TO KOSOVO SECURITY FORCE CONCERNS

REF: A. A) STATE 100723

B. B) BELGRADE 965

Classified By: Brad Bell, Deputy Political Chief; reasons 1.4 (b, d).

Summary
-------

C O N F I D E N T I A L BELGRADE 001018

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/30/2018
TAGS: PGOV PMAR PREL KV SR
SUBJECT: SERBIA ACCEPTS A3 EXPANSION; NO INTENTION TO JOIN
DUE TO KOSOVO SECURITY FORCE CONCERNS

REF: A. A) STATE 100723

B. B) BELGRADE 965

Classified By: Brad Bell, Deputy Political Chief; reasons 1.4 (b, d).

Summary
--------------


1. (C) Serbia accepts Bosnia,s and Montenegro,s intentions
to join an expanded Adriatic Charter (A3) but is content to
remain an observer of the A3, Serbia,s Assistant Minister
for NATO Zoran Vujic told us on September 23. Vujic said
Serbia was focused on increasing its participation in
Partnership for Peace (PfP),but did not foresee full
membership in the Adriatic Charter due to growing Serbian
concerns about working closely with countries that had
recognized Kosovo and which could potentially provide support
to a future Kosovo Security Force. Vujic suggested
considering alternative regional mechanisms, such as military
cooperation between Bosnia, Montenegro and Serbia, since
Serbia did not expect those countries to recognize Kosovo in
the near future. Vujic assured us that Serbia would remain
engaged in the Adriatic Charter as an observer, stressing
Serbia,s presence there as important for Serbia and the
region. End Summary.

A3 OK for Others, not for Serbia
--------------


2. (C) In response to Ref A points, MFA Assistant Minister
for NATO and Security Zoran Vujic said that Serbia had no
concerns with Montenegro,s and Bosnia,s request to join the
Adriatic Charter and U.S. support for the initiative to
expand the Charter. He stressed, however, that Serbia was
content to remain solely an observer and had no intentions to
seek membership in the Adriatic Charter. He assured us that
Serbia would continue to be present at Adriatic Charter
events, citing it as important for Serbia and the region.

Serbia,s Concerns with Kosovo Security Force
--------------


3. (C ) Vujic said that seeking Adriatic Charter membership
would be inappropriate for Serbia, citing Serbia,s growing
concerns with NATO,s involvement and that of its neighbors
in the creation of a Kosovo Security Force (KSF).
&Serbia,s internal political situation could become
complicated if neighboring Balkan countries were to support
the creation of the KSF,8 Vujic said. If this were the
case, he said it would be increasingly difficult to justify

Serbia,s close membership in a group such as the Adriatic
Charter while its members were supporting the development of
the KSF. Brainstorming, Vujic suggested creating another
regional mechanism in which Serbia could seek full
membership. He suggesting a grouping with Bosnia and
Montenegro, since they had not recognized Kosovo,s
independence and Serbia did not expect those neighboring
states &to recognize anytime soon.8

Serbia,s Concerns on KSF &Serious8
--------------


4. (C) Vujic said NATO and the international community
needed to take Serbia,s concerns about the KSF seriously.
Serbia had found recent comments made at NATO regarding
Kosovo as &offensive,8 Vujic said. The international
community &must communicate transparently with us and
recognize our rational wishes, which would be the needs of
any state,8 Vujic said. He asked for greater clarity on
what kind of oversight NATO would have over the KSF and how
it would prevent weapons proliferation in Kosovo. (These
comments are a change in Vujic,s tone from several months
ago. At that time, he spoke about Serbia recognizing the
merits of NATO,s involvement in building the KSF and offered
suggestions for making that happen in a way that was
transparent but not very public.)

Despite Concerns, Serbia Increasing Relationship with NATO
-------------- --------------


5. (C) Vujic said that despite these concerns, Serbia
intended to increase its relationship with NATO and the PfP
process. Serbia and NATO had finished negotiations on the
pending Security Agreement and hoped to sign it on October 1
in Brussels. Once the Agreement was signed, he expected
Serbia would formalize the process to open its Mission to
NATO by December 19. Vujic said he expected Serbia to submit
its Individual Partnership Plan (IPP) by the end of November
2008 and its Individual Partnership Action Plan (IPAP) by
February 2009. He described these steps as &the first of 12

points which Serbia will take toward NATO in the next 36
months.8 (He did not say which steps would follow.)

Comment
--------------


6. (C ) Although not a senior decision maker, Vujic is
decidedly pro-NATO and has been appreciative of our past
efforts to support Serbia,s further integration into the
Alliance. His comments about the KSF echo ideas that we have
also heard from the Ministry of Defense. At a time when the
Serbian government is promising to become more constructive
on the Kosovo issue if its ICJ resolution is approved, it is
somewhat alarming to hear continued non-constructive feedback
on issues such as this and the issue of appointing an
American to the UNMIK deputy position (Ref B). We will
continue to underscore the need for the Serbian government to
break decisively with its past approach to Kosovo and work
constructively on the full range of regional security issues.
End Comment.


MUNTER