VZCZCXRO6935
PP RUEHAG RUEHAST RUEHDA RUEHDBU RUEHDF RUEHFL RUEHIK RUEHKW RUEHLA
RUEHLN RUEHLZ RUEHROV RUEHSR RUEHVK RUEHYG
DE RUEHPS #0027/01 0121413
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 121413Z JAN 07
FM USOFFICE PRISTINA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 6919
INFO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 0988
RHMFISS/CDR USEUCOM VAIHINGEN GE
RUFOADA/JAC MOLESWORTH RAF MOLESWORTH UK
RHFMIUU/AFSOUTH NAPLES IT
RHMFIUU/CDR TF FALCON
RHEFDIA/DIA WASHDC
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC
RUEPGEA/CDR650THMIGP SHAPE BE
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC
RUEAWJA/DEPT OF JUSTICE WASHDC
RUFOANA/USNIC PRISTINA SR

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 PRISTINA 000027 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPT FOR EUR/SCE, FOR EUR/PPD - ROXANNE CABRAL, NSC FOR 
BRAUN, USUN FOR DREW SCHUFLETOWSKI, USOSCE FOR STEVE STEGER 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PPGOV KJUS EAID KDEM UNMIK YI
SUBJECT: KOSOVO: PUBLIC OUTREACH WORKING GROUP PREPARES 
MESSAGE FOR DELIVERY 
 
REF: 06 PRISTINA 1096 
 
SENSITIVE BUT UNCLASSIFIED, PLEASE HANDLE ACCORDINGLY 
 
¶1. (SBU) SUMMARY:  The Working Group on Public Outreach, 
chaired by OSCE Ambassador Wnendt and supported by USOP, has 
agreed to a two-phased approach in relation to UN Envoy 
Ahtisaari's presentation of the final status package:  an 
initial, "simple message" campaign -- via billboards and PSAs 
-- to garner general public support in advance of Ahtisaari's 
visit to Pristina, and a post-package outreach strategy to 
clearly explain the package and counter any misinformation. 
A message sub-group, drawn from the Kosovo government and the 
main political parties, has produced content for the initial 
phase that a local public relations firm will soon deliver to 
Kosovar Albanian and Serb markets.  Kosovo Serb 
representatives have agreed to participate in this process to 
ensure the message resonates in their community as well.  The 
working group has asked us to inquire whether President 
Clinton and Secretary Albright, greatly respected among 
Kosovars, would be willing to assist in this campaign; we 
learned on January 11 that PM Ceku will write letters to both 
asking for their involvement.  We are pleased with the work 
so far, particularly the consensus in support of an inclusive 
message for all Kosovars.  END SUMMARY. 
 
Initial Phase: Get Out a Simple Message of Support 
 
¶2. (SBU) Since its first meeting on December 20 (ref), the 
Working Group on Public Outreach, now chaired by OSCE 
Ambassador Wnendt and supported by USOP, has held two more 
meetings and made good progress.  The group, with 
participation from the OSCE, USOP, UNMIK, ICO and, most 
importantly, the Kosovo government and the main political 
parties, has agreed to mount an immediate public information 
campaign to garner support for UN Special Envoy Ahtisaari's 
final status package in advance of his expected early 
February visit to Pristina.  The group has also agreed to 
post-visit public outreach, once the package has been made 
public.  In the initial phase, it was decided that use of 
billboards and public service announcements via radio and TV 
would be most effective in highlighting a clear, simple 
message encouraging the people of Kosovo to view the 
Ahtisaari package in a positive light and as the only vehicle 
for achieving their aspirations.  The group, in consultation 
with the selected PR firm, will develop a roll-out strategy 
detailing an effective mix among the various media options. 
 
Sub-Group to Craft Careful Message 
 
¶3. (SBU)  A designated sub-group on message, made up of the 
spokespeople of all major political parties, and 
representatives from the OSCE, USAID and UNMIK, has met on 
several occasions to determine what message will have the 
most impact.  The messages the group initially generated were 
thought by us and others to be too triumphalist ("Kosovo 
wins," "We all win").  We and Amb. Wnendt emphasized that 
since the general message will be seen and heard by all, it 
should not appear to alienate or threaten the Kosovo Serb or 
any other community.  Taking this into account, the subgroup 
will meet again on January 12 with a Kosovo Serb political 
leader to refine the message. 
 
Next Steps 
 
¶4. (SBU)  Once the message has been determined, USAID 
contractor AED will select a local public relations firm with 
a multi-ethnic staff and experience working with both 
Albanian and Serb communities; this should be done on January 
¶19.  USAID can dedicate about USD 150,000 to the pre-package 
campaign, with an equal amount available after the package 
has been delivered.  UNMIK has also expressed interest in 
contributing, but has not yet given a clear commitment.  The 
PR firm will produce two PSA's for Kosovo Albanians, one PSA 
for Kosovo Serbs, and an outdoor advertising campaign, 
including billboards, per the same 2-1 ratio.  The firm will 
 
PRISTINA 00000027  002 OF 002 
 
 
conduct message monitoring, both pre-rollout message testing, 
as well as post-rollout monitoring, and will write an 
outreach strategy appropriate for both communities.  The 
message sub-group will work with the firm extensively to 
polish the message before rollout.  Other steps are to 
produce content solely for the Kosovo Serb market and 
determine the best media outlets to reach Kosovo Serbs. 
 
Interest in Message from President Clinton, Secretary 
Albright, Other Leaders 
 
¶5.  (SBU)  Given the great degree of respect for President 
Clinton and Secretary of State Albright among Kosovars, the 
group asked for our assistance to determine if either or both 
would be available to record video clips that could run 
before or after the visit of Special Envoy Ahtisaari.  On 
January 11 government spokeswoman Lama followed this up by 
telling us that PM Ceku will send letters to both former 
leaders asking them to lend their moral stature to the 
campaign to garner support for the Ahtisaari package.  Amb. 
Wnendt has also suggested that leading EU leaders, such as 
German Chancellor Merkel, might be induced to taking part. 
Aside from USG figures, the Kosovars have pushed the "Club of 
Madrid" idea, that is, enlisting the support of prominent 
former EU leaders. 
 
¶6. (SBU) COMMENT:  We are pleased with the continued unity 
and sense of urgency within the public outreach working group 
and the progress that has been made.  All, particularly the 
Kosovars, agree that the goal is to create a supportive 
environment for Special Envoy Ahtisaari's final status 
package -- without alienating or threatening the Kosovo Serb 
community.  END COMMENT. 
 
¶7. (SBU) U.S. Office Pristina clears this cable in its 
entirety for release to U.N. Special Envoy Martti Ahtisaari. 
LASKARIS