CONGRESSMAN POE'S MEETING WITH SERBIAN FOREIGN MINISTER

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 BELGRADE 001338 DEPT FOR EUR/SCE (P. PETERSON) SENSITIVE SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL PGOV PINR SR SUBJECT: CONGRESSMAN POE'S MEETING WITH SERBIAN FOREIGN MINISTER JEREMIC Summary -------------- ¶1. (SBU) Tangible progress toward European integration in 2009 - namely EU candidacy status and visa liberalization - is necessary for Serbia to weather the coming economic crisis and avoid destabilization, Foreign Minister Jeremic told Congressman Ted Poe on December 19. Jeremic asked for U.S. help in convincing the European Union to welcome Serbia, as well as for some "breathing room" on issues related to Kosovo. Jeremic expressed regret that the Serbian government had not put forth a viable alternative to Kosovo independence during the negotiations, and described an Ischinger-type model (coexistence without recognition) as the best possible scenario for eventual Serbia-Kosovo relations. Linking Serbia's success to regional stability, Jeremic cautioned that both Bosnia-Herzegovina and Kosovo could become "new Gazas." The Foreign Minister expressed hope that Serbia could "turn the page" with the United States in 2009 and forge strong relationships with both the new Congress and the Obama administration. End Summary. ¶2. (U) During a December 19 visit to Belgrade, Congressman Ted Poe (R-TX) met with Serbian Foreign Minister Vuk Jeremic. Jeremic was accompanied by MFA Political Director Borko Stefanovic, DCM of the Serbian Embassy in Washington Vladimir Petrovic, and MFA advisor Damjan Krjnevic-Miskovic. The Ambassador, pol chief (notetaker), and poloff (control officer) also participated. 2009 Will Be Difficult for Serbia -------------- ¶3. (SBU) Foreign Minister Jeremic opened the conversation by telling Congressman Poe that 2009 would be a difficult year economically for Serbia. After briefly summarizing the challenges Serbia had faced in 2008 -- namely Kosovo's declaration of independence and a difficult electoral cycle -- Jeremic explained that his country and the region had nevertheless managed to achieve a state of equilibrium. He expressed fear that the global economic crisis would kill foreign direct investment, weakening Serbia's economy at the very moment when the new pro-European government was trying to deliver on its electoral promises of European integration and prosperity. Jeremic warned that without tangible progress toward Europe, the coming economic difficulties could destroy Serbia's fragile equilibrium and cause nationalism to resurge. Frustration with EU Accession Process -------------- ¶4. (SBU) Jeremic claimed that Serbia could be ready for EU membership within four to five years but was stymied by one country - the Netherlands - blocking its candidacy over the issue of cooperation with the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia (ICTY). Terming the issue "a lousy excuse," Jeremic argued that Serbia was fully cooperating by doing everything in its power to locate the remaining two indictees, Ratko Mladic and Goran Hadzic. Jeremic asked that the United States continue to help Serbia overcome the EU's "paralysis" and achieve both EU visa liberalization and candidate status in 2009. EU membership remained Serbia's top long-term goal, he said, and was supported by 67% of the population. This "Euro-enthusiasm" would wane without tangible progress soon, Jeremic added. "Give Us a Break" on Kosovo -------------- ¶5. (SBU) Repeatedly emphasizing what he termed the historic significance of Serbia's peaceful reaction to Kosovo's declaration of independence, Jeremic said his primary short-term task was to make sure that Kosovo did not become a political problem in 2009, particularly with the incoming U.S. administration. Serbia had successfully compartmentalized the independence issue by sending the question to the International Court of Justice, and had resolved the question of day-to-day administration of the "province" by agreeing to the deployment of the EU Rule of Law Mission (EULEX),he said. Claiming that the USG had not understood Serbia's reasons for conditioning its support for EULEX - "you just said 'those crazy Serbs are making problems again'" - Jeremic told Congressman Poe that the complicated domestic political situation required the Serbian government to take certain steps. ¶6. (SBU) Jeremic pleaded for the United States to "give us a break" on Kosovo in 2009. "I can't ask you to stop lobbying for Kosovo BELGRADE 00001338 002 OF 003 recognitions, but we hope for a pause" to let the issue calm down, he said. He stressed that the international community should not press Serbia to recognize Kosovo, because that would never be possible; Serbia did not want to be put into the position of having to say no and thus jeopardize its EU aspirations. ¶7. (SBU) Referring to the complicated situation in Kosovo following the declaration of independence, Jeremic said that "you guys made a mess, but we were stupid for not giving you an alternative." He expressed regret that Serbia had not pursued in 2007 Wolfgang Ischinger's "creative idea" of an East Germany-West Germany model for Serbia and Kosovo, whereby the two entities could coexist without mutual recognition. Asked by Congressman Poe how he envisioned the relationship in five years, Jeremic said that such a German model was the best Serbia could hope for "if we are lucky." He identified Kosovo FM Skender Hyseni as someone who could be a constructive interlocutor since he was not a "war criminal," but for the fact that diplomatic protocol forbids their having direct contact; he described other Kosovo leaders as having "the blood of civilians on their hands." Serbia's Integration Key to Regional Stability -------------- - ¶8. (SBU) Turning to the question of regional stability, Jeremic named Bosnia-Herzegovina and Kosovo as the two greatest challenges and claimed each risked becoming a "new Gaza." Bosnia-Herzegovina was now "on the path to spontaneous disintegration," Jeremic said, which would be disastrous. Serbia did not want to see Republika Srpska secede, leaving a rump Bosnia that was "small, poor, Muslim, and angry." Likewise, Jeremic claimed, Kosovo could become unstable if and when the Europeans - through EULEX - decided to combat the trafficking in drugs, arms, and people that currently provided 70% of its income. Jeremic said that Serbia's continued stability and EU integration was the key to stability for both Kosovo and Bosnia-Herzegovina. Relations with the United States -------------- ¶9. (SBU) Congressman Poe asked whether the Serbian government was acting to identify and prosecute those responsible for the February 21 attack on the U.S. Embassy. Jeremic, offering his personal apology for the attack, said that the instigators had paid a "political price" as they had been removed from government and the security agencies. He noted that the MFA had reimbursed the USG for the full cost of the repairs. ¶10. (SBU) Jeremic said that his government was eager to forge a strong relationship with the new Congress, adding that he hoped Congressman Poe would join the Serbia Caucus. Serbia also wanted to "turn the page" in 2009 and establish good relations with the new U.S. administration, Jeremic said; they did not want to miss the opportunity for a fresh start as they had in 2001 with the Bush administration. ¶11. (SBU) Jeremic told Congressman Poe that he hoped the new Congress would not pass any "gilt edged" resolutions supporting Kosovo independence in the near future, as that would force him to "say something nasty in response" in order to reassure the Serbian public. Jeremic explained that in the Serbian political atmosphere, such statements by government leaders actually had the effect of calming down, rather than spinning up, the public. He said that the Serbian government's response to Montenegro's recognition of Kosovo had been designed with this in mind: they had orchestrated a "theatrical" presentation of the letter expelling the Montenegrin ambassador in order to publicly demonstrate anger and resolve. The maneuver had satisfied Serbian public opinion and put an end to calls for further action that would have had a long-term negative impact on the bilateral relationship, such as denying free health care and education to Montenegrins, Jeremic said. He stressed that other than the departure of the Montenegrin Ambassador from Belgrade, the bilateral relationship of the two countries had not changed at all. Comment -------------- ¶12. (SBU) Jeremic's comments on the nexus between domestic politics and foreign policy were the clearest explanation we have heard for his frequent antagonistic public rhetoric. While that doesn't make Jeremic any easier to listen to, it is an interesting window into BELGRADE 00001338 003 OF 003 his mindset. We also note that Jeremic did not utter the word Russia once during the hour-long meeting, despite his recent public statements that Russia would be Serbia's most important bilateral relationship in the coming decades. End Comment. ¶13. (U) Representative Poe has cleared this cable. MUNTER