Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08MOSCOW501
2008-02-22 16:03:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Moscow
Cable title:  

RUSSIA REMAINS UNCOMPROMISING ON KOSOVO ILLEGALITY

Tags:  PREL KV RS 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXRO4957
OO RUEHFL RUEHKW RUEHLA RUEHROV RUEHSR
DE RUEHMO #0501/01 0531603
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
O 221603Z FEB 08
FM AMEMBASSY MOSCOW
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 6784
INFO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 MOSCOW 000501 

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/22/2018
TAGS: PREL KV RS
SUBJECT: RUSSIA REMAINS UNCOMPROMISING ON KOSOVO ILLEGALITY

REF: A. MOSCOW 462

B. MOSCOW 445

Classified By: Ambassador William J. Burns for reasons 1.4 (b/d).

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 MOSCOW 000501

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/22/2018
TAGS: PREL KV RS
SUBJECT: RUSSIA REMAINS UNCOMPROMISING ON KOSOVO ILLEGALITY

REF: A. MOSCOW 462

B. MOSCOW 445

Classified By: Ambassador William J. Burns for reasons 1.4 (b/d).


1. (C) Summary: Russia continued to send an uncompromising
message on the illegality of Kosovo's independence and the
irresponsibility of international recognition outside a
framework of a negotiated solution, with the MFA reacting
furiously to former Ambassador Holbrooke's alleged assertion
of Russian support for the Belgrade demonstrations. FM
Lavrov continues to publicly denounce the EU mission as
unilateral and unsanctioned, with senior officials persisting
in accusing the West of making an "historic mistake," and
Russian NATO Ambassador Rogozin flirting with the necessity
of "use of force" in the event the UN is a discredited
institution. Mixed messages on Russia's next steps towards
the frozen conflicts continue, with tensions heightened by
the frequent visits of Abkhaz and South Ossetian leaders.
Concern of Kosovo's implications (and Russia's possible
response) has helped create a facade of unity at the usually
lackluster CIS Informal Summit. The Serbian Embassy in Moscow
contacted us to convey their apologies for the destruction in
Belgrade. In Moscow, law enforcement authorities told us
that they were unaware of any planned demonstrations outside
U.S. diplomatic premises. End Summary.

End Summary.

Reactions to Riots in Belgrade
--------------


2. (SBU) While Russia supported the unanimous UNSC statement
on February 21 condemning the Belgrade attacks on foreign
missions, today's MFA reaction was focused on a statement by
former UN Ambassador Richard Holbrooke, which alleged Moscow
backing for the Belgrade riots. MFA Spokesman Kaminin
labeled Holbrooke's comments "absolutely inappropriate" and
an act of "placing blame at someone else's door." Calling
the riots in Belgrade "regrettable," the MFA emphasized that
the forces which recognized Kosovo "should have realized the
effect of the move," including experienced Balkan hands such
as Holbrooke. Speaker of the Federation Council Mironov
dismissed the accusation, while underscoring Serbia's overall
diplomatic response to the crisis. Serbian DCM Kurjak, who
is closely allied with President Tadic, called us today to

apologize for the destruction at our embassy in Belgrade.

Reacting to EULUX
--------------


3. (SBU) Russia has hewed to its uncompromising position on
the illegality of Kosovo's independence, with FM Lavrov using
a recent press conference to underscore the "bitter irony" of
the EU deploying a mission to Kosovo "unilaterally and
without the sanction of the UNSC" with the goal of "ensuring
the supremacy of the law." A further MFA statement charged
that the EU mission did not conform to the "principles of
interactions" in the Russia-EU roadmap for external security,
which were premised on increasing the authority of the UN.
The statement accused the EU of aiding in destabilizing the
Balkans and "encouraging separatism around the world."
Presidential Special Representative on EU-Russian Relations
Yastrzhembskiy likewise accused the EU of "opening Pandora's
box," predicting an increase in separatist struggles in
European countries. He warned that recognition of Kosovo's
independence "counter to international law and the United
Nations" would harm relations between Russia and the EU.

Political Establishment Closes Ranks
--------------


4. (C) A wide range of political and social leaders
continued to protest Kosovo's declaration of independence and
Western recognition:

-- In separate meetings with the Ambassador (septel),First
Deputy Prime Minister Sergey Ivanov and liberal opposition
political leader Grigoriy Yavlinskiy characterized U.S.
support for Kosovo's independence as a "historic mistake."

-- Head of the Duma's International Relations Committee
Kosachev repeated claims that Kosovo's independence provided
a glimpse of a "new world order," where strong nations did
not need the permission of international law to achieve their
objectives, but could "compel" the international community to
legitimize their goals. In a meeting with the UK Ambassador
today, Kosachev maintained that Western policy had
"destroyed" the UN, with no motivation for anyone to respect
the UNSC or to work for consensus.

-- In a DVC press conference from Brussels, Russian

MOSCOW 00000501 002 OF 002


Ambassador to NATO Rogozin provocatively flirted with the
Russian use of force, noting ambiguously that "if these
organizations (i.e., the EU and NATO) step beyond their
mandate in Kosovo, these organizations will be in conflict
with the UN, and then I think we will also begin operating
under the assumption that in order to be respected, one needs
to use force."

-- Putin's Deputy Press secretary Peskov insisted that Kosovo
was "not unique," and said the United States and Russia would
have to discuss the issue because the "first signs of a chain
reaction" were already appearing.

-- MFA Balkans Special Envoy Botsan-Kharchenko predicted that
the situation could lead to the isolation of the Kosovar
Serbs, resulting in Kosovo being divided into two.

-- Russian Orthodox Patriarch Aleksey II called Kosovo's DI
an "anti-historic event" that "could upset the global
balance." He claimed that "a tremendous number" of Orthodox
churches and monasteries "were and are being destroyed" in
Kosovo.

Abkhazia and South Ossetia
--------------


5. (C) Russia continues to send mixed messages on how it
intends to treat Abkhazia and South Ossetia in the wake of
Kosovo's independence. South Ossetia "president" Kokoity
said the frozen conflict leaders were not deterred by
Kosachev's statement that Russia would "never" recognize
their independence, and in his meeting with the UK Ambassador
Kosachev charged that "after Kosovo, we have less reason not
to." Federation Council International Relations Chairman
Margelov told the Ambassador that Russia would work on two
tracks: to successfully negotiate a solution to the
Transnistria standoff and to adopt a "Taiwan" model of
engagement with Abkhazia and South Ossetia.


6. (SBU) Helping to ratchet up tensions has been the
heightened pace of diplomatic engagement with the leadership
from the frozen conflicts. After visits by the "foreign
ministers" and then the "presidents" last week, the "foreign
ministers" of Abkhazia, South Ossetia, and Transnistria met
in Moscow on Friday, with the leaders of the republics slated
to gather again in Moscow within two weeks. The press
reported that Abkhaz "president" Bagapsh and Kokoity were
preparing an appeal to Russia, the CIS, and the United
Nations to recognize their independence in "the next few
days." Kokoity said on February 20 that "some states may
start the process of official recognition of Abkhazia and
South Ossetia this year, and Russia does not need to be the
first to do so."


6. (SBU) While we do not have a readout of the February 21
bilaterals at the CIS informal summit (which is still going
on),tensions generated by Kosovo's independence has resulted
in at least a facade of unity for the usually fractious and
lackluster body. No CIS member state has recognized Kosovo,
and several -- Moldova, Georgia, Azerbaijan -- have joined
Russia in publicly refusing to do so. All of the member
states, experts stress, have vested interests in maintaining
the sanctity of their post-Soviet borders, and Russia so far
has been able to use the Summit to present a unified front on
a group defined more by its differences.

U.S. Mission Security
--------------


7. (SBU) Following events in Belgrade, the U.S. Embassy and
three consulates have reviewed their security posture and
preparations in case of large, uncontrolled demonstrations.
RSO contacted multiple law enforcement agencies, none of
which had any information on planned demonstrations at U.S.
diplomatic facilities in Russia. There have been no protests
at U.S. diplomatic facilities in Russia over the past three
days.


BURNS