SERBIA ASKS USG UNDERSTANDING FOR SENSITIVITIES ON GEORGIA

UNCLAS BELGRADE 000852 STATE FOR GEORGIA TASK FORCE SENSITIVE SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: MARR PREL RU GG SR SUBJECT: SERBIA ASKS USG UNDERSTANDING FOR SENSITIVITIES ON GEORGIA ISSUE REF: A) STATE 89769, B) BELGRADE 818 ¶1. (U) During an August 21 meeting, MFA Political Director Borislav Stefanovic asked DCM for USG "understanding" for Serbia's specific circumstances vis-a-vis Russia and Georgia (Ref A). DCM Brush stressed that it was important for Serbia to know what the United States was communicating to countries around the world regarding Georgia and added that Washington was appreciative of Serbia's awkward situation and its decision to stay "silent" (Ref B). ¶2. (SBU) Stefanovic expressed satisfaction that the United States appreciated Serbia's restraint to date, underlining that it has not been easy to remain silent given the "huge pressure" Russia was exerting on Serbia. (Comment: This possibly refers to information reported in Ref B that the Russian Embassy specifically had approached the MFA to rally Serbia's "network" in support of Russia. End Comment.) He stated that Serbia fully supported the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Georgia "as it does in the cases of all members of the United Nations." He also emphasized that Serbia supported non-violent diplomatic and legal resolutions to territorial disputes. Stefanovic said that Serbia does not believe that comparisons between South Ossetia and Kosovo were helpful, but warned that if pressed Serbia would use the U.S. position on Georgia to buttress its Kosovo argument. ¶3. (SBU) In response to Stefanovic's comment that Russia was an "ally," DCM responded that Russia's friendship with Serbia was cynical at best, to which Stefanovic reluctantly agreed. MUNTER