SERBIA TRADES ICJ REFERRAL FOR IRAN NAM VOTE

UNCLAS BELGRADE 001167 STATE FOR EUR/PGI (ELDRIDGE) AND USUN SENSITIVE SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PHUM PREL UN SR SUBJECT: SERBIA TRADES ICJ REFERRAL FOR IRAN NAM VOTE REF: STATE 117357 ¶1. (SBU) During a November 7 meeting, MFA Assistant Minister Feodor Starcevic, Director General for Multilateral Relations, confirmed to us that Serbia will abstain from the upcoming UN General Assembly Third Committee vote on the Iran no-action motion (NAM)(reftel). Starcevic stated bluntly that Serbia's political decision to abstain resulted from Iran's vote in favor of Serbia's resolution referring the legality of Kosovo's declaration of independence to the International Court of Justice (ICJ). ¶2. (SBU) Although Starcevic agreed the human rights situation in Iran was poor and essentially unchanged since last year when Serbia voted with the U.S. in opposing the Iran and other no-action motions, he argued that voting against the Iran NAM this year would be "bad form." He further portrayed the decision to abstain as elementary "horse trading," which he claimed was not connected to the bilateral relationship with the U.S. ¶3. (SBU) We responded that Serbia's decision would be perceived very negatively in light of GOS promises that moving the Kosovo question to the legal arena would permit constructive engagement in other areas. We also stressed that taking such an unconstructive position would be particularly harmful to Serbia's reputation given that it comes as the new U.S. administration's transition team is forming. ¶4. (SBU) In light of Serbia's intentions to abstain, we recommend a phone call from a Department principal to Foreign Minister Jeremic, urging that Serbia think through the consequences of its actions. MUNTER