SERBIA: KOSOVO MINISTRY STATE SECRETARY IVANOVIC TOUR

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 BELGRADE 000104 SENSITIVE SIPDIS E.O.12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV PREL KV SR SUBJECT: SERBIA: KOSOVO MINISTRY STATE SECRETARY IVANOVIC TOUR D'HORIZON Summary -------------- ¶1. (SBU) In a wide-ranging February 3 meeting, Serbian Ministry for Kosovo State Secretary Oliver Ivanovic, a moderate Kosovo Serb, expressed conditional support for cooperation with the Kosovo Property Agency (KPA),characterized the recently-formed Kosovo Security Force (KSF) as "a group of well-trained and -equipped terrorists," and repeated Belgrade's insistence that talks with UNMIK on implementation of the six points plan must precede working-level technical discussions on customs, police, and the judiciary. Ivanovic also elaborated upon his Ministry's draft strategy for sustainable stay and return of individuals from Kosovo and called for a more active OSCE role in the Kosovo local elections scheduled for November 2009. End Summary. Access to KPA Files Possible -------------- ¶2. (SBU) When questioned about the GOS decision to close KPA offices throughout Serbia following Kosovo's declaration of independence, Ivanovic personally endorsed re-opening the offices and creating favorable conditions for Kosovo Serb claimants in Serbia to submit applications. He specifically mentioned that his ministry was cooperating with the Danish Refugee Council to provide free legal aid to displaced Kosovo Serbs, focusing on property issues. ¶3. (SBU) Stressing that Kosovo Minister Goran Bogdanovic was committed to removing obstacles from the process, Ivanovic declared that, while the GOS could not provide blanket access to all files, "there was no problem" for individual claimants or even KPA representatives to consult Serbian property records. Although he acknowledged that EULEX was the "only institution that wants to engage in this process," Ivanovic insisted that KPA representatives would have to act under the UNMIK umbrella when accessing records in Serbia. KSF Not Expected Endstate for Surprised Serbs -------------- ¶4. (SBU) Ivanovic, who pointedly highlighted that he spends every Thursday through Saturday in north Mitrovica (where he is from), reserved his harshest comments for the recent standing up of the KSF, which he labeled a "well-trained and -equipped group of terrorists." Arguing that "Serbs will never join," Ivanovic potentially shed some light on the vehemence with which President Tadic and Foreign Minister Jeremic greeted the long-planned KSF formation. ¶5. (SBU) Ivanovic explained that Kosovo Serbs had not seen the Kosovo Protection Corps (KPC) as a bridge between the Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA) and the KSF. Instead, he claimed, the Serbs believed that the KPC would be a temporary institution that would weed out and sideline KLA veterans before being dissolved. Since this was not the case as many former KLA members were transferred to the KSF, Ivanovic, citing "our bitter past experiences," described as completely justified concerns that the KSF would be used as an instrument against Serbs and for illegal activities. "Ready and Waiting for Zannier" -------------- ¶6. (SBU) The State Secretary offered several observations concerning the road forward regarding Kosovo, in particular engagement with EULEX. Declaring that UNMIK Head, SRSG Lamberto Zannier, has invitations from both the MFA and the Kosovo Ministry to visit Belgrade, Ivanovic deflected suggestions that expert-level talks were both necessary and possible now on issues such as customs, police, and the judiciary. Instead, he reiterated that immediate talks with UNMIK (which, he said, EULEX Head Yves de Kermabon could attend) on implementation of the six points approved by the UN Security Council were a necessary precondition for technical discussions. ¶7. (SBU) Ivanovic also touched upon his ministry's draft strategy for "sustainable stay and return." He told us that the strategy, a final version of which would be ready in two weeks, would focus upon individual returns and employment. He informed us that the GOS planned to provide Kosovo Serbs with start-up small business loans of 20,000-25,000 Euros under very favorable conditions, and asked whether the USG would be in a position to provide matching funds. ¶8. (SBU) Regarding the Kosovo local elections planned for November 2009, Ivanovic urged us not to force the GOS' hand on decentralization in Kosovo, stating that the only possible outcome of an early push for a clear GOS statement would be an negative BELGRADE 00000104 002 OF 002 assessment. He suggested that only a more active OSCE, or perhaps UNMIK, role in the elections could potentially assuage some concerns. Comment -------------- ¶9. (SBU) Oliver Ivanovic is a moderate and pragmatic politician whose insights into the current state of affairs reflect his strong roots in Kosovo. As such, he enjoys a deserved reputation as a reliable interlocutor with the international community. However, as part of a government in which the Democratic Party sets the agenda on all issues, including Kosovo policy, the non-partisan Ivanovic is at a decided disadvantage vis-a-vis his boss Minister Bogdanovic and Foreign Minister Jeremic. We will continue to engage with Ivanovic in hopes that we can achieve progress on issues such as cooperation with the KPA in which the Kosovo Serbs stand to benefit, while pushing back on the Serbian government's unconstructive approach to KSF, EULEX, and elections. End Comment. MUNTER