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

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 BELGRADE 000207 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/10/2016 
TAGS: PGOV PHUM PREL SR YI
SUBJECT: VIENNA DECENTRALIZATION TALKS: KEEPING THE SERBS 
ENGAGED 
 
REF: BELGRADE 193 
 
Classified By: Ambassador Michael C. Polt, (Reasons 1.4 B&D) 
 
Summary 
 
1.(C) Discussions with Tadic advisor Leon Kojen, EU 
Representative Lehne and sources in local UN headquarters 
here suggest a disconnect between Belgrade and others on 
what is to be achieved in the Vienna decentralization talks 
on 2/20.  Kojen and the PM's office have made it clear to 
us that they are ready and eager to start talks and are 
expecting a serious multi-round negotiation.  If the Vienna 
meeting does not signal clearly that Serb concerns on 
decentralization will be addressed seriously, there is a 
risk that Belgrade will walk away from the session 
convinced that there is no future in further talks.  End 
Summary. 
 
Kojen's Comments on "Tough Message" and Way Ahead 
 
2.(C) President Tadic's chief Kosovo negotiator, Leon Kojen 
told poloffs on February 9 that Belgrade would not 
"overreact" to the tough messages delivered by U.S. Special 
Envoy Wisner and UK Political Director Sawers (Reftel). 
Tracking with how Kostunica responded to Wisner, Kojen 
suggested Belgrade will just simply choose not to believe 
what they heard.  Kojen said he had been expecting Sawers 
to be tougher then Wisner but was taken back at how 
"roughly" and undiplomatically Sawers had presented his 
points.  Kojen noted several asides that led him to believe 
that the Serb position would not be well received in 
Vienna: "Tony Blair did not go to war over Kosovo to see 
Serbia get it back"; "These won't be negotiations on 
status, but rather the status of the Serb minority in 
Kosovo"; and, "Kosovo Serbs think they can live their 
separate lives, but we will insist that fully integrate 
into a multi-ethnic Kosovo."  Kojen thought it completely 
unrealistic, given the current hostility between Serbs and 
Albanians in Kosovo, to think that, in the near term, 
Kosovo Serbs would be willing to live integrated with 
Albanians.  He said he also found it incomprehensible how 
"Belgrade could be denied the right to sit at the table and 
discuss the fate of part of our country." 
 
 
Concerns about Vienna 
 
3.(C) Kojen said Belgrade was ready and eager to start 
talks, calling them "long overdue,".  He noted that he had 
met with Rohan in Vienna in late January, and was 
incredulous about some of the details on how the talks were 
being set up.  He said that Rohan had initially suggested 
one session, beginning with statements from the two sides, 
followed by an overly ambitious agenda covering a full 
range of issues from decentralization to protection of 
cultural heritage and socially owned enterprises.  Kojen 
pushed for an initial session in which they would discuss 
"general principles" for the talks, followed by separate 
sessions in which they could hash out the various issues. 
Rohan insisted on keeping to the original schedule ) night 
of the 19th and all day on the 20th, but agreed to turn a 
ceremonial dinner on the evening of February 19 into a 
working session on the general principles, followed by 
separate sessions on decentralization, and non- 
decentralization issues (religious sites, and public 
utilities/socially owned enterprises) on the 20th.  Kojen 
said that everything was still being discussed; he would 
continue to push for an overall lighter agenda and a longer 
session when he meets with Rohan in Belgrade on Tuesday 
February 14. 
 
4.(C) Kojen also said he was concerned after  a discussion 
with Stefan Lehne that Ahtisaari planned to hold "seven 
chapters" of simultaneous talks, "occurring in parallel, 
not sequentially."  (Lehne was in Belgrade on Feb. 8-9 on 
one of his periodic swings through.)  Kojen thought it 
would make more sense to build momentum on the key topic of 
decentralization, the results of which would likely inform 
the debate on other topics.  Kojen expressed frustration 
that Belgrade has not had a chance to see the new Albanian 
decentralization plan, which both Rohan and Lehne told him 
"was a positive step forward".  Kojen thought that it would 
be more productive to see it before the Vienna meeting so 
that Belgrade could prepare a proper response. 
 
5.(C) Kojen also expressed his dismay to Lehne about some 
of Sawers remarks ) not about status but about 
decentralization ) when he saw him on February 8.  Kojen 
believed his insistence on an opening session on general 
principles was reasonable in order to ensure substantive 
talks.  If the Albanians simply state that they will not 
negotiate on anything until they have independence, he 
said, we will not make progress on anything ) Pristina will 
just always refer back to the general principles.  Kojen 
said he asked Lehne whether the idea was to channel 
decentralization into some sort of multi-ethnic utopia that 
will never work.  "In that case," he said, "it would be 
meaningless for us to participate." 
 
6.(C) Comment: Despite the tough messages it has received 
over the last week, Belgrade is still committed to going to 
Vienna.  They are going convinced that they will be able to 
engage in a real way about substantive issues related to 
minority rights.  Kojen was not predicting a train crash, 
but he did express repeated puzzlement that Rohan seemed to 
be setting up the talks as if they were a one-off instead 
of the start of a process. 
 
7.(C) We need to ensure that Vienna reflects the seven non- 
final status points in the eight part tough message that 
Wisner delivered to Belgrade last week.  An encouraging 
first round in Vienna is the necessary condition to keep 
the Serbs, especially Kostunica, at the table.  There is 
already talk around town about a parliamentary session on 
final status that will no doubt be designed to give 
Kostunica a clear mandate to reject any independence 
option.  We will be working with the PM's office and our 
parliamentary sources over the coming days to advise 
against any such parliamentary session, at least until 
after the first round of Vienna.  We will also speak with 
Rohan about his talks with the Serbs when he is here next 
week.  Department may also wish to consider a Wisner- 
Ahtisaari call to urge taking the Serbs seriously in 
Vienna.  END COMMENT. 
POLT