SERBIA: SENIOR LEADERS SYMPATHETIC ON CONTACT POLICY,

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 BELGRADE 000684 SENSITIVE SIPDIS E.O.12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV PREL SR SUBJECT: SERBIA: SENIOR LEADERS SYMPATHETIC ON CONTACT POLICY, KOVACEVIC REF: BELGRADE 671 Summary -------------- ¶1. (SBU) Deputy Prime Minister Mladjan Dinkic and Dragan Djilas, the Democratic Party's candidate for mayor of Belgrade, both believe that the Serbian government's policy of restricting high-level contacts with countries that have recognized Kosovo is ill-advised. They say that the Kovacevic case must be resolved in the interest of justice and bilateral relations. Dinkic asked for advice on how Serbia could press for a UN mandate for the EU's mission in Kosovo without adding to international tensions. Djilas could not predict whether he would become the mayor of Belgrade in the near future; although President Tadic and Liberal Democratic Party leader Ceda Jovanovic have reconciled and agreed to cooperate on a Belgrade coalition, Ivica Dacic's Socialist Party reportedly remains uncommitted. End summary. Contact Policy Ill-Advised -------------- ¶2. (SBU) Mladjan Dinkic, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy in the new Cvetkovic government, received the Ambassador for an official courtesy call on July 11 despite the GOS policy forbidding high-level contacts with countries that have recognized Kosovo remains in force. (Dinkic, the leader of the G-17 Plus party, also attended post's Independence Day celebration in violation of the contact policy.) He said that he would oppose Vuk Jeremic's proposal to lift the ban only for European countries and keep it in force for the U.S. ¶3. (SBU) Dragan Djilas, the Democratic Party (DS) candidate for mayor of Belgrade, also expressed frustration to us on July 11 with the government's initial decision to sever high-level diplomatic contacts, and incredulity at the idea of differentiating between the U.S. and Europe. Djilas acknowledged that the previous government had to reach a compromise with Kostunica over the course of action, but commented that "the worst mistake is the one you keep making." He indicated that he would express his opinion directly to President Tadic. Kovacevic -------------- ¶4. (SBU) Both Dinkic and Djilas agreed that the GOS needed to take action to resolve the Miladin Kovacevic case (reftel) in the interest of justice and to prevent further damage to the bilateral relationship. Although not directly involved in the case, Djilas said he would push within the DS leadership for a responsible approach. Kosovo: Need UN Approval -------------- ¶5. (SBU) On Kosovo, Dinkic underscored the need for UN approval of the EU's mission and asked for a "hint" from the U.S. on the best diplomatic strategy. He stressed that the Serbian government does not want confict with the U.S. or Russia, and wants the EU to be able to play a role in bringing prosperity to Kosovo, but needs to find a path through the UN. Dinkic mentioned that the best way to resolve the issue of Kosovo's World Bank debt would be for the Bank to transfer it to Kosovo and inform the Serbian government afterward. Belgrade Government Unresolved -------------- ¶6. (SBU) Dinkic told us that the fate of the Belgrade city government has not yet been decided. Although DS and SPS have agreed in principle to form a coalition with LDP support, and Tadic had confirmed to him just the night before that he was committed to sealing the deal, the SPS was "playing games." Dinkic reiterated that he would pull G-17 Plus out of the national-level governing coalition if DS did not form the Belgrade government. ¶7. (SBU) Djilas confirmed that the deal between DS and SPS had not yet been finalized. Dismissing recent press reports that the problem lies with Ceda Jovanovic's Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), he placed the blame squarely on SPS. Dinkic said that he, Tadic, and Jovanovic met for five hours on July 9 and reached agreement on all issues, putting aside the personal differences that have long prevented Tadic and Jovanovic from cooperating. Comment -------------- ¶8. (SBU) While Tadic and Jeremic cling to the no-contact policy BELGRADE 00000684 002 OF 002 instituted by the Kostunica government, others in the cabinet don't. Dinkic and Djilas, at least, see the damage done to Serbian interests by prolonged isolation, the Kovacevic case, and the comative approach on Kosovo. End comment. MUNTER