Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08PRISTINA38
2008-01-23 12:39:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Pristina
Cable title:
KOSOVO: NEW ASSEMBLY SPEAKER PLEDGES CLOSE
how-toVZCZCXRO8902 OO RUEHFL RUEHKW RUEHLA RUEHROV RUEHSR DE RUEHPS #0038 0231239 ZNY CCCCC ZZH O 231239Z JAN 08 FM USOFFICE PRISTINA TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 7938 INFO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK PRIORITY 1389 RHMFISS/CDR USEUCOM VAIHINGEN GE PRIORITY RUFOADA/JAC MOLESWORTH RAF MOLESWORTH UK PRIORITY RHFMISS/AFSOUTH NAPLES IT PRIORITY RHMFISS/CDR TF FALCON PRIORITY RHEFDIA/DIA WASHDC PRIORITY RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY RUEPGEA/CDR650THMIGP SHAPE BE PRIORITY RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC PRIORITY RUEAWJA/DEPT OF JUSTICE WASHDC PRIORITY RUFOANA/USNIC PRISTINA SR PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L PRISTINA 000038
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR DRL, INL, AND EUR/SCE, NSC FOR BRAUN, USUN FOR
DREW SCHUFLETOWSKI, USOSCE FOR STEVE STEGER
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/18/2018
TAGS: PGOV KDEM UNMIK YI KV EAID
SUBJECT: KOSOVO: NEW ASSEMBLY SPEAKER PLEDGES CLOSE
COOPERATION
Classified By: COM TINA KAIDANOW FOR REASONS 1.4 (B) AND (D).
C O N F I D E N T I A L PRISTINA 000038
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR DRL, INL, AND EUR/SCE, NSC FOR BRAUN, USUN FOR
DREW SCHUFLETOWSKI, USOSCE FOR STEVE STEGER
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/18/2018
TAGS: PGOV KDEM UNMIK YI KV EAID
SUBJECT: KOSOVO: NEW ASSEMBLY SPEAKER PLEDGES CLOSE
COOPERATION
Classified By: COM TINA KAIDANOW FOR REASONS 1.4 (B) AND (D).
1. (C) SUMMARY: In her introductory call on new Assembly
Speaker Jakup Krasniqi, COM pointed to the importance of the
Assembly in passing Ahtisaari final settlement legislation
and Kosovo's new Constitution at the appropriate time,
expeditiously and without change. COM also reiterated that
movement on selecting Kosovo's new state symbols, which
Krasniqi had been discussing in the media, can only move
forward under the terms agreed to in July and in accord with
Ahtisaari guidelines. Krasniqi acknowledged this and
expressed appreciation for USG support to the Assembly,
saying he was committed to deepening the institution's work
with its international partners. Krasniqi also noted
positively Serb participation in the new Assembly, and
promised the body would work to ensure that minority rights
comport with the Kosovo Standards and the Ahtisaari proposal.
We will work to maintain a productive relationship with
Krasniqi, and are reviewing what assistance we can provide to
the Assembly. END SUMMARY.
2. (C) On January 15, in her first official meeting with
Jakup Krasniqi since his January 9 election as Assembly
Speaker, COM congratulated him and emphasized the
significance of the Assembly's role in the coming critical
weeks for Kosovo. COM discussed the issues which would
required careful attention by the Assembly and close
coordination with USOP: approval of Ahtisaari final status
legislation and of Kosovo's new Constitution, and the actual
wording of the coming declaration of independence. She added
that the Assembly's correct actions on all three issues
would signal to many countries that Kosovo is on the right
path and deserving of recognition; for this reason, she urged
that there be wide consensus on the content before they
reached the Assembly, making the process fast and simple.
3. (C) Krasniqi acknowledged the importance of smooth passage
for the Ahtisaari laws and the need for close coordination on
the crucial issues of the Constitution and the independence
declaration. He expressed concern that the Assembly does not
have the capacity to do all that will be asked of it in this
regard, and said he plans to request more international
assistance to increase the Assembly's functionality. (Note:
The Assembly Support Initiative, a consortium of the National
Democratic Institute (NDI),OSCE, and the European Agency for
Reconstruction (EAR),assisted the Assembly in the previous
mandate. The EAR project ends at the end of January and OSCE
does not anticipate surviving independence. NDI has several
staff working with Assembly committees on technical issues
and is currently advertising for a senior international
advisor, likely a former minister or parliamentarian, to
continue working with the Assembly. We are reviewing the NDI
program to ensure Krasniqi has appropriate support in the
coming weeks. End Note.)
5. (C) In his first two days as Assembly Speaker, Krasniqi
raised the issue of Kosovo's symbols as something to resolve
right away. COM reminded him of the process begun in July by
which hundreds of flag and symbol proposals were vetted (by
both international and Kosovar stakeholders, including
minority representatives) to ensure compliance with Ahtisaari
guidelines (in particular that the flag reflect Kosovo's
multi-ethnic character). COM emphasized that when the
process continues it must be with the 800 or so approved
proposals, and also should include opposition representation
to ensure Assembly passage. Krasniqi agreed to move forward
with vetted proposals and an inclusive commission, perhaps
adding some civil society experts.
6. (C) COMMENT: The Assembly has some critical tasks before
it, as it will be responsible for a significant portion of
status-related moves. We will continue to nurture our
relations with Krasniqi, and are reviewing what assistance we
can provide to the Assembly. At the same time, we are
reaching out to all parties -- government and opposition --
to lay out the international community's expectation of the
Assembly. END COMMENT.
KAIDANOW
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR DRL, INL, AND EUR/SCE, NSC FOR BRAUN, USUN FOR
DREW SCHUFLETOWSKI, USOSCE FOR STEVE STEGER
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/18/2018
TAGS: PGOV KDEM UNMIK YI KV EAID
SUBJECT: KOSOVO: NEW ASSEMBLY SPEAKER PLEDGES CLOSE
COOPERATION
Classified By: COM TINA KAIDANOW FOR REASONS 1.4 (B) AND (D).
1. (C) SUMMARY: In her introductory call on new Assembly
Speaker Jakup Krasniqi, COM pointed to the importance of the
Assembly in passing Ahtisaari final settlement legislation
and Kosovo's new Constitution at the appropriate time,
expeditiously and without change. COM also reiterated that
movement on selecting Kosovo's new state symbols, which
Krasniqi had been discussing in the media, can only move
forward under the terms agreed to in July and in accord with
Ahtisaari guidelines. Krasniqi acknowledged this and
expressed appreciation for USG support to the Assembly,
saying he was committed to deepening the institution's work
with its international partners. Krasniqi also noted
positively Serb participation in the new Assembly, and
promised the body would work to ensure that minority rights
comport with the Kosovo Standards and the Ahtisaari proposal.
We will work to maintain a productive relationship with
Krasniqi, and are reviewing what assistance we can provide to
the Assembly. END SUMMARY.
2. (C) On January 15, in her first official meeting with
Jakup Krasniqi since his January 9 election as Assembly
Speaker, COM congratulated him and emphasized the
significance of the Assembly's role in the coming critical
weeks for Kosovo. COM discussed the issues which would
required careful attention by the Assembly and close
coordination with USOP: approval of Ahtisaari final status
legislation and of Kosovo's new Constitution, and the actual
wording of the coming declaration of independence. She added
that the Assembly's correct actions on all three issues
would signal to many countries that Kosovo is on the right
path and deserving of recognition; for this reason, she urged
that there be wide consensus on the content before they
reached the Assembly, making the process fast and simple.
3. (C) Krasniqi acknowledged the importance of smooth passage
for the Ahtisaari laws and the need for close coordination on
the crucial issues of the Constitution and the independence
declaration. He expressed concern that the Assembly does not
have the capacity to do all that will be asked of it in this
regard, and said he plans to request more international
assistance to increase the Assembly's functionality. (Note:
The Assembly Support Initiative, a consortium of the National
Democratic Institute (NDI),OSCE, and the European Agency for
Reconstruction (EAR),assisted the Assembly in the previous
mandate. The EAR project ends at the end of January and OSCE
does not anticipate surviving independence. NDI has several
staff working with Assembly committees on technical issues
and is currently advertising for a senior international
advisor, likely a former minister or parliamentarian, to
continue working with the Assembly. We are reviewing the NDI
program to ensure Krasniqi has appropriate support in the
coming weeks. End Note.)
5. (C) In his first two days as Assembly Speaker, Krasniqi
raised the issue of Kosovo's symbols as something to resolve
right away. COM reminded him of the process begun in July by
which hundreds of flag and symbol proposals were vetted (by
both international and Kosovar stakeholders, including
minority representatives) to ensure compliance with Ahtisaari
guidelines (in particular that the flag reflect Kosovo's
multi-ethnic character). COM emphasized that when the
process continues it must be with the 800 or so approved
proposals, and also should include opposition representation
to ensure Assembly passage. Krasniqi agreed to move forward
with vetted proposals and an inclusive commission, perhaps
adding some civil society experts.
6. (C) COMMENT: The Assembly has some critical tasks before
it, as it will be responsible for a significant portion of
status-related moves. We will continue to nurture our
relations with Krasniqi, and are reviewing what assistance we
can provide to the Assembly. At the same time, we are
reaching out to all parties -- government and opposition --
to lay out the international community's expectation of the
Assembly. END COMMENT.
KAIDANOW