SERBIA: UNMIK CAUTIOUSLY OPTIMISTIC ABOUT ENGAGING

UNCLAS BELGRADE 000964

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

E.O.12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL SR KV
SUBJECT: SERBIA: UNMIK CAUTIOUSLY OPTIMISTIC ABOUT ENGAGING
GOVERNMENT ON "PRACTICAL MATTERS"

Summary
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1. (SBU) UNMIK SRSG Lamberto Zannier told us on September 12 that
he was cautiously optimistic that he could continue to engage with
the Serbian Government on resolving "practical matters" related to
Kosovo Serbs, but expected slow progress on any solutions. Zannier
said they were closest on a deal related to the reopening of the
courts in Northern Kosovo, but expected no action until after the UN
General Assembly. Progress on most other issues was hindered by
Serbian attempts to reexamine the question of Kosovo's status, said
Zannier. End Summary.

Serbia "Sufficiently Constructive"
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2. (SBU) SRSG Zannier told us at the conclusion of his September 12
meetings with Serbian officials in Belgrade that Serbia was
"sufficiently constructive" in talks, which he said merited follow
on discussions. Zannier had held meetings with Serbia's Minister
for Kosovo Goran Bogdanovic, State Secretary Oliver Ivanovic, and
Ministry for Foreign Affairs Political Director Borko Stefanovic.
He described the talks as "what must be done in order to get some
result on resolving practical matters." (Under the new government,
the MFA, and specificially Foreign Minister Vuk Jeremic, now has the
lead on all Kosovo policy issues. The Kosovo Ministry, under
Bogdanovic and Ivanovic, is responsible solely for the operational
implementation of this policy. This division of responsibility is
in stark contrast to the former government when the Kosovo Ministry,
led by then Minister Slobodan Samardzic, directed Kosovo policy.)

Closest on Judiciary, Far on Police and Customs
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3. (SBU) Zannier said his talks with the Serbian leadership had
provided an "amber light" to follow up on plans to reopen the courts
in North Mitrovica. Zannier had proposed to Bodganovic to reinsert
international staff in North Mitrovica to handle the pending
caseload while Bogdanovic was insisting on including Serbian
judicial staffers immediately. Zannier said progress could be made
on this, but realistically thought it would not happen until after
the UN General Assembly had voted on Serbia's International Court of
Justice proposal.


4. (SBU) On all other issues, particularly returning Kosovo Serbs
to the Kosovo Police Service (KPS) or reopening Customs in the
north, the Serbian government was hindering talks by raising the
question of Kosovo's status at every step, Zannier said. Resolving
these isues would require greater will at higher levels in the
Serbian government, he said.

Some Progress Could Lead to More
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5. (SBU) If an agreement was reached on the judiciary, it could
facilitate agreement on other pending issues, said Acting Deputy
SRSG David Harland, who accompanied Zannier. He said he was certain
that Kosovo Serbs would ultimately go along with any plans which
Belgrade endorsed. The goal, he said, was to focus on concrete
issues which would improve the situation on the ground. Like
Zannier, he recognized this would take time and said Serbia was in
no obvious hurry.

Comment
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6. (SBU) With no other venues to address these lingering practical
issues affecting Kosovo Serbs, Zannier continues his methodical
efforts to find even the smallest space for common ground. Whether
his efforts will pay off and lead to additional agreements will
depend greatly on how much time Serbian leaders believe they have
left to influence the developing institutional structures in Kosovo
and whether the upcoming ICJ decision in the UNGA strengthens
Serbia's political hand. End Comment.

MUNTER