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O R 092021Z SEP 08
FM SECSTATE WASHDC
TO RUEHVEN/USMISSION USOSCE IMMEDIATE 3492
INFO ORG FOR SECURITY CO OP IN EUR COLLECTIVE

UNCLAS STATE 096482 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PREL OSCE UNMIK KV YI SR
SUBJECT: OSCE/PERMANENT COUNCIL: RESPONSE TO SERBIAN 
FOREIGN MINISTER VUK JEREMIC 
 
¶1. Post is authorized to present the following statement at 
the September 10 Special Permanent Council meeting in Vienna. 
 
Begin text: 
 
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. 
 
The United States welcomes Minister Jeremic back to the 
Permanent Council. 
 
Mr. Minister, while recent events in Georgia have 
unquestionably drawn much attention to the situation in the 
Caucasus, we want to assure you that we have not lost track 
of important issues in Serbia and in Kosovo. 
 
The United States is aware of Serbia's initiative requesting 
that the UN General Assembly refer the question of Kosovo's 
independence to the International Court of Justice. We do not 
support this initiative and see it as counterproductive. 
Kosovo's independence is legitimate and fair, and recognizing 
Kosovo was the right thing to do. Kosovo's independence 
contributes to greater stability in the region and allows all 
the states in the region to focus on their futures and on 
greater cooperation with the rest of Europe.  Three quarters 
of both EU member states and NATO have recognized Kosovo's 
independence to date, as have a clear majority of the 56 OSCE 
participating states.  This issue is resolved.  Rather than 
continuing to cover this ground, we would encourage Serbia to 
look to the future, and to pursue its expressed wish for a 
European future.  In this regard, we stand ready to cooperate 
with Serbia to help your country find the peace it deserves 
at home and in its surroundings. 
 
Kosovo faces a challenge in finding a meaningful role in its 
society for its Serb community. The United States stands 
committed to working through the OSCE and directly with the 
government of Kosovo to ensure that we continue to reach out 
to the Serb community in Kosovo.  We are encouraged that 
Kosovo governmental leaders continue to urge ethnic Serbs to 
participate as local leaders, police, justice officials, and 
municipal officials, and are keeping doors open to those 
ethnic Serbs who choose to participate.  The Government of 
Kosovo has adopted laws on decentralization and local 
government designed to create new municipalities in which the 
Kosovo Serb community is in the majority with enhanced 
competencies over their own affairs.  The Prime Minister has 
also appointed an ethnic Serb to head the Office for Minority 
Communities to promote multi-ethnicity in Kosovo.  Mr. 
Minister, your country can play either a constructive or an 
obstructive role in this process. We of course hope for the 
former. 
 
We would also look to you, Mr. Minister, for changes that can 
help the OSCE Mission in Kosovo be even more effective in its 
efforts in the future.  In particular, the current situation 
in which the mandate of that mission is renewed on a 
month-by-month basis is harming the Organization's ability to 
recruit and retain qualified staff.  You can play a decisive 
role in correcting this situation. 
 
Turning to the activities of the OSCE Mission in Serbia, the 
most recent report of the mission describes activities in 
police training and recruitment, support for democratic 
awareness-raising such as parliamentary simulations in high 
schools and co-operation with the National Assembly, and war 
crimes awareness events, among others. Serbia's support for 
these efforts is praiseworthy.  The United States appreciates 
the close cooperation between the Government of Serbia and 
the OSCE mission, and hopes that with the help of that 
Mission, Serbia will continue to make progress, including on 
war crimes prosecutions, to reach its aspiration to fully 
integrate in Europe. 
 
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. 
 
End text. 
RICE