(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