SERBIA: LOOKING FOR PROGRESS ON SIX POINTS

UNCLAS BELGRADE 000013 SENSITIVE SIPDIS E.O.12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV PREL MARR SR KV SUBJECT: SERBIA: LOOKING FOR PROGRESS ON SIX POINTS Summary -------------- ¶1. (SBU) Serbia's Ministry for Kosovo continues to expect the international community to foster progress on the Six Points. Without that progress, Serbia believes that it will be impossible to reassure Kosovo Serbs of their security and further cooperation with EULEX will stall. The Ministry's leadership continues to insist it is doing all it can to stabilize the precarious security situation in the north of Kosovo, but believes that will be difficult without goodwill from the international community on these issues. End Summary. IC Must Do More for Security and Six Points -------------- ¶2. (SBU) The international community must do more to contain the security situation in Kosovo and to reign in the Kosovo Albanian leaders, the new Assistant Minister at the Kosovo Ministry responsible for International Organizations, Kruna Petkovic, told us in a January 8 meeting. (Petkovic, a DS member, was previously the Chief of Staff at the Ministry for Telecommunications.) Before there could be better, more direct coordination with EULEX, Serbia expected progress on the Six Points, Petkovic said. She emphasized police and judiciary, saying work on customs "could wait a bit longer." Serbia Wants "Win- Win" -------------- ¶3. (SBU) She insisted Serbia was looking for a "win-win" solution but said progress was needed in order "to reassure the Kosovo Serbs of the international community's goodwill." She said although the Six Points were initially a Serbia-UN issue, it now did not matter who presented a way forward (eg UNMIK or EULEX) as long as it was properly worded and did not show favoritism for one side (read Pristina). She said only after those points were addressed would the situation be more stable, and manageable, in the north. Petkovic insisted the Kosovo Ministry was doing its best to keep the situation stable on the ground. She emphasized the importance of keeping KFOR in the north, since it is the only institution respected by all sides. Comment -------------- ¶4. (SBU) The Government of Serbia continues to seek implementation on the Six Points, insisting it is necessary to improve the security environment for Serbs in Kosovo and to provide them with peace of mind. Finding a solution to some of the issues raised in the Six Points certainly is necessary, but Serbia must be reminded that it can only be done in an open, transparent process led by EULEX / ICO and in consultation and coordination with both Belgrade and Pristina. End Comment. BRUSH