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OO RUEHAG RUEHAST RUEHDA RUEHDBU RUEHDF RUEHFL RUEHIK RUEHKW RUEHLA
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DE RUEHBW #1100 2151355
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 031355Z AUG 07
FM AMEMBASSY BELGRADE
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 1282
INFO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE

UNCLAS BELGRADE 001100 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPT PLEASE PASS TO AMBASSADOR FRANK WISNER 
 
E.O. 12958:N/A 
TAGS: PBTS PGOV PREL SR KV
SUBJECT: GOS' "RULES" FOR KOSOVO TALKS 
 
 
¶1. The Government of Serbia passed the following letter (translated 
from Serbian) from Kosovo Minister Samardzic to the Chiefs of 
Mission of Contact Group countries in Belgrade. 
 
¶2. Begin text of letter: 
 
Your Excellency, 
 
As Ambassador of a Contact Group country, we submit to you the 
proposal of the Serbian Government on rules for negotiations on the 
status of Kosovo and Metohija. 
 
The state institutions of the Republic of Serbia assess that these 
negotiations are extraordinarily important for the determination of 
the status of Kosovo and Metohija, and that the spirit of compromise 
is predominant for the peaceful, long-lasting and sustainable 
resolution of this issue. 
 
For that reason, we are convinced that clear and fair negotiation 
rules are the basic precondition for the successful conduction of 
negotiations. 
 
With the expectation that the Contact Group will take this proposal 
of the Government of Serbia extremely seriously and that we will 
have the opportunity to discuss regulations for negotiations during 
our first meeting in Belgrade, 
 
Receive the expression of my respect, 
 
Minister for Kosovo and Metohija in the Government of Serbia 
 
/s/ 
 
Slobodan Samardzic 
 
 
 
RULES FOR CONDUCTING NEGOTIATIONS ON FUTURE STATUS OF KOSOVO AND 
METOHIJA 
(Proposal of the Government of Serbia) 
 
¶I. The subject of negotiations is the status of Kosovo and Metohija. 
 A number of practical and technical issues (position of 
communities, decentralization, protection of cultural heritage, 
economic issues) could be subjects of negotiation but only within 
the primary issue of status. 
 
II. Negotiations are conducted as direct negotiations between both 
sides with 'Troika' mediation.  All other modalities (shuttle 
diplomacy and others) could be only additional and consultative 
within the function of direct negotiations. 
 
III. No strict time limitation on negotiations.  It is possible and 
necessary for the Contact Group ('Troika') to submit to the UN 
Security Council occasional and interim reports on the negotiations. 
 
 
IV. Negotiations are supposed to be open with regards to outcome and 
timeframe, with respect to norms, regulations and principles of 
international law. 
 
¶V. Mr. Ahtisaari's proposal cannot be the basis for negotiations. 
 
VI. The entire process has to be conducted under the clear mandate 
of the UN, and only the UN Security Council can enact relevant 
decisions. 
 
End text. 
 
SIMMONS