DEMARCHE REQUEST: INVITING KOSOVO TO THE

UNCLAS STATE 054929 SENSITIVE SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL PGOV AL BK BU HR SI TU KV MW SR SUBJECT: DEMARCHE REQUEST: INVITING KOSOVO TO THE "CORRIDORS OF CULTURE" FORUM REF: PODGORICA 26 ¶1. (SBU) This is an action request. See para 5 for demarche points. ¶2. (SBU) The Department requests that addressee posts demarche their host governments at the highest appropriate level encouraging them to call on the Montenegrin government to invite the President of Kosovo, Fatmir Sejdiu, to attend &Corridors of Culture,8 a June 3-4 event organized by the Montenegrin government about regional cultural cooperation. ¶3. (SBU) Background: Montenegro will host a cultural forum of regional presidents to be held in Cetinje on June 3-4. The forum is devoted to preserving cultural heritage in Southeastern Europe. We understand that similar forums have been previously hosted by the presidents of Albania, Macedonia, Bulgaria, and Greece. Per Ref, presidents of Albania, Bosnia, Bulgaria, Croatia, and Serbia are confirmed as attending, while the presidents of Macedonia, Slovenia, and Turkey are very likely to attend, but their formal confirmations are pending. Montenegro has not invited Kosovo to the event, despite recognizing it in October 2008. Montenegrin President Vujanovic, focused on rapprochement with Serbia, has insisted on not inviting Kosovo President Sejdiu to this particular event. Posts may draw on below points in their approaches to host government. ¶4. (U) Points: -- Regional cooperation on cultural issues should be a common denominator that helps build greater cooperation and understanding throughout Southeastern Europe. -- In this regard, the U.S. regrets that Kosovo was not invited to participate in this forum. In light of the very important responsibility Kosovo,s leadership has in preserving the invaluable cultural and religious heritage in Kosovo ) a responsibility to which the Kosovo government has shown strong commitment -- excluding Kosovo from this event does not serve the greater good of the region. -- Kosovo has a responsible role to play in regional politics, economics, cultural and sports exchanges. With the exception of Serbia and Bosnia, all countries participating in this forum have recognized Kosovo. It is also in Serbia and Bosnia,s interest to see the Kosovo government exercise its cultural preservation responsibilities, in cooperation with neighbors. -- The countries of the region must find a pragmatic approach that accepts the reality that Kosovo should be integrated into regional cooperation mechanisms on matters of overarching importance. ¶5. (SBU) In the event the points are not delivered in time for an invitation to urge that an invitation be extended to Sejdiu, urge the host governments to express their regret for not seeing Kosovo,s president seated at the forum and to urge the next host to invite Kosovo. ¶6. (U) For further information, please contact Roksana Houge, Montenegro Desk Officer, at hougerk@state.gov or (202) 647-4781. CLINTON