Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08PODGORICA233
2008-08-29 10:03:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Podgorica
Cable title:
GOOD CANDIDATES FOR NEXT NATO CONTACT POINT EMBASSY IN
how-toVZCZCXRO1538 PP RUEHPOD DE RUEHPOD #0233 2421003 ZNR UUUUU ZZH P 291003Z AUG 08 FM AMEMBASSY PODGORICA TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 0943 INFO RUEHBW/AMEMBASSY BELGRADE PRIORITY 0424 RUEHNO/USMISSION USNATO PRIORITY 0079 RUEHUP/AMEMBASSY BUDAPEST PRIORITY 0018 RUEHLJ/AMEMBASSY LJUBLJANA PRIORITY 0009 RUEHTI/AMEMBASSY TIRANA PRIORITY 0158 RUEHVJ/AMEMBASSY SARAJEVO PRIORITY 0115 RUEHVB/AMEMBASSY ZAGREB PRIORITY 0192 RUEHSQ/AMEMBASSY SKOPJE PRIORITY 0038 RUEHTH/AMEMBASSY ATHENS PRIORITY 0006 RUEHPOD/AMEMBASSY PODGORICA 1030
UNCLAS PODGORICA 000233
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: MW PGOV PREL NATO
SUBJECT: GOOD CANDIDATES FOR NEXT NATO CONTACT POINT EMBASSY IN
PODGORICA
UNCLAS PODGORICA 000233
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: MW PGOV PREL NATO
SUBJECT: GOOD CANDIDATES FOR NEXT NATO CONTACT POINT EMBASSY IN
PODGORICA
1. (SBU) As Montenegro works towards its goal of NATO
membership, the decision as to which Ally's Embassy will serve
as NATO Contact Point Embassy (CPE) in Podgorica is an important
one. This is especially true in light of the GOM's goal of
attaining entry into MAP at next year's NATO Summit, as well as
its efforts to vigorously implement IPAP, PARP, and PfP and to
step up public support for NATO membership. The current CPE --
Greece -- has unfortunately not lived up to the challenge of
actively coordinating NATO efforts here.
2. (SBU) Both the Slovenian and Hungarian Ambassadors have
expressed interest in serving as the next CPE. Both Embassies
have similar capacities -- the Hungarians have a staff of three
diplomats and the Slovenes have four. Hungary does not yet have
a DATT (Slovenia does),but promises to transfer its DATT from
Zagreb to Podgorica if it gets the CPE role. According to the
Hungarian Ambassador, the Hungarian DATT in Zagreb managed the
CPE process there and speaks the local language. Hungary has
placed Montenegro on the top of its CPE "wish list," with Bosnia
and Macedonia ranked second and third. We do not know about
Slovenia's CPE rank order, but both Slovenia and Hungary have
excellent relations with Montenegro. Further, the fact that
they are both newer Allies gives them additional credibility
with the Montenegrin public, which would position them favorably
to "sell" the benefits of joining NATO.
3. (SBU) RECOMMENDATION: Both Embassies are led by energetic
and capable Ambassadors who have pledged to significantly step
up the CPE role, something we strongly support. We believe that
either Embassy would do a great job. The US Embassy will
continue to strongly support the efforts of the CPE to intensify
relations between Montenegro and NATO. At this stage, we
recommend not favoring either Slovenia or Hungary, but joining
with any consensus that develops.
MOORE
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: MW PGOV PREL NATO
SUBJECT: GOOD CANDIDATES FOR NEXT NATO CONTACT POINT EMBASSY IN
PODGORICA
1. (SBU) As Montenegro works towards its goal of NATO
membership, the decision as to which Ally's Embassy will serve
as NATO Contact Point Embassy (CPE) in Podgorica is an important
one. This is especially true in light of the GOM's goal of
attaining entry into MAP at next year's NATO Summit, as well as
its efforts to vigorously implement IPAP, PARP, and PfP and to
step up public support for NATO membership. The current CPE --
Greece -- has unfortunately not lived up to the challenge of
actively coordinating NATO efforts here.
2. (SBU) Both the Slovenian and Hungarian Ambassadors have
expressed interest in serving as the next CPE. Both Embassies
have similar capacities -- the Hungarians have a staff of three
diplomats and the Slovenes have four. Hungary does not yet have
a DATT (Slovenia does),but promises to transfer its DATT from
Zagreb to Podgorica if it gets the CPE role. According to the
Hungarian Ambassador, the Hungarian DATT in Zagreb managed the
CPE process there and speaks the local language. Hungary has
placed Montenegro on the top of its CPE "wish list," with Bosnia
and Macedonia ranked second and third. We do not know about
Slovenia's CPE rank order, but both Slovenia and Hungary have
excellent relations with Montenegro. Further, the fact that
they are both newer Allies gives them additional credibility
with the Montenegrin public, which would position them favorably
to "sell" the benefits of joining NATO.
3. (SBU) RECOMMENDATION: Both Embassies are led by energetic
and capable Ambassadors who have pledged to significantly step
up the CPE role, something we strongly support. We believe that
either Embassy would do a great job. The US Embassy will
continue to strongly support the efforts of the CPE to intensify
relations between Montenegro and NATO. At this stage, we
recommend not favoring either Slovenia or Hungary, but joining
with any consensus that develops.
MOORE