SERBS TELL AUSTRIAN FM THEY SEEK "FACE SAVING"

UNCLAS VIENNA 000177 SENSITIVE SIPDIS DEPARTMENT FOR EUR/CE AND EUR/SCE E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV PREL KV SR AU SUBJECT: SERBS TELL AUSTRIAN FM THEY SEEK "FACE SAVING" KOSOVO SOLUTION ¶1. (SBU) Summary: Serbia is not seeking a UN showdown over Kosovo, but might pursue one if it finds no other means to reach a "face saving" resolution of Kosovo's status, Serbian FM Jeremic told Austrian FM Spindelegger during his February 10 visit to Belgrade. Spindelegger warned that a conflict over Kosovo would undermine Serbia's EU aspirations and urged Serbia to set aside the status issue and take practical steps to develop relations with Kosovo. The Government of Serbia canceled Spindelegger's meeting with PM Cvetkovic to protest Kosovo PM Thaci's participation in a February 8 meeting in Vienna. End Summary. ¶2. (SBU) Franz Josef Kuglitsch, MFA Western Balkans Director, told Polchief February 16 that the visit was partly overshadowed by bilateral disagreements over Kosovo. Angered that Thaci had been invited to the February 8 International Steering Group meeting in Vienna, the Serbs canceled Spindelegger's meeting with PM Cvetkovic and a planned joint press conference. Kuglitsch said Austria's role as the largest foreign investor in Serbia and a key supporter of Serbia's eventual EU accession is appreciated in Belgrade, but GOA recognition of Kosovo still rankles. ¶3. (SBU) In his meeting with Jeremic, Spindelegger noted the widespread rumors that the Government of Serbia was planning to follow up the pending International Court of Justice ruling on Kosovo's declaration of independence with an UNGA resolution on the status of Kosovo. Spindelegger warned against such an effort, which he said would undermine Serbia's EU aspirations. Instead, the Austrian FM urged, Serbia should set aside the status issue and work on small-scale, practical matters involving relations with Kosovo. Jeremic replied that there was "no foundation" to the rumors about Serbian plans for an UNGA resolution. Later, however, he said that while Serbia was not seeking a showdown at the UN, he could not rule out such an approach if Serbia were "forced" in that direction, according to Kuglitsch. ¶4. (SBU) Jeremic averred that Serbia had played a constructive role in the region, and had handled the Kosovo issue without violence ("Apparently he forgot about the events of 1999," Kuglitsch quipped). Jeremic warned against taking any action in Northern Kosovo without consulting Serbia. Spindelegger urged Jeremic to be "realistic," and acknowledge that the chances of reopening the issue of Kosovo's status were "minimal." Jeremic replied that Serbia wanted a solution that would be face saving for both Serbia and Kosovo. He bemoaned the fact that no countries were supporting Serbia's efforts to pursue such a solution. ¶5. (U) Jeremic handed Spindelegger a non-paper outlining Serbia's interest in participating in the EU's Danube Strategy. Jeremic said he was hopeful that the Strategy could help resolve a border dispute with Croatia related to the changing course of the Danube. ¶6. (U) Comment: Spindelegger's trip is part of an effort to engage in the Balkans, a region he had tended to ignore in his first year in office. He recently visited both Athens and Skopje and publicly spoke of an "initiative" on the name dispute. He has also sought a role in the Slovenia-Croatia border dispute. Though Austria is the largest foreign investor in many Balkan countries and has a significant military and civilian presence in Kosovo and Bosnia, his recent activism has yet to bear fruit. End Comment. EACHO