Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08BERLIN327
2008-03-14 08:00:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Berlin
Cable title:  

CONTINUED GERMAN SUPPORT ON SERBIA AND KOSOVO

Tags:  PREL GM KV 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXRO4715
PP RUEHBC RUEHDE RUEHFL RUEHKUK RUEHKW RUEHLA RUEHLH RUEHPW RUEHROV
RUEHSR
DE RUEHRL #0327/01 0740800
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
P 140800Z MAR 08
FM AMEMBASSY BERLIN
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 0689
INFO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE
RUCNISL/ISLAMIC COLLECTIVE
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 BERLIN 000327 

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/10/2018
TAGS: PREL GM KV
SUBJECT: CONTINUED GERMAN SUPPORT ON SERBIA AND KOSOVO

REF: BERLIN 212

Classified By: POLITICAL MINISTER COUNSELOR JEFF RATHKE. REASONS: 1.4 (
B) AND (D).

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 BERLIN 000327

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/10/2018
TAGS: PREL GM KV
SUBJECT: CONTINUED GERMAN SUPPORT ON SERBIA AND KOSOVO

REF: BERLIN 212

Classified By: POLITICAL MINISTER COUNSELOR JEFF RATHKE. REASONS: 1.4 (
B) AND (D).


1. (C) Summary: Since Kosovo declared independence February
17, Germany has pressed Serb government leaders both publicly
and privately to tone down the negative rhetoric and prevent
violence, while privately urging "reasonable" Serbs to focus
on European integration. It has also actively encouraged EU
member states to recognize Kosovo and support the fledgling
government. While some members of the Bundestag (parliament)
have expressed concerns about the viability of Kosovo, most
are taking a wait-and-see approach. Balkan watchers at the
German MFA believe that the road may be long and difficult
and that the West should ensure there are no doubts about its
resolve to oppose destabilizing steps by Serbia. End
Summary.

Standing Firm Against Serb Aggression
--------------


2. (C) Since the attacks in Belgrade on foreign embassies,
Germany has attempted to maintain a balance between continued
outreach to "reasonable, EU-leaning" politicians in Serbia,
while refraining from "too forward-leaning" statements on
eventual Serbian membership in the EU (in contrast to Sweden
and France),according to Wenke Crudopf, Serbia desk officer
at the MFA. MFA Office Director for the Balkans Joachim
Bleicker told us that Serb misbehavior would not be
tolerated. Bleicker specifically called for a strong stance
with respect to northern Kosovo and continued Serb efforts to
destabilize the situation. "They are testing us and our
resolve" he noted. "If we do not act together robustly now,
the Serb side will feel emboldened."

And for Kosovo Independence and Sovereignty
--------------


3. (C) On March 12, FM Steinmeier stated publicly in clear
terms that Serbs in Kosovo should not be permitted to
participate in the upcoming Serbian elections in May because
"they belong to the state of Kosovo." To defend Kosovo's
territorial integrity, Bleicker noted that Germany was
looking to send customs officials as part of UNMIK to control
the northern border of Kosovo with Serbia, and expressed
frustration at the pace of movement to get UNMIK back in
place at their checkpoints. He also noted that on March 6

the German cabinet had approved the participation of up to
180 German policemen in the EULEX mission in Kosovo and that
Germany wants to be seen as a leader in expanding the justice
and police missions to Kosovo. Bleicker also mentioned that
Germany has been aggressively demarching many EU capitals to
recognize Kosovo independence as quickly possible, and noted
that Bulgaria, Hungary, and the Czech Republic were "dragging
their feet." Germany has also demarched all OIC countries
and hopes a "wave of recognitions" will result from the March
13-14 OIC meeting in Dakar. Regarding the economic
development of Kosovo, he admitted the challenges were
daunting, but held out hope that the Donor's Conference in
June will jump-start trade and investment in Kosovo.

Some Concern Just Below the Surface
--------------


4. (C) FM Steinmeier has engaged his Social Democratic Party
(SPD) colleagues in the Bundestag and been largely successful
in keeping a lid on SPD bellyaching for now, although a few
have remained critical. Having the popular Foreign Minister
largely in the lead on Kosovo has helped keep most SPD
detractors at bay and supportive of the government's
position. According to Harald Berwanger, SPD Foreign Policy
Advisor, however, Steinemeier "wasn't able to erase all
doubts" and there is some grumbling about relying on UNSCR
1244 as the basis for the international presence in Kosovo.
For example, in a February 23 article in the newsweekly "Der
Spiegel," SPD Bundestag members Niels Annen and Johannes Jung
expressed skepticism about the Kosovo status process and
noted that "there were only bad decisions made about the
Kosovo's status question, including recognition." Berwanger
noted that it "will now come down to how things progress. If
things improve, fine; if the situation deteriorates, then we
should be prepared for increased criticism."


5. (C) Berwanger went on to note that the far-left Left Party
is still weighing whether it will challenge the government's
action on Kosovo in the Constitutional Court, and that the
decision will likely come down to how things proceed on the
ground in Kosovo. Specifically, the Left
Party may argue that that UNSCR 1244 no longer provides a
sufficient legal basis for continued German participation in
KFOR since the legal status of Kosovo has changed. The

BERLIN 00000327 002 OF 002


German MFA has been expecting this challenge from the Left
Party and is already prepared to respond.

Germany Presses Partners to Play Positive Role
-------------- -


6. (C) All contacts noted that Germany is actively pressuring
other countries to join the newly created Kosovo Steering
Group (KSG) or be a "positive force" in Kosovo's future.
Germany is also pressing the countries through the EU and
bilaterally to act more swiftly in providing the full range
of needed assistance to Kosovo, including police, trainers,
additional troops, as well as urging recognition (in what the
Germans describe as "remarkably strong terms") by the
remaining EU countries, including Kosovo's strongest EU
detractors such as Spain and Greece. German diplomats are
raising the issue at every opportunity, we were told,
especially now that the situation in Serbia is shakier than
ever. According to Crudopf, the May elections in Serbia
increase uncertainty about Belgrade's relationship with the
EU. However, they will have no effect on Germany's efforts
to be a positive force within the EU, the KSG, and the
Western Balkans as a whole.
TIMKEN JR