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ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 021308Z JUN 06
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INFO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 0228
RHMFISS/CDR USEUCOM VAIHINGEN GE
RUFOADA/JAC MOLESWORTH RAF MOLESWORTH UK
RXFEAA/HQ AFSOUTH NAPLES IT
RHEFDIA/DIA WASHINGTON DC
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC
RUEPGEA/CDR650THMIGP SHAPE BE
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC 1146
RUEAWJA/DEPT OF JUSTICE WASHDC
RUEHPS/USOFFICE PRISTINA 3481

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 BELGRADE 000880 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR DRL, INL, EUR/SCE 
NSC FOR BRAUN 
STATE FOR H 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: OVIP PREL SR
SUBJECT: Senator Inhofe's Visit to Serbia 
 
 
BELGRADE 00000880  001.2 OF 002 
 
 
SENSITIVE BUT UNCLASSIFIED, PROTECT ACCORDINGLY 
 
¶1. (SBU) SUMMARY. Senator James M. Inhofe's visit 
to Belgrade 27 May occurred in the aftermath of 
Montenegro?s referendum and the conclusion of the 
fifth round of Vienna talks on Kosovo status 
issues.  In meetings with President Tadic, FONMIN 
Draskovic, DEFMIN Stankovic, and Deputy Chief of 
the General Staff Ponos, the Senator was afforded 
an opportunity to assess the Serbian leadership?s 
reaction to Montenegrin independence as well as 
Kosovo, Serbia's commitment to Euro-Atlantic 
integration, and political and defense reform. 
End summary. 
 
 
Tadic: Preserving Democratic Serbia 
----------------------------------- 
 
¶2. (SBU) Tadic focused in his discussions on the 
difficult decisions that Serbia faces in months 
ahead on such key issues as Kosovo final status, 
the dissolution of the SaM State Union, ICTY 
compliance, defense reform, and generally 
accelerating Euro-Atlantic Security integration. 
Tadic promised Serbia's relations with Montenegro 
would center on common economic and security 
interests.  He said Serbia would respect the will 
of the Montenegrin people and an independence 
outcome, although he was skeptical of 
Montenegro?s economic future and saw the need for 
intrinsic political and security links with 
Belgrade.  On ICTY, Tadic sought to assure the 
Senator of the Serbian government's political 
will to extradite Mladic and that the issue was 
mostly a technical problem.  With regards to 
Kosovo, Tadic promised that as a co-chair of 
Serbia?s negotiating team he would strive to be 
constructive in the status negotiations, but was 
constrained by the Serbian constitution that 
obliged him to defend the sovereignty and 
territorial integrity of Serbia.  He also offered 
reassurances that Serbian armed forces would 
remain a security partner with KFOR. 
 
Taking Charge of the Armed Forces 
---------------------------------- 
 
¶3.  (SBU) Responding to the Senator?s inquiry, 
Tadic in no uncertain terms asserted that he was 
in charge of the Armed Forces, adding that he 
would continue to champion defense reform and 
press for Serbia?s entry into PFP as well as the 
strengthening of Serbia?s bilateral military 
relationship with the United States.  Tadic said 
he supported signing bilateral agreements such as 
the SOFA and Article 98.  He affirmed his 
commitment to do more on defense reform, 
promising to expend more political capital and 
focus on defense policy regardless of the fact 
that people in his own party did not see defense 
as such a priority issue. 
 
Draskovic: A Voice in the Wilderness 
--------------------------------------------- --- 
 
¶4. (SBU) FONMIN Draskovic remained outspoken on 
Serbia's need to fulfill its international 
obligations to The Hague, lamenting that Serbia 
was a victim of one individual, Mladic, and that 
Prime Minister Kostunica?s government - and in 
particular the unreformed security services - 
have failed his nation. Draskovic stated that PfP 
membership would have a positive and stabilizing 
effect on democratic Serbia. 
 
¶5.  (SBU) On Kosovo, Draskovic rearticulated his 
 
BELGRADE 00000880  002.2 OF 002 
 
 
position on Kosovo final status, arguing for a 
delay of at least 3-4 years before consideration 
of Kosovo independence -- after Pristina had 
proven that it could protect the rights of the 
Serb minority. He cautioned that Kosovar 
Albanians should not be rewarded with 
independence unless standards are achieved, 
adding that he would push the GoS to continue 
engaging responsibly on decentralization and 
protection of religious sites. 
 
Stankovic: Staying on Track 
--------------------------- 
 
¶6. (SBU) DEFMIN Stankovic reaffirmed the MoD?s 
commitment to defense reform and an amicable 
split with Montenegro over military assets.  He 
confirmed to the Senator his understanding that 
the President of Serbia is the Commander-in-Chief 
of the Armed Forces.  Stankovic offered 
assurances that he would keep defense reform on 
track and stated that down-sizing the force and 
the disposal of military property would be this 
year?s primary resource challenges. 
Additionally, the MoD and General Staff have 
concluded their Strategic Defense Review Process 
and allegedly were prepared to sign a SOFA. 
Stankovic asserted his support for both of these 
initiatives. 
 
Ponos: Reformist Vision 
----------------------- 
 
¶7. (SBU) General Ponos was emphatic about the 
Serbian armed forces' strategic orientation on 
PfP entry and eventual NATO membership.  Ponos 
outlined the various challenges to reach that 
goal ? Personnel reductions to an end strength of 
27,000 from the current 62,000, major base 
reductions and closings, and the implementation 
of a modern force structure.  Most importantly, 
Ponos stated that changing the mindset of the 
armed forces, and especially the officer corps, 
was the main challenge. 
 
¶8.  (SBU) While Mladic conditionality continued 
to block Serbian participation in PfP, Ponos 
noted there were numerous opportunities for 
promoting Euro-Atlantic integration that remained 
untapped.  At the forefront of these was the 
bilateral military relationship with the United 
States.  Ponos felt that the State Partnership 
Program (SPP), IMET and FMF were all programs the 
Serbian armed forces could benefit greatly from. 
He expressed hope that the Serbian government 
would be ready to sign a Status of Forces 
Agreement (SOFA) in the near future so that SPP 
could begin.  IMET, in particular, would 
immeasurably contribute to the Euro-Atlantic 
security integration of the Serbian armed forces 
as well as lead to a professional force able to 
participate as full security partner with NATO 
and the United States. 
 
¶9.  (SBU) The Senator responded that he intended 
to add an amendment to the current Defense 
Authorization bill that would allow for waivers 
for IMET for certain countries, including Serbia 
and Montenegro.  Senator Inhofe did not have the 
opportunity to see this message prior to his 
departure. 
 
 
POLT