MACEDONIA PREPARED TO CONTINUE WITH ADRIATIC CHARTER, BUT

UNCLAS SKOPJE 000519 SENSITIVE SIPDIS STATE FOR EUR/SCE AND EUR/RPM E.O. 12958: DECL: NA TAGS: MARR NATO PGOV HR AL MK SUBJECT: MACEDONIA PREPARED TO CONTINUE WITH ADRIATIC CHARTER, BUT ONLY WITH GENUINE CROATIAN AND ALBANIAN PARTICIPATION REF: STATE 85946 Sensitive but unclassified -- please protect accordingly. ¶1. (SBU) Per reftel, we discussed the future of the Adriatic Charter August 13 with Zoran Dabik, MFA Director for Political-Security Cooperation and Multilateral Affairs. Dabik responded that Macedonia was prepared to participate eagerly in a new Adriatic Charter arrangement with Montenegro, Bosnia, and -- perhaps -- Serbia, but only if Croatia and Albania also participate meaningfully. Macedonia does not wish to be categorized as having the same NATO status as Montenegro, Bosnia, and Serbia, but at the same time the GoM recognizes the value of maintaining a mentoring regional body. He understood that the level of DoD participation may diminish, but saw this as putting positive pressure on the original A-3 countries as Allies (or near-Allies, in Macedonia's case) to take the lead. ¶2. (SBU) Dabik expressed concern that Zagreb and Tirana -- especially the latter -- have seemed eager to drop the Adriatic Charter since they received NATO invitations in April. He noted that Albania failed to convene an A-3 meeting even though they were the current chair. He believed the GoA was linking adding Montenegro to the grouping to Montenegrin recognition of Kosovo. Dabik added that Croatia has shown more enthusiasm for the future of the Charter, but believes both capitals will need a push. NAVRATIL