KOSOVO OVERSEAS SECURITY ADVISORY COUNCIL (OSAC)

UNCLAS PRISTINA 000417 SENSITIVE SIPDIS DEPT FOR EUR, EUR/SCE, DS/DSS, DS/IP/EUR, DS/DSS/OSAC,USDOC FOR 4232/ITA/MAC/EUR/OEERIS/SSAVICH E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: ASEC ETRD ECON EAID EAIR ETTC PTER KTFN KV YI SUBJECT: KOSOVO OVERSEAS SECURITY ADVISORY COUNCIL (OSAC) ESTABLISHED SENSITIVE BUT UNCLASSIFIED -- PLEASE HANDLE ACCORDINGLY. ¶1. (SBU) On July 31, Embassy Pristina held a meeting to establish a Kosovo Overseas Security Advisory Council (OSAC). Organized by the Embassy RSO and EconOff, a select group of U.S. businesses and non-profit representatives attended the meeting to gauge the level of interest in establishing such a council in Kosovo. RSO provided attendees with an overview of the OSAC program, explained how a country council would benefit U.S. interests in Kosovo, and asked if any volunteers would be willing to form a council Steering Committee or take on the role of OSAC Chairperson. ¶2. (SBU) Participants in this inaugural meeting generally expressed enthusiasm for forming a Kosovo OSAC and for joining the Steering Committee. A volunteer for the Chairperson position has yet to come forward. RSO and EconOff are planning a second OSAC meeting in September to expand membership. The Kosovo OSAC has an important role to play in a country where inaccurate information about the current security environment can spread rapidly. Facilitating communication between the U.S. business and non-profit community throughout Kosovo will ensure correct information about the country's security environment is as widely available as possible, as well as keep rumor mills in check. YAZDGERDI