PRO-SERB OPPOSITION PARTIES PROMISE PROTESTS SHOULD GOM

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 PODGORICA 000209 SENSITIVE SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV PREL SR MW SUBJECT: PRO-SERB OPPOSITION PARTIES PROMISE PROTESTS SHOULD GOM RECOGNIZE KOSOVO PODGORICA 00000209 001.2 OF 002 ¶1. (SBU) SUMMARY: Rumors that the GoM will recognize Kosovo in the near future have been building, even as virtually all observers agree that the move will be widely unpopular here. Montenegro's largest pro-Serb political force has promised mass protests, and although not all pro-Serb parties have signed on, some demonstrations are probably inevitable. While many contend that the intensity and duration of protests will be limited, the GoM -- concerned that recognition will embolden radicals, sharpen ethnic and political divisions, and sour relations with Serbia -- continues to calculate how best to minimize the fall-out. END SUMMARY. An Unpopular Move -------------- ¶2. (U) Rumors that the Montenegrin government will recognize Kosovo have been building over the past month, fueled in part by FM Rocen's public assertion in early July that the GoM intends to take this step. Although Rocen did not specify a time, speculation has centered on August/September. ¶3. (SBU) Kosovo recognition will be politically risky for the GoM. While we have not seen published opinion polling, it is widely believed that a significant majority here opposed Kosovo's independence and opposes recognition now. Citing private surveys, prominent pollster Milos Besic told us recently that a "clear majority" was against recognition. With the exception of the Albanian parties, opposition also spans the political spectrum, with many contending that recognition is unpopular even with many rank-and-file members of the ruling Democratic Party of Socialists (DPS). Some opposition leaders have cited figures suggesting that 80 percent or more of Montenegrins oppose independence. ¶4. (SBU) More than 30 percent of Montenegrins identify themselves as Serbs, while 5-7 percent are Albanians and another 10-15 percent are Bosniaks/Muslims. Many Montenegrins therefore worry that recognition could upset the country's delicate ethnic balance. They are also concerned that it would sour relations with neighboring Serbia. Moreover, a significant number of Montenegrins -- particularly Serbs - feel passionately that Kosovo is and should remain Serbian. (Note: A February demonstration against Kosovo independence in Podgorica drew 10,000 protestors, a large number for tiny Montenegro.) Serb Parties Promise Protests -------------- ¶5. (SBU) Pro-Serb opposition forces have vowed that they will not let recognition pass without a fight. On July 21, Serbian List alliance leader Andrija Mandic -- who placed second in the April presidential election -- repeated his earlier pledge to lead "mass protests" should the GoM recognize. Mandic told us on July 25 that his call for demonstrations was designed to dissuade the GoM from taking the plunge. (Note: Mandic has told us privately that he has no doubt that the GOM will recognize Kosovo.) Serbian List MP Zoran Zizic also told us August 1 that recognition -- which he believed could come later in the month -- would be "a disgrace" for Montenegro and vowed to support "sharp protests." ¶6. (SBU) The Serbian List will be joined by other smaller pro-Serb groups, such as the Democratic Serbian Party (DSS). DSS leader Ranko Kadic told us passionately on July 25 that recognition of "the false state" of Kosovo was a line the GoM must never cross. Kadic worried the GoM would recognize later this month, even though he said President Vujanovic had promised a parliamentary debate before any decision. Kadic conceded that it would be difficult to mobilize supporters in August, but promised, "We will be ready to react." He also opined that protests could turn violent, although he claimed that any violence would be instigated by the Montenegrin secret police. PODGORICA 00000209 002.2 OF 002 Crack in Serb Unity? -------------- ¶7. (SBU) The small pro-Serb People's Party (NS) has struck a discordant note in an otherwise unified Serb party front. While sharply opposing recognition (which would be "disastrous and shameful") NS party leader Predrag Popovic announced July 22 that he would not participate in protests. Deputy NS leader Dragan Soc told us July 28 that while recognition would destabilize Montenegro and harm relations with Serbia, "the time for demonstrations has passed." As many as 30,000 people could take to the streets, he said, and the situation could spiral out of control. It therefore was better to respond politically, he said. (Note: When asked to comment on the NS's stance, Mandic told us, "don't worry, they will join; they have no choice.") Moderate Opposition Weighs Options -------------- ¶8. (SBU) Socialist People's Party (SNP) deputy leaders Vasilije Lalosevic and Nevan Gosovic told us July 27 that their party -- which believes recognition will jeopardize domestic stability and relations with Serbia -- sent "a clear warning" to the GoM after Rocen's July statement and felt that the GoM had pulled back as a result. Furthermore, Gosovic said former PM Sturanovic had assured SNP leader Srdjan Milic that the issue would be debated in Parliament before any decision was made. While Lalosevic predicted that citizens would take to the streets spontaneously if the GoM recognized, both he and Gosovic refused to comment on whether the SNP would participate. (Note: the SNP joined the February demonstration). ¶9. (SBU) The moderate Movement for Change (PzP) is courting both Albanian and Serbian voters and consequently has kept a low profile on the issue. Party leader Nebojsa Medojevic has said publicly that the GoM should not rush to recognize, and deputy PzP leader Goran Batricevic told us in late July that recognition would squeeze the moderate opposition between radicals and the GoM, "taking us back to the pre-(Montenegrin) independence period." However, Batricevic told us August 5 that he now thought that Montenegro should recognize as soon as possible, "so we can put the issue behind us." PzP MP and spokesman Koca Pavlovic also assured us that, while he believed recognition was "not a smart idea," the PzP would respect the GoM's decision and would not participate in demonstrations. Comment -------------- ¶10. (SBU) Kosovo recognition is widely unpopular, and not only among the 30-plus percent of the population who identify themselves as Serbs. Public protests are virtually inevitable should the GoM recognize, and parties with heavy Serb voter bases -- such as the SNP and the NS -- will be hard-pressed to resist joining. We note that the NS's decision not to participate in demonstrations has caused considerable angst within the party, with calls for leader Popovic's resignation. ¶11. (SBU) But while the situation is unpredictable, most observers expect protests to be limited in size and duration. "The time for big reactions has passed," one senior coalition MP told us, while another DPS politician said the recent government change in Serbia had dampened the opposition's energy. The fact that Serb parties have acted within the constitutional and legal order, despite often inflammatory rhetoric, also should help keep a lid on passions. Nevertheless, virtually all Montenegrins, both for and against the move, worry that recognition will embolden radicals and sharpen ethnic and political divisions. As a result, the GoM -- which has assured us that recognition is a matter of when, not if -- continues to calculate the timing in order to minimize the political fall-out (septel). MOORE