Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08BELGRADE232
2008-03-13 16:20:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Belgrade
Cable title:
SERBIA: DRASKOVIC TO FORM ELECTION COALITION WITH DS
how-toVZCZCXRO4151 PP RUEHAG RUEHAST RUEHDA RUEHDF RUEHFL RUEHIK RUEHKW RUEHLA RUEHLN RUEHLZ RUEHPOD RUEHROV RUEHSR RUEHVK RUEHYG DE RUEHBW #0232/01 0731620 ZNR UUUUU ZZH P R 131620Z MAR 08 FM AMEMBASSY BELGRADE TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 0039 INFO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE RHEHAAA/NSC WASHINGTON DC RUFOADA/JAC MOLESWORTH RAF MOLESWORTH UK RHMFISS/CDR USEUCOM VAIHINGEN GE RUEHBW/AMEMBASSY BELGRADE 0062
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 BELGRADE 000232
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TAGS: PGOV PREL PHUM SR MW KV
SUBJECT: SERBIA: DRASKOVIC TO FORM ELECTION COALITION WITH DS
BELGRADE 00000232 001.2 OF 002
SUMMARY
-------
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 BELGRADE 000232
SIPDIS
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E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL PHUM SR MW KV
SUBJECT: SERBIA: DRASKOVIC TO FORM ELECTION COALITION WITH DS
BELGRADE 00000232 001.2 OF 002
SUMMARY
--------------
1. (SBU) Former Foreign Minister and leader of the Serbian
Renewal Movement, Vuk Draskovic, told the Ambassador March 12
that he intended to join a coalition with the Democratic Party
for the May elections. Draskovic encouraged Washington and
Pristina to accept Kosovo Serbs participation in the May
elections. The United States should emphasize its historical
friendship with Serbia in an effort to move beyond Kosovo, and
Serbia's international interests will be best served when Serbia
has a strong democratic state at home, Draskovic said. End
Summary.
DRASKOVIC TO FORM COALITION WITH DS
--------------
2. (SBU) Draskovic, leader of the Serbian Renewal Movement
(SPO) told the Ambassador that he was negotiating with President
Boris Tadic's Democratic Party (DS) to form a pro-EU coalition
for the May 11 election. It was essential for "democratic
forces to do everything possible to win a majority (in the May
election) in order to avoid disaster," Draskovic said. He said
his coalition with the DS was only natural, since he could not
support the Democratic Party of Serbia's (DSS) and Prime
Minister Vojislav Kostunica's "suicide policy of isolation."
Draskovic said he had "an obligation to defeat the policy of
defeat," and thus was committed to moving Serbia towards its
European future. He hoped he would reach an agreement with the
DS in the near future.
ACCEPT KOSOVO-SERB PARTICIPATION IN ELECTIONS
--------------
3. (SBU) Draskovic said he believed Kostunica would push to
have Kosovo-Serbs participate in the elections. He stressed
this was a right Serbs had under UN Resolution 1244, which was
still in effect, and under the Ahtisaari plan, which permits
dual citizenship. He urged the United States to consult closely
with Pristina to encourage the Kosovo Albanians "to close their
eyes to Serb participation in the elections and to encourage
(the Kosovar Albanian's) patient behavior." He said it was
important for the Serbs in Kosovo to express their own political
will in the elections.
U.S. SHOULD PROMOTE HISTORICAL FRIENDSHIP WITH SERBIA
-------------- --------------
4. (SBU) Draskovic said the United States should encourage
Serbia to move past Kosovo by focusing on the close bilateral
friendship of the last century. He suggested the United States
to issue a statement reaffirming its appreciation to Serbia as
an ally in the world wars and stressing our dedication to this
historical friendship. "The United States has not betrayed our
historical friendship, but rather someone in Serbia did, and for
this reason, the United States is right to support Serbia's
pro-democratic forces," Draskovic said. He encouraged the
United States "to take the offensive" of reminding Serbia of the
strong friendship in the past.
SERBIA'S INTERESTS BEST SERVED THROUGH STRONG DEMOCRACY
-------------- --------------
5. (SBU) Serbia would best serve its international agenda by
BELGRADE 00000232 002.2 OF 002
developing a strong democratic state at home, Draskovic said.
"My Serb nationalism is not against other nations, or my own
nation, but instead is focused on building a strong state at
home," Draskovic said. He was disappointed that his erstwhile
friend, the Crown Prince, attended the February 21 rally for
Kosovo led by Radical and DSS figures, concluding that he was a
"good western educated man" who was just "thinking the wrong
way." He said Serbia needed the EU and the United States to
further strengthen its democracy, citing empowerment programs on
the local level and economic assistance for Serbia's
underdeveloped regions. Draskovic said he had "an obligation"
to tell Serbs "not to be blind any longer" and to work with the
West in developing this strong democratic state.
COMMENT
--------------
6. (SBU) Draskovic's party is small. The SPO won only 3.1% of
the vote in the January 2007 parliamentary elections, and thus,
currently has no seats in the parliament. However, in what is
gearing up to be a tough and contentious political race, every
percentage point could very much make the difference between a
Democratic or Radical victory. Since the last election,
Draskovic has modified his public stance on what role the
monarchy could play in Serbia. His comments suggest that he is
now more in the democratic camp, with a lucid observation of
what Serbia needs to become a modern democratic state. Unlike
leaders in the DS, Draskovic is advocating a much more vocal
U.S. position during the election campaign, something that fits
his own personal vocal style. Draskovic is not afraid to speak
up, and now he appears to be speaking up for a democratic,
European Serbia. End Comment.
MUNTER
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL PHUM SR MW KV
SUBJECT: SERBIA: DRASKOVIC TO FORM ELECTION COALITION WITH DS
BELGRADE 00000232 001.2 OF 002
SUMMARY
--------------
1. (SBU) Former Foreign Minister and leader of the Serbian
Renewal Movement, Vuk Draskovic, told the Ambassador March 12
that he intended to join a coalition with the Democratic Party
for the May elections. Draskovic encouraged Washington and
Pristina to accept Kosovo Serbs participation in the May
elections. The United States should emphasize its historical
friendship with Serbia in an effort to move beyond Kosovo, and
Serbia's international interests will be best served when Serbia
has a strong democratic state at home, Draskovic said. End
Summary.
DRASKOVIC TO FORM COALITION WITH DS
--------------
2. (SBU) Draskovic, leader of the Serbian Renewal Movement
(SPO) told the Ambassador that he was negotiating with President
Boris Tadic's Democratic Party (DS) to form a pro-EU coalition
for the May 11 election. It was essential for "democratic
forces to do everything possible to win a majority (in the May
election) in order to avoid disaster," Draskovic said. He said
his coalition with the DS was only natural, since he could not
support the Democratic Party of Serbia's (DSS) and Prime
Minister Vojislav Kostunica's "suicide policy of isolation."
Draskovic said he had "an obligation to defeat the policy of
defeat," and thus was committed to moving Serbia towards its
European future. He hoped he would reach an agreement with the
DS in the near future.
ACCEPT KOSOVO-SERB PARTICIPATION IN ELECTIONS
--------------
3. (SBU) Draskovic said he believed Kostunica would push to
have Kosovo-Serbs participate in the elections. He stressed
this was a right Serbs had under UN Resolution 1244, which was
still in effect, and under the Ahtisaari plan, which permits
dual citizenship. He urged the United States to consult closely
with Pristina to encourage the Kosovo Albanians "to close their
eyes to Serb participation in the elections and to encourage
(the Kosovar Albanian's) patient behavior." He said it was
important for the Serbs in Kosovo to express their own political
will in the elections.
U.S. SHOULD PROMOTE HISTORICAL FRIENDSHIP WITH SERBIA
-------------- --------------
4. (SBU) Draskovic said the United States should encourage
Serbia to move past Kosovo by focusing on the close bilateral
friendship of the last century. He suggested the United States
to issue a statement reaffirming its appreciation to Serbia as
an ally in the world wars and stressing our dedication to this
historical friendship. "The United States has not betrayed our
historical friendship, but rather someone in Serbia did, and for
this reason, the United States is right to support Serbia's
pro-democratic forces," Draskovic said. He encouraged the
United States "to take the offensive" of reminding Serbia of the
strong friendship in the past.
SERBIA'S INTERESTS BEST SERVED THROUGH STRONG DEMOCRACY
-------------- --------------
5. (SBU) Serbia would best serve its international agenda by
BELGRADE 00000232 002.2 OF 002
developing a strong democratic state at home, Draskovic said.
"My Serb nationalism is not against other nations, or my own
nation, but instead is focused on building a strong state at
home," Draskovic said. He was disappointed that his erstwhile
friend, the Crown Prince, attended the February 21 rally for
Kosovo led by Radical and DSS figures, concluding that he was a
"good western educated man" who was just "thinking the wrong
way." He said Serbia needed the EU and the United States to
further strengthen its democracy, citing empowerment programs on
the local level and economic assistance for Serbia's
underdeveloped regions. Draskovic said he had "an obligation"
to tell Serbs "not to be blind any longer" and to work with the
West in developing this strong democratic state.
COMMENT
--------------
6. (SBU) Draskovic's party is small. The SPO won only 3.1% of
the vote in the January 2007 parliamentary elections, and thus,
currently has no seats in the parliament. However, in what is
gearing up to be a tough and contentious political race, every
percentage point could very much make the difference between a
Democratic or Radical victory. Since the last election,
Draskovic has modified his public stance on what role the
monarchy could play in Serbia. His comments suggest that he is
now more in the democratic camp, with a lucid observation of
what Serbia needs to become a modern democratic state. Unlike
leaders in the DS, Draskovic is advocating a much more vocal
U.S. position during the election campaign, something that fits
his own personal vocal style. Draskovic is not afraid to speak
up, and now he appears to be speaking up for a democratic,
European Serbia. End Comment.
MUNTER