Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08PODGORICA251
2008-10-06 16:17:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Podgorica
Cable title:
MONTENEGRO PARLIAMENT OPENS DOOR TO KOSOVO RECOGNITION
how-toVZCZCXRO9535 OO RUEHAG RUEHAST RUEHDA RUEHDF RUEHFL RUEHIK RUEHKW RUEHLA RUEHLN RUEHLZ RUEHROV RUEHSR RUEHVK RUEHYG DE RUEHPOD #0251/01 2801617 ZNR UUUUU ZZH O P 061617Z OCT 08 FM AMEMBASSY PODGORICA TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 0971 INFO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE RUEHPOD/AMEMBASSY PODGORICA 1058
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 PODGORICA 000251
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR EUR/SCE
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL MARR NATO MW
SUBJECT: MONTENEGRO PARLIAMENT OPENS DOOR TO KOSOVO RECOGNITION
REF: (A) PODGORICA 203 (B) STATE 104222
PODGORICA 00000251 001.2 OF 002
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 PODGORICA 000251
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR EUR/SCE
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL MARR NATO MW
SUBJECT: MONTENEGRO PARLIAMENT OPENS DOOR TO KOSOVO RECOGNITION
REF: (A) PODGORICA 203 (B) STATE 104222
PODGORICA 00000251 001.2 OF 002
1. (SBU) SUMMARY: In its first session since the summer recess,
the Montenegrin Parliament adopted a controversial resolution
endorsing Montenegro's policy of Euro-Atlantic integration. In
the debate beforehand, FM Rocen and PM Djukanovic both suggested
that integration with Europe implies a responsibility to
recognize Kosovo. Serb list leader Andrija Mandic threatened to
call for public protests against the government if it recognizes
Kosovo, however overall public reaction has been muted. END
SUMMARY.
--------------
Parliament Adopts "Difficult" Decision
--------------
2. (U) After seven hours of debate, the parliament passed the
"Resolution on Montenegro's Acceleration of the Euro-Atlantic
Integration Process," with 45 votes by the ruling DPS/SDP
coalition, along with ethnic Albanian and Bosniak parties.
Twenty-one deputies of the SL, SNP, NS, DSS and Liberal Party
(LP) voted against. The resolution states that Montenegro is
"ready to recognize the political reality that EU and NATO
countries evaluate as significant for regional stability and
follow the policy which is on the road toward European and
Euro-Atlantic integration." The resolution is widely believed to
provide the basis for Montenegro's future policy on Kosovo.
Local press quoted the Serbian Ambassador to Montenegro, Zoran
Lutovac, and Serbian party officials as saying that relations
between Serbia and Montenegro would deteriorate if Montenegro
recognizes Kosovo.
Opposition Back in Parliament and Fired Up Over Kosovo
-------------- --------------
3. (SBU) The prospect of debate over the GoM's possible
recognition of Kosovo brought the majority of opposition parties
back to parliament for the first day of the fall session on
October 3. The opposition had earlier boycotted parliament in
protest over the decision in June by Public Radio and Television
of Montenegro (RTCG) to cease live broadcasting of all
parliamentary sessions (REF A). Though the broadcasting issue
has not been settled, RTCG did cover today's session, citing the
national interests at stake in the day's proceedings. All the
Serb parties attended, with only the Movement for Change (PzP)
sticking to the boycott. Many speculate that PzP used the
broadcasting issue as an excuse to avoid the session without
losing face because of its ambivalence on Kosovo's independence.
GoM Leadership Out in Force
--------------
4. (SBU) The President, Prime Minister and a majority of GoM
ministers attended the session. Deputy PM Gordana Djurovic and
FM Milan Rocen explained the resolution in the broader context
of Euro-Atlantic integration. Reminding the parliament that most
EU and NATO countries have recognized Kosovo, Rocen said that
"responsible conduct by a country that wants to be part of EU
and NATO leads towards recognition of Kosovo." The purpose of
the parliamentary session was to review the Resolution, which
would be the basis for the GoM's decision on the Kosovo issue.
5. (SBU) Efforts to delay or derail the resolution failed. The
People's Party (NS) submitted six amendments to the Resolution
requiring a national referendum on recognizing Kosovo or joining
NATO. The leader of the Albanian Alternative party(AA),Vaselj
Sinistaj, proposed an amendment urging Parliament to recognize
Kosovo's independence as soon as possible.
6. (U) In his speech to the assembly, Socialist People's Party
(SNP) president Milic called on PM Djukanovic to name "the
PODGORICA 00000251 002.2 OF 002
foreign diplomats who exert pressure on the GoM to recognize
Kosovo". Another SNP parliamentarian, Vasilije Lalosevic, said
that he hoped that Kosovo's recognition would not come from
"Cetinje", referring to Kosovo PM Hasim Thaci's statement last
week that "more recognitions of Kosovo would follow which would
surprise Serbia."
7. (U) NS Head of the Foreign Relations Committee, Dragan Soc,
made numerous impassioned pleas against the recognition of
Kosovo and stated that "the U.S. Ambassador said that the U.S.
would not exert pressure on Montenegro to recognize Kosovo. But
look what they are doing to us today when we are so brutally
exposed to the will of great powers." Soc also insisted that the
GoM reveal who in the international community was applying
pressure on the GoM.
8. (U) Pro-Serbian SL leader Andrija Mandic and Democratic
Serbian Party (DSS) head Ranko Kadic demanded the ruling
coalition Democratic Party of Socialists (DPS)/ Socialist
Democratic Party (SDP) withdraw the Resolution from the agenda.
Mandic threatened to call for popular protests if the government
recognizes Kosovo. Other opposition leaders who spoke after
Mandic did not support calling protests.
9. (U) Kemal Purisic of the Bosniak Party (BS) and Mehmed Bardhi
of the ethnic Albanian Democratic Alliance (DSCG) urged
parliament to adopt the Resolution. AA president Sinistaj
stated that "some diplomatic representatives in the countries of
the former SFRY told me that recognition of Kosovo is fait
accompli."
10. (U) Speaker of Parliament Ranko Krivokapic denied that
foreign pressure was exerted on Montenegro to recognize Kosovo,
saying it had merely received "recommendations" to recognize
Kosovo.
11. (U) Prime Minister Milo Djukanovic was the final speaker and
enumerated the reasons why adoption of the resolution was in
Montenegro's interest. He added that recognition of Kosovo is a
natural part of Euro-Atlantic integration, a responsibility
implied by the resolution. He denied that the ruling coalition
is using the resolution to hide its responsibility for any
decision to recognize Kosovo.
--------------
Comment
--------------
12. (SBU) Local media have portrayed GoM recognition of Kosovo
as virtually a foregone conclusion. However, the GoM is still
playing its cards close to the vest, evidently gauging public
and international reaction at each step. The initiative now
rests with the Prime Minster and cabinet, whose next regular
session is scheduled for October 9. If that is indeed the
scenario, the decision could become more complicated if the UNGA
votes soon to support Serbia's request for an ICG opinion on
Kosovo's independence. End Comment.
MOORE
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR EUR/SCE
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL MARR NATO MW
SUBJECT: MONTENEGRO PARLIAMENT OPENS DOOR TO KOSOVO RECOGNITION
REF: (A) PODGORICA 203 (B) STATE 104222
PODGORICA 00000251 001.2 OF 002
1. (SBU) SUMMARY: In its first session since the summer recess,
the Montenegrin Parliament adopted a controversial resolution
endorsing Montenegro's policy of Euro-Atlantic integration. In
the debate beforehand, FM Rocen and PM Djukanovic both suggested
that integration with Europe implies a responsibility to
recognize Kosovo. Serb list leader Andrija Mandic threatened to
call for public protests against the government if it recognizes
Kosovo, however overall public reaction has been muted. END
SUMMARY.
--------------
Parliament Adopts "Difficult" Decision
--------------
2. (U) After seven hours of debate, the parliament passed the
"Resolution on Montenegro's Acceleration of the Euro-Atlantic
Integration Process," with 45 votes by the ruling DPS/SDP
coalition, along with ethnic Albanian and Bosniak parties.
Twenty-one deputies of the SL, SNP, NS, DSS and Liberal Party
(LP) voted against. The resolution states that Montenegro is
"ready to recognize the political reality that EU and NATO
countries evaluate as significant for regional stability and
follow the policy which is on the road toward European and
Euro-Atlantic integration." The resolution is widely believed to
provide the basis for Montenegro's future policy on Kosovo.
Local press quoted the Serbian Ambassador to Montenegro, Zoran
Lutovac, and Serbian party officials as saying that relations
between Serbia and Montenegro would deteriorate if Montenegro
recognizes Kosovo.
Opposition Back in Parliament and Fired Up Over Kosovo
-------------- --------------
3. (SBU) The prospect of debate over the GoM's possible
recognition of Kosovo brought the majority of opposition parties
back to parliament for the first day of the fall session on
October 3. The opposition had earlier boycotted parliament in
protest over the decision in June by Public Radio and Television
of Montenegro (RTCG) to cease live broadcasting of all
parliamentary sessions (REF A). Though the broadcasting issue
has not been settled, RTCG did cover today's session, citing the
national interests at stake in the day's proceedings. All the
Serb parties attended, with only the Movement for Change (PzP)
sticking to the boycott. Many speculate that PzP used the
broadcasting issue as an excuse to avoid the session without
losing face because of its ambivalence on Kosovo's independence.
GoM Leadership Out in Force
--------------
4. (SBU) The President, Prime Minister and a majority of GoM
ministers attended the session. Deputy PM Gordana Djurovic and
FM Milan Rocen explained the resolution in the broader context
of Euro-Atlantic integration. Reminding the parliament that most
EU and NATO countries have recognized Kosovo, Rocen said that
"responsible conduct by a country that wants to be part of EU
and NATO leads towards recognition of Kosovo." The purpose of
the parliamentary session was to review the Resolution, which
would be the basis for the GoM's decision on the Kosovo issue.
5. (SBU) Efforts to delay or derail the resolution failed. The
People's Party (NS) submitted six amendments to the Resolution
requiring a national referendum on recognizing Kosovo or joining
NATO. The leader of the Albanian Alternative party(AA),Vaselj
Sinistaj, proposed an amendment urging Parliament to recognize
Kosovo's independence as soon as possible.
6. (U) In his speech to the assembly, Socialist People's Party
(SNP) president Milic called on PM Djukanovic to name "the
PODGORICA 00000251 002.2 OF 002
foreign diplomats who exert pressure on the GoM to recognize
Kosovo". Another SNP parliamentarian, Vasilije Lalosevic, said
that he hoped that Kosovo's recognition would not come from
"Cetinje", referring to Kosovo PM Hasim Thaci's statement last
week that "more recognitions of Kosovo would follow which would
surprise Serbia."
7. (U) NS Head of the Foreign Relations Committee, Dragan Soc,
made numerous impassioned pleas against the recognition of
Kosovo and stated that "the U.S. Ambassador said that the U.S.
would not exert pressure on Montenegro to recognize Kosovo. But
look what they are doing to us today when we are so brutally
exposed to the will of great powers." Soc also insisted that the
GoM reveal who in the international community was applying
pressure on the GoM.
8. (U) Pro-Serbian SL leader Andrija Mandic and Democratic
Serbian Party (DSS) head Ranko Kadic demanded the ruling
coalition Democratic Party of Socialists (DPS)/ Socialist
Democratic Party (SDP) withdraw the Resolution from the agenda.
Mandic threatened to call for popular protests if the government
recognizes Kosovo. Other opposition leaders who spoke after
Mandic did not support calling protests.
9. (U) Kemal Purisic of the Bosniak Party (BS) and Mehmed Bardhi
of the ethnic Albanian Democratic Alliance (DSCG) urged
parliament to adopt the Resolution. AA president Sinistaj
stated that "some diplomatic representatives in the countries of
the former SFRY told me that recognition of Kosovo is fait
accompli."
10. (U) Speaker of Parliament Ranko Krivokapic denied that
foreign pressure was exerted on Montenegro to recognize Kosovo,
saying it had merely received "recommendations" to recognize
Kosovo.
11. (U) Prime Minister Milo Djukanovic was the final speaker and
enumerated the reasons why adoption of the resolution was in
Montenegro's interest. He added that recognition of Kosovo is a
natural part of Euro-Atlantic integration, a responsibility
implied by the resolution. He denied that the ruling coalition
is using the resolution to hide its responsibility for any
decision to recognize Kosovo.
--------------
Comment
--------------
12. (SBU) Local media have portrayed GoM recognition of Kosovo
as virtually a foregone conclusion. However, the GoM is still
playing its cards close to the vest, evidently gauging public
and international reaction at each step. The initiative now
rests with the Prime Minster and cabinet, whose next regular
session is scheduled for October 9. If that is indeed the
scenario, the decision could become more complicated if the UNGA
votes soon to support Serbia's request for an ICG opinion on
Kosovo's independence. End Comment.
MOORE