Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08PRISTINA147
2008-03-19 07:25:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Pristina
Cable title:  

KOSOVO: ACTING U/S FRIED TELLS KOSOVARS TO STAY

Tags:  PGOV UNMIK KV 
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O 190725Z MAR 08
FM USOFFICE PRISTINA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 8144
INFO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK PRIORITY 1458
RHMFISS/CDR USEUCOM VAIHINGEN GE PRIORITY
RUFOADA/JAC MOLESWORTH RAF MOLESWORTH UK PRIORITY
RHFMISS/AFSOUTH NAPLES IT PRIORITY
RHMFISS/CDR TF FALCON PRIORITY
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RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
RUEPGEA/CDR650THMIGP SHAPE BE PRIORITY
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RUEAWJA/DEPT OF JUSTICE WASHDC PRIORITY
RUZEJAA/USNIC PRISTINA SR PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 PRISTINA 000147 

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR EUR, EUR/SCE, DRL, INL, AND S/WCI, NSC FOR BRAUN,
USUN FOR DREW SCHUFLETOWSKI, USOSCE FOR STEVE STEGER

E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/11/2018
TAGS: PGOV UNMIK KV
SUBJECT: KOSOVO: ACTING U/S FRIED TELLS KOSOVARS TO STAY
THEIR MODERATE COURSE, FOCUS ON BUILDING STATE INSTITUTIONS

Classified By: COM TINA KAIDANOW FOR REASONS 1.4 (B) AND (D)

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 PRISTINA 000147

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR EUR, EUR/SCE, DRL, INL, AND S/WCI, NSC FOR BRAUN,
USUN FOR DREW SCHUFLETOWSKI, USOSCE FOR STEVE STEGER

E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/11/2018
TAGS: PGOV UNMIK KV
SUBJECT: KOSOVO: ACTING U/S FRIED TELLS KOSOVARS TO STAY
THEIR MODERATE COURSE, FOCUS ON BUILDING STATE INSTITUTIONS

Classified By: COM TINA KAIDANOW FOR REASONS 1.4 (B) AND (D)


1. (C) SUMMARY: In Pristina March 7, acting U/S Daniel
Fried, the highest-level USG official to visit Kosovo since
the February 17 declaration of independence, met separately
with President Sejdiu, PM Thaci, and Assembly Speaker
Krasniqi to congratulate them on Kosovo's independence,
encourage their admirable restraint in the face of continued
provocations from Belgrade, and urge them to focus their
energies on building the institutions of Europe's newest
state. A/S Fried also met with Nenad Rasic and Boban
Stankovic, the two moderate Serb ministers in Thaci's
government, and their party leader, Slobodan Petrovic. They
told Fried that they continue to suffer criticism and
pressure from Belgrade and their own community, and that
visible economic projects benefiting Serbs in central Kosovo
would prove that participation in Kosovo institutions was
worthwhile. With key internationals COMKFOR LTG Xavier de
Marnhac, PDSRSG Larry Rossin and ICO head Pieter Feith,
discussion centered around the need to reassert UNMIK
authority in the north, to deploy the ICO/EULEX missions
throughout Kosovo, and to guard against any possibility of
negotiating with Belgrade that would essentially allow
completely separate Serbian institutions to function in the
north and in the southern Serb enclaves. Acting U/S Fried's
visit served both to reinforce our strong support for Kosovo
and to underscore the many challenges that lie ahead,
including passing the draft Constitution and remaining
minority rights provisions of Ahtisaari Plan legislation; the
visit also reinforced that close international coordination
is key during the post-independence period. END SUMMARY.

"Pleased to be in the Republic of Kosovo"


2. (C) Acting U/S Daniel Fried, in Pristina March 7, met
separately with President Fatmir Sejdiu, PM Hashim Thaci, and
Assembly Speaker Jakup Krasniqi. Fried told each that he was
"pleased to be in the Republic of Kosovo," and congratulated

his interlocutors on the dignity of Kosovo's February 17
declaration of independence. Fried strongly supported the
moderation and restraint of the Kosovo leadership in response
to provocations from Belgrade, and urged them to stay this
admirable course. Noting that the U.S. was working hard to
secure recognition of Kosovo from as many countries as
possible, Fried added that Kosovo needed to do its part by
quickly passing remaining Ahtisaari Plan legislation and
appointing a foreign minister who could be the face of Kosovo
to the international community to counter Belgrade's own
diplomatic offensive. He also encouraged them to work on
building up the economy. He urged these leaders not to
obsess about the duration of UNMIK's presence or specific
timelines for transition, but to focus on building the
institutions of a modern, democratic state, a point he
emphasized as well in his public appearance with the press.


3. (C) These leaders welcomed Acting U/S Fried with warmth
and gratitude for the U.S. role in promoting Kosovo
independence. President Sejdiu opened his remarks by saying
"you have kept your word," and promised that Kosovo would do
the same by creating a democratic state that would protect
minority rights, especially regarding Kosovo Serbs. PM Thaci
noted that in the three weeks since independence "there had
not been one interethnic incident." He underscored his
commitment to approving and implementing Ahtisaari Plan
legislation and promised to coordinate every significant
activity of his government with the U.S. Regarding border
demarcation with Macedonia, Thaci said that it was an
obligation for Kosovo under the Ahtisaari Plan and would
proceed "without politicization." (Comment: We have
information from ICO head Pieter Feith that Thaci has agreed
to appoint Kosovo's border demarcation team and understands
that Macedonia's recognition of Kosovo and Kosovo's
obligations to demarcate the border are separate issues. End
Comment.) Speaker Krasniqi raised several important
challenges, including the need to get Serb MPs back to the
Assembly and Kosovo Serb police officers back on the job.


PRISTINA 00000147 002 OF 003


Kosovo Serbs Need "Visible" Economic Support


4. (C) Slobodan Petrovic, leader of the moderate Independent
Liberal Party (SLS),and the two SLS minister in PM Thaci's
government, Nenad Rasic and Boban Stankovic, assured Fried
that they would continue to work within the government "to
serve the interests of the Kosovo Serb community." Petrovic,
however, described how he and his party colleagues continue
to suffer criticism and pressure not only from Belgrade, but
from within their own community. Asked what the
international community can do to help, Petrovic replied that
"visible" economic projects benefiting Serbs in central
Kosovo would be of great assistance in proving to Serbs that
participation in Kosovo institutions was worthwhile.
Petrovic added that this sort of commitment was important,
since Kosovo Serbs had only "delayed" a decision to leave
Kosovo en masse instead of foregoing such a decision
altogether. Rasic noted that the end of the Serbian school
year in three months time would likely mark a decision point
for many Serbs with children. Petrovic further noted that
the northern hardline Kosovo Serb leadership was acting only
in its own interest, and not in the interests of Kosovo Serbs
generally.


5. (C) Acting U/S Fried asked if he could inform the U.S.
Congress of the views of Petrovic and his colleagues, and was
told by all that he (Fried) should feel free to use their
names publicly, so as to encourage Kosovo Serbs to stay in
Kosovo. Fried closed the meeting by telling these leaders
that the U.S. and EU would find concrete ways to help Serbs
willing to accept reality and to cooperate with the
international community.

Key Internationals Discuss Customs Issues, ICO Stand-Up


6. (C) At a lunch with Acting U/S Fried, COMKFOR LTG Xavier
de Marnhac agreed that UNMIK had to reassert its authority in
the north or there would be the danger of hard partition.
Asked if KFOR would back up this reassertion of authority --
especially the reestablishment of UNMIK customs collection at
Gates 1 and D31 -- de Marnhac said that it could be done from
a military perspective, but would involve "significant
operations" to maintain and sustain forces to protect customs
personnel. Specifically, COMKFOR said he would need 350-500
soldiers to reestablish customs at these gates. Speaking of
KFOR's overall mandate, de Marnhac said he "is fine" with
UNSCR 1244, but that getting more involved with the stand-up
of ICO and EULEX in the north is more difficult absent
clearer political guidance. In this sense, he noted that
KFOR has not yet been designated the International Military
Presence (IMP),as called for in the Ahtisaari Plan. In
general, de Marnhac said that there needs to be more linkage
between the Serb-majority north and Serb enclaves in the
south to soften the north's opposition to independence.


7. (C) At a dinner with PDSRSG Rossin and ICO head Pieter
Feith, hosted by COM, discussion also touched on the customs
issues, as well as on the question of transition more
generally. Acting U/S Fried strongly encouraged Feith's
intention to extend ICO's presence throughout Kosovo as soon
as possible. Feith said he would need around 20
internationals and 60 local staff to do this, and would want
to use discretionary funds at his disposal (around 500,000
euros) to assist and "win over" Kosovo Serb communities.


Media: Lots of Questions on Transition


8. (SBU) At press availabilities after the meetings with
President Sejdiu and PM Thaci, Fried, who was asked mostly
about how the transition period would proceed and how long
UNMIK would remain, told assembled journalists that Kosovo
should not focus its energies on how long or exactly what
shape this transition period will take. He emphasized that
this is the business of the international community, and it
will sort itself out in due time. Kosovo should instead, he
went on, pay attention to the many things in needs to do

PRISTINA 00000147 003 OF 003


build the institutions of a modern, democratic state.


9. (U) Acting U/S Fried has cleared this cable.
KAIDANOW