(U) KUDOS FOR SERBIA TYCOON REQUIREMENTS

C O N F I D E N T I A L STATE 087262

NOFORN
SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/21/2034
TAGS: PINR ECON EFIN EINV ETRD PGOV RI
SUBJECT: (U) KUDOS FOR SERBIA TYCOON REQUIREMENTS
(C-RE9-01666)

REF: A. BELGRADE 000429

B. BELGRADE 000245

C. BELGRADE 001275

D. BELGRADE 001234

E. BELGRADE 001072

F. BELGRADE 000928

G. BELGRADE 000337

H. BELGRADE 000335

Classified By: MICHAEL P. OWENS, ACTING DIR, INR/OPS. REASON: 1.4(C).


1. (C/NF) WASHINGTON ANALYSTS APPRECIATED REFTELS REGARDING
THE ECONOMIC AND POLITICAL ACTIVITIES OF SERBIAN TYCOONS. THE
REPORTS HELPED ANALYSTS GAIN A DEEPER KNOWLEDGE OF HOW
WEALTHY SERBIAN BUSINESSMEN INFLUENCE POLITICS DOMESTICALLY
AND THROUGHOUT THE REGION, ESPECIALLY SINCE THIS
NON-TRANSPARENT PROCESS APPEARS TO HAVE A SIGNIFICANT IMPACT
ON POLITICAL DECISIONMAKING. ANALYSTS WOULD APPRECIATE ANY
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ON HOW TYCOONS ARE CONNECTED TO
POLITICAL LEADERS AND THE LEVERS THEY USE TO INFLUENCE
POLICY, AS TIME AND RESOURCES PERMIT. MANY THANKS.

1) (C) WHO ARE THE TYCOONS' KEY CONTACTS IN THE SERBIAN
GOVERNMENT IN BELGRADE? WHAT IS THEIR LEVEL OF INTERACTION
WITH SERBIAN PRESIDENT BORIS TADIC, FOREIGN MINISTER VUK
JEREMIC, INTERIOR MINISTER IVICA DACIC, DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER
MLADJAN DINKIC, AND OTHERS IN THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY (DS),
SOCIALIST PARTY OF SERBIA (SPS),AND G17 PLUS?

2) (C) DO THE TYCOONS HAVE PERSONAL OR FAMILY CONNECTIONS
WITH TOP SERBIAN LEADERSHIP?

3) (C) WHO ARE THE TYCOONS' KEY CONTACTS IN OPPOSITION
PARTIES, PARTICULARLY IN THE SERBIAN PROGRESSIVE PARTY (SNS),
SERBIAN RADICAL PARTY (SRS),DEMOCRATIC PARTY OF SERBIA
(DSS),AND LIBERAL DEMOCRATIC PARTY (LDP)?

4) (C) WHICH SERBIAN POLITICAL PARTIES, IF ANY, DOES EACH
TYCOON FUND? HOW MUCH FUNDING IS PROVIDED, AND IS THE FUNDING
EARMARKED FOR CERTAIN USES? HOW IS FUNDING TRANSFERRED FROM
TYCOONS TO POLITICAL PARTIES?

5) (C) HOW ARE SERBIAN TYCOONS INVOLVED IN GOVERNMENT-LED
PRIVATIZATIONS AND/OR BUSINESS DEALS (SUCH AS DIRECT
NEGOTIATION, KICKBACKS TO GOVERNMENT NEGOTIATORS, ETC.)?

6) (C) WHAT ARE THE TYCOONS' BUSINESS CONNECTIONS WITH ONE
ANOTHER?

7) (C) WHAT ARE THE SERBIAN TYCOONS' HISTORICAL CONNECTIONS
TO THE MILOSEVIC REGIME? HOW DID THEY ACQUIRE THEIR MONEY?

8) (C) WHAT ARE THE TYCOONS, BUSINESS AND POLITICAL
CONNECTIONS TO BOSNIA, PARTICULARLY WITH REPUBLIKA SRPSKA
PRIME MINISTER MILORAD DODIK AND OTHER BOSNIAN SERB POLITICAL
LEADERS? WHICH SERBIAN TYCOONS ARE CONNECTED TO BOSNIAN
NEWSPAPER TYCOON FAHRUDIN RADONCIC AND BOSNIAK POLITICAL
LEADERS SULEJMAN TIHIC, BAKIR IZETBEGOVIC, AND HARIS
SILAJDZIC? HOW ARE THE SERBIAN TYCOONS CONNECTED TO BOSNIAN
CROAT POLITICAL LEADERS, SUCH AS DRAGAN COVIC?

9) (C) WHAT ARE THE SERBIAN TYCOONS' BUSINESS AND POLITICAL
CONNECTIONS TO POLITICAL LEADERS IN MONTENEGRO, KOSOVO,
MACEDONIA, ALBANIA, AND CROATIA?

10) (C) WHAT ARE THE SERBIAN TYCOONS' POLITICAL PRIORITIES?
WHAT ARE THEIR POLICY PREFERENCES IN TERMS ECONOMIC POLICY,
EU INTEGRATION, KOSOVO'S STATUS, BOSNIA, AND RELATIONS WITH
THE US AND RUSSIA? HOW DO THEY SEEK TO INFLUENCE SERBIAN
POLICY OR LEGISLATION?

11) (C) WHAT ARE THE TYCOONS' POLITICAL AND BUSINESS
CONNECTIONS WITH THE US, RUSSIA, AND EU MEMBER STATES?


2. (U) PLEASE CITE C-RE9-01666 IN THE SUBJECT LINE OF
REPORTING IN RESPONSE TO THE ABOVE QUESTIONS.
CLINTON