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C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 USUN NEW YORK 000453 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
EUR DAS ROSEMARY DICARLO, EUR/SCE 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/09/2016 
TAGS: PGOV PREL UNSC UNMIK SR YI
SUBJECT: AHTISAARI BRIEFS UNSC ON KOSOVO FUTURE STATUS 
PROCESS 
 
 
Classified By: Ambassador John R. Bolton, Reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). 
 
¶1.  (C) Summary:  In closed UNSC consultations March 7, 
Special Envoy Martti Ahtisaari briefed Security Council 
members on his work to date in the Kosovo Future Status 
Process.  Delivering a candid message, Ahtisaari argued while 
the current government in Belgrade is not responsible for 
what Milosevic had done in the past, it must nonetheless 
deal with the consequences of those actions now.  On the 
other hand, said Ahtisaari, Kosovo's Albanian majority has to 
"create a stable society where minorities can live in peace" 
because only "tangible results on the ground" can create 
trust.  Meetings between Belgrade and Pristina's negotiating 
teams in Vienna February 20-21 had shown the way ahead by 
proving that despite clear differences between the parties it 
was possible to reach some common ground.  Ahtisaari reported 
he would thus push on with a "bottom up" approach of focusing 
on technical issues first, as agreement in some areas could 
help boost confidence.  He also urged the Council to focus on 
the day after a status settlement is reached. 
 
¶2.  (C) Summary Continued:  In reply, Russian Permrep Denisov 
advocated continuation of a "staged process of negotiations," 
noting only a consensus approach would lead to an outcome 
that can be approved by the Security Council and that such a 
process requires time.  In what was understood to be a 
reference to the Abkhazia conflict, Denisov also asserted 
that the Kosovo problem "is in no way unique, how a solution 
is found will have global impact and consequence." 
Slovakia's Permrep asserted "no deadline" should be set for 
completing the status process.  At the end of the session, 
Ahtisaari expressed hope for "speedier implementation of 
standards" with Prime Minister Ceku now in office.  Ahtisaari 
stated he wanted to move quickly and might take stock in 
April or May of "where we are and what more can be 
accomplished" with an eye to moving at that point to discuss 
status.  End Summary. 
 
Ahtisaari Delivers A Candid Message 
 
 
¶3.  (C) During closed UNSC consultations March 7, Special 
Envoy Martti Ahtisaari briefed Council members and UN 
Secretariat officials on his progress to date in the Kosovo 
 
SIPDIS 
Future Status Process.  Moving quickly to the candid message 
he had come to deliver, Ahtisaari said the Kosovo problem had 
been shaped by the past.  He stated flatly that Belgrade had 
to accept that any settlement must be acceptable to the 
people of Kosovo.  Ahtisaari noted seeing more realism from 
both parties after CG members delivered coordinated private 
messages to Belgrade and Pristina following the FM-level CG 
meeting in London January 31.  Belgrade's current government 
was not responsible for what Milosevic had done in the past, 
allowed Ahtisaari, but it must deal with the consequences now 
in the final chapter of resolving Kosovo's status.  Part of 
Belgrade's work is to also cooperate fully with ICTY. 
Assuming such cooperation, Ahtisaari urged the international 
community to support Serbia's full integration into the 
"Euro-Atlantic architecture."  For their part, Kosovo's 
Albanians had to create a stable society where minorities can 
live in peace because only "tangible results on the ground" 
will create trust.  Standards implementation will therefore 
be critical to the pace of the Future Status Process. 
However, Serbs need to participate in Kosovo's institutions, 
in part so they can convey concerns that minority protection 
is an important standard. 
 
¶4.  (C) Ahtisaari pronounced that the first round of talks 
between Belgrade and Pristina in the form of a meeting on 
decentralization held in Vienna February 20-21 had shown it 
was possible to reach some common ground.  Ahtisaari will 
thus push on for the time being with a "bottom up" approach, 
hoping agreements in some areas will help boost confidence. 
Kosovo's future lies in Europe, said Ahtisaari, but a 
post-status international civilian and military presence will 
be needed for some time and preparation for it should be led 
by the SRSG.  However, Kosovo needed full engagement from 
international financial institutions to develop its resources 
and economy, which would only be possible after a status 
decision. 
 
Russia: Only "Negotiated Solution Acceptable," Kosovo "Not 
Unique" 
 
 
USUN NEW Y 00000453  002 OF 003 
 
 
 
¶5.  (C) In Russia's comments, Permrep Denisov called for a 
"staged process of negotiations."  Noting the fundamental 
difference in positions, he said Russia would not accept a 
solution at any cost and called for taking the time to find a 
consensus in order to reach an outcome that can win support 
from the Security Council.  In this stage-by-stage process it 
would be necessary to see progress on decentralization, 
cultural heritage, religious sites, and guarantees for 
minorities before moving to settle status.  Denisov urged 
unity from the Contact Group, saying it can be a forceful 
mechanism in support of the Special Envoy's diplomacy.  In 
what was interpreted by others as a reference to the Abkhazia 
conflict, Denisov concluded by stating how the Security 
Council resolves the Kosovo question will influence other 
"conflict situations."  Contradicting Ahtisaari, Denisov said 
the Kosovo problem is "not unique."  He stated "how a 
solution is found will have global impact and consequence." 
 
UK, French and Greek Comments 
 
 
¶6.  (C) UK Permrep Jones-Parry stated that the Future Status 
Process should be completed by the end of the year, without 
rushing.  A commitment from Kosovo's Albanians on minority 
rights is a necessity and the Future Status Process itself 
should be used to leverage more progress.  Jones-Parry 
discouraged overlooking the importance of Serbia and said a 
public information campaign there might be needed.  Once 
Mladic is in the Hague, he said, we should be very supportive 
of Serbia.  Greek Permrep Vasilakis echoed the approval of 
most present for the outcome of the Vienna decentralization 
meetings.  Vasilakis also pitched the Greek think tank 
proposal for protecting Kosovo's religious and ethnic 
heritage.  Any outcome that leads to stability in the region 
and contributes to building a new democratic and multi-ethnic 
Kosovo is acceptable to Greece, he said, but the history and 
geography of the Western Balkans cannot be ignored.  French 
Permrep de La Sabliere stressed resolution of Kosovo's status 
should not be further delayed.  He pointed out that the 
proper functioning of Kosovo's institutions had been seen in 
the election of a new President and Prime Minister.  All 
should remember the specific nature of the Kosovo situation. 
De la Sabliere also said the international community would 
need to maintain a presence in one form or another to 
guarantee post-status stability in Kosovo. 
 
Slovakia: Concerned About Moving Too Quickly 
 
¶7.  (C) Slovak Permrep Burian said Slovakia supported a 
lasting and balanced settlement but compromises were needed 
to build trust.  No "deadline should be set" for completing 
the Future Status Process as we have to ensure Kosovo and its 
institutions are ready.  The pace of progress on standards 
implementation will determine the pace of the Future Status 
Process and a key to determining that ought to be the number 
of Serbs we see returning to Kosovo.  Slovakia agreed with 
Ahtisaari that Serbs should be encouraged to participate in 
Kosovo's institutions. 
 
¶8. (C) Chinese Permrep Wang stated some progress had been 
made on standards, but continued that many problems still 
existed.  Views differed in the CG and certainly among the 
parties, so the UNSC should avoid hasty action and 
predeterminations.  The Kosovo problem should be solved 
within the context of resolution 1244, but we should also 
keep in mind the special history of the problem, said Wang. 
 
Ahtisaari Responds To Questions, Offers More Views 
 
 
¶9.  (C) At the end of the session, Ahtisaari responded to 
questions from Council members.  He opined that the smooth 
transition to a new political leadership is a positive sign 
about Kosovo's society and its ability to handle changes. 
Ahtisaari also expected speedier implementation of standards 
now that Prime Minister Ceku was in office and hoped to visit 
him soon.  He understood Ceku wanted to be fully prepared 
prior to their first meeting, but he would press for a trip 
in the short-term.  On returns of refugees and IDPs, 
Ahtisaari said we needed to create a situation where people 
could go back to any place in Kosovo.  Some Kosovar Albanian 
mayors had told him recently that they thought Serbs were 
waiting for a status solution before returning.  Ahtisaari 
 
USUN NEW Y 00000453  003 OF 003 
 
 
agreed with that logic, saying he was sure there were Serbs 
who want to go back and Belgrade should encourage them to do 
so.  Ahtisaari had seen reports that prominent Kosovo Serb 
Oliver Ivanovic would join Kosovo's government, but doubted 
whether it would happen because Belgrade had strong influence 
and some Kosovo Serb politicians felt threatened by it. 
Ahtisaari also repeated what he had said March 6 in a 
briefing to the Coordinating and Drafting Group: he intends 
to move fast, assessing that we would soon get to a point 
where we can no longer avoid discussing status.  "In April or 
May, it will probably be necessary to take stock of where we 
are," noted Ahtisaari. 
BOLTON