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