Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08BELGRADE334
2008-04-04 11:24:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Belgrade
Cable title:
SERBIA: GOVERNMENT AGREES TO HOLD MAY ELECTIONS IN KOSOVO
how-toVZCZCXRO3439 PP RUEHAG RUEHAST RUEHDA RUEHDF RUEHFL RUEHIK RUEHKW RUEHLA RUEHLN RUEHLZ RUEHPOD RUEHROV RUEHSR RUEHVK RUEHYG DE RUEHBW #0334 0951124 ZNR UUUUU ZZH P R 041124Z APR 08 FM AMEMBASSY BELGRADE TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 0133 INFO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE RUFOADA/JAC MOLESWORTH RAF MOLESWORTH UK RHEHAAA/NSC WASHINGTON DC RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC RUEPGDA/USEUCOM JIC VAIHINGEN GE RUEHBW/AMEMBASSY BELGRADE 0202
UNCLAS BELGRADE 000334
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PHUM PREL KV SR
SUBJECT: SERBIA: GOVERNMENT AGREES TO HOLD MAY ELECTIONS IN KOSOVO
REF: BELGRADE 324
Summary
-------
UNCLAS BELGRADE 000334
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PHUM PREL KV SR
SUBJECT: SERBIA: GOVERNMENT AGREES TO HOLD MAY ELECTIONS IN KOSOVO
REF: BELGRADE 324
Summary
--------------
1. (SBU) Serbia's government agreed on April 3 to hold upcoming
parliamentary and local elections in Kosovo. The government
will now contact UNMIK to discuss the arrangements for the
elections, which would be carried out by Serbia's Election
Commission. End Summary.
Elections Will Be Held in Kosovo
--------------
2. (SBU) At its weekly meeting on April 3, Serbia's caretaker
government agreed to conduct parliamentary and local elections
in Kosovo, scheduled for May 11. After the meeting, Minister
for Kosovo Slobodan Samardzic of the Democratic Party of Serbia
(DSS) said that the government would now contact UNMIK regarding
the elections, because of the complicated procedures involved.
Kosovo Ministry advisor Stanko Blagojevic told poloff on April
4 that the GOS would discuss the elections with UNMIK, but that
the expectation was that Serbia's Republican Election Commission
(RIK) would conduct the elections in Kosovo. Contacts at the UN
Office in Belgrade told poloff on April 4 that UNOB had not yet
been contacted, but thought the GOS was trying to "walk a middle
line" on elections.
Elected Serb Officials Would Work With UNMIK, Not Pristina
-------------- --------------
3. (SBU) Blagojevic said that after the elections the local
Serb officials would be able to deal with UNMIK. Newly elected
officials would not deal with the government in Pristina, but
could work with UNMIK, in accordance with UNSC 1244, Blagojevic
said.
Election Commission Waiting to Implement
--------------
4. (SBU) The RIK is waiting to hear from the government
regarding the organization of elections in Kosovo. After the
government decision the RIK held a session at which it defined
the number and location of polling stations in Serbia without
Kosovo (8245 locations),according to Dejan Miljvojevic, of the
RIK. Miljvojevic told the Embassy on April 4 that the RIK also
set a deadline of April 22 to receive recommendations for
polling stations in Kosovo. By April 22, coordinators for the
administrative counties in Kosovo would need to submit their
proposals on polling stations to the RIK. Once it is established
that certain technical conditions are met, the RIK should accept
the proposed polling stations, Miljvojevic said.
Comment
--------------
5. (SBU) The Serbian government, having now agreed to hold
elections in Kosovo, intends to throw the issue to UNMIK in
order to get the UN to buy in to the decision and to set the
groundwork for UNMIK to recognize the local Serb leaders that
will be elected in May. UNMIK's response will determine whether
elections in Kosovo will in itself become a larger campaign
issue, to the benefit of Samardzic and the DSS. End Comment.
MUNTER
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PHUM PREL KV SR
SUBJECT: SERBIA: GOVERNMENT AGREES TO HOLD MAY ELECTIONS IN KOSOVO
REF: BELGRADE 324
Summary
--------------
1. (SBU) Serbia's government agreed on April 3 to hold upcoming
parliamentary and local elections in Kosovo. The government
will now contact UNMIK to discuss the arrangements for the
elections, which would be carried out by Serbia's Election
Commission. End Summary.
Elections Will Be Held in Kosovo
--------------
2. (SBU) At its weekly meeting on April 3, Serbia's caretaker
government agreed to conduct parliamentary and local elections
in Kosovo, scheduled for May 11. After the meeting, Minister
for Kosovo Slobodan Samardzic of the Democratic Party of Serbia
(DSS) said that the government would now contact UNMIK regarding
the elections, because of the complicated procedures involved.
Kosovo Ministry advisor Stanko Blagojevic told poloff on April
4 that the GOS would discuss the elections with UNMIK, but that
the expectation was that Serbia's Republican Election Commission
(RIK) would conduct the elections in Kosovo. Contacts at the UN
Office in Belgrade told poloff on April 4 that UNOB had not yet
been contacted, but thought the GOS was trying to "walk a middle
line" on elections.
Elected Serb Officials Would Work With UNMIK, Not Pristina
-------------- --------------
3. (SBU) Blagojevic said that after the elections the local
Serb officials would be able to deal with UNMIK. Newly elected
officials would not deal with the government in Pristina, but
could work with UNMIK, in accordance with UNSC 1244, Blagojevic
said.
Election Commission Waiting to Implement
--------------
4. (SBU) The RIK is waiting to hear from the government
regarding the organization of elections in Kosovo. After the
government decision the RIK held a session at which it defined
the number and location of polling stations in Serbia without
Kosovo (8245 locations),according to Dejan Miljvojevic, of the
RIK. Miljvojevic told the Embassy on April 4 that the RIK also
set a deadline of April 22 to receive recommendations for
polling stations in Kosovo. By April 22, coordinators for the
administrative counties in Kosovo would need to submit their
proposals on polling stations to the RIK. Once it is established
that certain technical conditions are met, the RIK should accept
the proposed polling stations, Miljvojevic said.
Comment
--------------
5. (SBU) The Serbian government, having now agreed to hold
elections in Kosovo, intends to throw the issue to UNMIK in
order to get the UN to buy in to the decision and to set the
groundwork for UNMIK to recognize the local Serb leaders that
will be elected in May. UNMIK's response will determine whether
elections in Kosovo will in itself become a larger campaign
issue, to the benefit of Samardzic and the DSS. End Comment.
MUNTER