This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.

UNCLAS ROME 004107 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
 
DEPT FOR EUR/SCE 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PREL PGOV KDEM YI SR MW IT BI
SUBJECT: FRATTINI TO FLOAT EU BALKANS ROADMAP 
 
REF: ROME 3879 
 
¶1. (SBU)  Summary.  The Italian MFA December 19 hosted a 
conference on Balkans issues attended by Albanian Foreign 
Minister Besnik Mustafaj, Vice President of the European 
Commission Franco Frattini, and members of the Italian MFA 
Department for Balkan Affairs.  Frattini stated that on 
January 9, after Austria assumes the EU presidency, the EC 
would propose a roadmap for EU engagement in the Balkans. 
The roadmap would call for an EU envoy for Kosovo status 
talks and Dayton implementation.   Mustafaj called Kosovo 
ground zero for the Albanian question in Europe and insisted 
that negotiations cannot lead to a return of Kosovo to 
Serbia.  The Serbia/Montenegro DCM read a prepared statement 
that insisted the international community must "respect 
international law" and avoid any changes in current 
boundaries and should not impose a solution in resolving 
Kosovo's status.  Present at the meeting was Amb. Laura 
Mirachian, who did not hide her disappointment for having 
been passed over for High Representative in Bosnia.  End 
summary. 
 
¶2. (SBU)  On December 19, the MFA used the visit by the 
Albanian Foreign Minister to organize a conference on the 
Balkans entitled "The Balkans, Kosovo: A Challenge for 
Europe".  The Italian conference gave participants, which 
included Frattini, EC member Emma Bonino and members of the 
Italian MFA Balkans department, the opportunity to articulate 
Italy's interests in the Balkans to the public.  During the 
presentations, Frattini noted that the EC would present a 
roadmap for EU Balkan engagement at a meeting with the 
Austria EU presidency on January 9.  The roadmap would call 
for an EU envoy to the Balkans and a renewed push for 
continued EU leadership in Bosnia and Kosovo.  Frattini noted 
that stability in the Balkans affects the entire EU, and 
therefore, he would press the EU to take a more directive 
role in its relationships with Balkan countries. (Comment: 
Post will request additional details on the proposed roadmap 
from Frattini's office).  Frattini added that despite 
dwindling public support for EU enlargement, he would 
continue to lobby the EU to hold out the possibility of 
membership as an incentive for continued democratic and 
economic reforms in the region. 
 
¶3. (SBU)  Mustafaj began his presentation by stating that 
Kosovo was "ground zero" for the Albanian "question" in 
Europe.  The current situation could not be allowed to 
persist.  From the Albanian perspective, the situation could 
not revert to the pre-1999 political arrangement and the 
international community could not allow Belgrade to enter 
into the negotiations with a predetermined outcome as their 
final position.  Albania favored "conditional independence" 
with a strong international presence as the final outcome of 
status talks.  The Serbia/Montenegro ambassador arrived 
early, greeted participants, and excused himself from the 
discussion claiming prior engagements.  The Serbia/Montenegro 
DCM read a prepared statement insisting that the 
international community must recognize international law and 
avoid any changes in internationally-recognized boundaries. 
He added that Belgrade was willing to offer the greatest 
level of autonomy to Kosovo and accept an indefinite 
international protectorate, but warned that it would reject 
an imposed solution.  (Comment: The SaM ambassador, a 
Montenegrin, likely excused himself in order to avoid having 
to read the Belgrade-prepared text.) 
 
¶4. (SBU) Comment:  The conference, while providing no new 
insights on Italian Balkan policy, was an important part of 
the GOI's public outreach program to maintain public support 
for Italian leadership in the region.  Amb. Laura Mirachian, 
the Italian candidate for Bosnian High Representative, 
attended the conference, perhaps signaling her continued 
interest in the Balkans despite the fact that she holds no 
official position in the MFA related to the Balkans.  The GOI 
has given us no official comment on Mirachian's rejection, 
but the MFA is clearly disappointed.  After lobbying 
intensely for a recognized international leadership position 
in the Balkans, the GOI believes it was unfairly snubbed by 
other major EU powers. 
SPOGLI