(U) REQUEST FOR INFORMATION ON KOSOVO AND THE

C O N F I D E N T I A L STATE 026707 E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/19/2034 TAGS: PINR ECIN ECON PGOV PREL KV RI SUBJECT: (U) REQUEST FOR INFORMATION ON KOSOVO AND THE INTERNATIONAL MONETARY FUND (C-RE9-00099) Classified By: SUZANNE MCCORMICK, DIR., INR/OPS. REASON: 1.4(C). ¶1. (C) WASHINGTON ANALYSTS REQUEST THAT POST PROVIDE INFORMATION ON SERBIA'S ATTEMPT TO KEEP KOSOVO FROM GAINING MEMBERSHIP IN INTERNATIONAL INSTITUTIONS, ESPECIALLY THE INTERNATIONAL MONETARY FUND (IMF). INFORMATION REGARDING BELGRADE'S EFFORTS WILL HELP ANALYSTS PROVIDE TIMELY INSIGHTS TO POLICYMAKERS DURING THE ONGOING IMF MEMBERSHIP PROCESS, WHICH IS OF HIGH INTEREST. ANALYSTS ARE INTERESTED IN AREAS IN WHICH SERBIA COULD SLOW THE IMF MEMBERSHIP THROUGH THE MULTI STAGE PROCESS AND WOULD APPRECIATE ANY INFORMATION ON THE FOLLOWING QUESTIONS, AS TIME AND RESOURCES PERMIT. MANY THANKS, AND REGARDS FROM WASHINGTON. ¶A. (C) WHICH SERBIAN GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS, IF ANY, ARE LEADING EFFORTS TO SLOW KOSOVO'S IMF MEMBERSHIP AND HOW ARE THEY COMMUNICATING WITH SERBIAN PRESIDENT BORIS TADIC AND SERBIAN FOREIGN MINISTER VUK JEREMIC? ¶B. (C) WHAT IS BELGRADE'S STRATEGY FOR OBSTRUCTING KOSOVO'S IMF MEMBERSHIP PROCESS? WHAT PLANS, IF ANY, ARE THERE TO INFLUENCE WHO IS APPOINTED TO THE MEMBERSHIP COMMITTEE? DOES BELGRADE INTEND TO DELAY THE MEMBERSHIP COMMITTEE ASSESSMENT OR VOTE? DOES BELGRADE PLAN TO ENCOURAGE IMF MEMBER COUNTRIES TO ABSTAIN FROM VOTING ON KOSOVO MEMBERSHIP AS A WAY TO PREVENT THE NECESSARY QUORUM? ¶C. (C) ARE SERBIAN LEADERS GETTING OUTSIDE ADVICE ON THEIR IMF STRATEGY, AND IF SO, FROM WHOM? ¶D. (C) PLEASE REPORT ANY INFORMATION ON HOW SERBIAN GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS ARE COMMUNICATING WITH IMF MEMBER STATES REGARDING KOSOVO. WHICH COUNTRIES ARE SERBIAN OFFICIALS TRAVELING TO IN ORDER TO GAIN SUPPORT FOR THEIR EFFORTS? ARE SERBIAN OFFICIALS APPROACHING AMBASSADORS IN BELGRADE WITH PLANS TO SLOW KOSOVO'S MEMBERSHIP? ¶E. (C) WHAT ATTEMPTS, IF ANY, HAVE SERBIAN LEADERS MADE TO WORK WITH RUSSIA ON BLOCKING KOSOVO'S IMF MEMBERSHIP? WHICH RUSSIAN INTERLOCUTORS ARE INVOLVED? ¶F. (C) ARE KOSOVO LEADERS AWARE OF SERBIA'S EFFORTS REGARDING THE IMF AND WHAT PLANS, IF ANY, DO THEY HAVE TO REACT? ¶2. (U) PLEASE CITE C-RE9-00099 IN THE SUBJECT LINE OF REPORTING IN RESPONSE TO THE ABOVE QUESTIONS. CLINTON