VZCZCXRO9596
RR RUEHAST
DE RUEHBW #0957/01 1660606
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 150606Z JUN 06
FM AMEMBASSY BELGRADE
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 8811
INFO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE
RUEHRC/USDA FAS WASHDC 0238
RUFOADA/JAC MOLESWORTH RAF MOLESWORTH UK

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 BELGRADE 000957 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PGOV PREL EAGR SR MW
SUBJECT: DISSOLUTION OF STATE UNION OF SERBIA AND 
 
 
BELGRADE 00000957  001.2 OF 003 
 
 
MONTENEGRO 
 
SENSITIVE BUT UNCLASSIFIED - PLEASE HANDLE ACCORDINGLY 
 
¶1. (U) Introduction: The Republics of Serbia and of 
Montenegro will need to take a series of steps to finally 
dissolve the State Union.  We will report periodically on 
actions being taken by the republics and by us to encourage 
a successful transition. End introduction. 
 
Upcoming Travel to U.S. 
----------------------- 
 
¶2. (SBU) GOM FM Vlahovic is looking to travel to Washington 
in late June or early July, along with acting military 
chief of staff General Jovan Lakcevic, to see the 
Departments of State and Defense, and hold meetings with 
members of Congress. 
 
State Union Institutions 
------------------------ 
 
Serbia: 
 
¶3. (U) The Serbian Government issued a decree on June 8 
abolishing state union agencies and institutions and 
transferring some competencies to the jurisdiction of the 
Republic of Serbia. The abolished institutions include SaM 
Parliament, President, Council of Ministers, Supreme 
Defense Council and the SaM court. All accredited 
standardization bodies will become agencies of the Republic 
of Serbia.  Serbia will assume the founding rights in state 
owned companies, public institutions and organizations 
previously enjoyed by FRY. 
 
¶4. (U) The SaM Human and Minority Rights Ministry is now 
transferred to the Republic of Serbia as an executive 
agency of the government (vice a ministry). Serbian Justice 
Minister Stojkovic stated that of all the ministries of 
SaM, only defense and foreign affairs ministries remain in 
operation.  The National Council for Cooperation to The 
Hague Tribunal, the Coordinating Body for Southern Serbia, 
and the Coordinating Center for Kosovo and Metohija will 
continue to work for the Serbian republic, with Rasim 
Ljajic continuing at the helm of the first two bodies.  The 
decree recommended a 45-day deadline for the Serbian 
parliament to adopt amendments to the laws on ministries 
and government, which would allow for personnel changes 
including the minister positions. 
 
Montenegro: 
 
¶5. (U) The GoM will integrate former State Union personnel 
from Montenegro into its bureaucracy, at least for a six- 
month transition period. 
 
Internally Displaced Persons 
---------------------------- 
 
Serbia: 
 
¶6. (U) Nothing to report. 
 
Montenegro: 
 
¶7. (U) The Montenegrin Government issued a statement on 
June 9 through the Commissioner for Displaced Persons of 
the Republic of Montenegro, Zeljko Sofranac.  Mr. Sofranac 
stated that the "independence of Montenegro does not 
automatically imply a change of status of the displaced 
persons.  Actually, it has already been decided to keep 
them in the same provisional status, with the rights 
pertaining to them." 
 
Military 
-------- 
 
Montenegro and Serbia: 
 
¶8. (U) The military units and assets of the former SaM have 
been divided between the republics on the basis of 
territoriality.  Officers and long-term enlisted can choose 
with which republic they wish to serve. 
 
Srbia: 
 
¶9. (U) Deputy CHOD Ponos has been named Acing CHOD. 
 
Montenegro: 
 
 
BELGRADE 00000957  002.2 OF 003 
 
 
¶10. (SBU) Major General Jovan Lakcevic, Podgorica Corps 
Commander, has been named the acting Chief of the General 
Staff of the Montenegrin Army. PM Djukanovic will be acting 
Defense Minister, probably through the fall elections, 
according to FM Vlahovic. 
 
USG Activity: 
 
¶11. (U) DAO/Belgrade traveled to Montenegro June 5-7 to 
meet with GoM defense officials.  A Serbian MoD delegation 
plans a visit to Washington in late June. 
 
Agreements and Laws 
------------------- 
 
We are compiling a list of laws and international 
agreements relating to Montenegro's and Serbia's new status 
that we suggest will require review by Washington. 
 
Montenegro and Serbia - Nonproliferation: 
 
¶12. (U) The Union of Serbia and Montenegro drafted the 
Export Control Law and went into effect on March 31, 2005. 
The State Union ministries that enforced the law have been 
absorbed by Serbia. Since the Export Control Law was 
ratified by the respective parliaments of Serbia and of 
Montenegro, both should be able to accede to the laws 
provisions with minor changes essentially giving authority 
to their respective national ministries to carry out the 
same functions; e.g. International Economic Relations, 
Foreign Affairs, and Defense. To date it still is unclear 
what will happen to those personnel in the Union's Ministry 
of International Economic Relations who have become 
proficient in issuing licenses to trade in military 
equipment and dual use goods.  Presumably, some will be 
absorbed into Serbia's ministry, but it is uncertain 
whether they will remain as a cohesive unit. 
 
Montenegro - Bilateral Assistance Treaty: 
 
¶13. (U): In order to avoid a disruption of ongoing USG 
assistance, we will encourage the GoM to adopt the 
Bilateral Assistance Treaty that was in place with the 
State Union. 
 
Foreign Affairs: Multilateral Organizations 
-------------------------------------------- 
 
Serbia: 
 
¶14. (U) President Tadic attended the ceremony at UN 
Headquarters in New York on June 6, when the State Union 
flag was lowered for the last time, to be replaced by the 
flag of Serbia. 
 
Montenegro: 
 
¶15. (SBU) President Vujanovic wrote UNSYG Annan June 5, 
asking that Montenegro be admitted to the UN. The OSCE 
discussed Montenegro's membership application on June 7. 
The MFA told post June 12 that the GoM will make a formal 
application for PfP after establishing its Ministry of 
Defense.  Montenegro has requested membership in the OSCE. 
 
Foreign Affairs 
--------------- 
 
Serbia: 
 
¶16. (U) Serbia has asserted its right to be treated as the 
successor state to the State Union of Serbia and 
Montenegro.  We would appreciate Washington guidance on 
whether any steps may be required by the USG to acknowledge 
Serbia's status as "The Republic of Serbia." 
 
Montenegro: 
 
¶17. (U) As of June 14, 20 states have recognized 
Montenegro: Iceland, Switzerland, Russia, Croatia, 
Macedonia, Austria, Czech Republic, Lithuania, Malta, 
Turkey, Hungary, Bulgaria, Estonia, France, Slovakia, 
Luxembourg, Romania, Albania, and the United Kingdom; the 
USG recognized on June 12. Germany has said it will 
recognize on June 15, and Slovenia on June 20. 
 
Cross-Border Travel and Trade 
----------------------------- 
 
 
BELGRADE 00000957  003.2 OF 003 
 
 
¶18. (U) Serbia/Montenegro: Airport authorities in Belgrade 
and Podgorica continued to treat traffic between the two as 
domestic, not international, after the June 3 Declaration 
of Independence. 
 
Consular Affairs 
---------------- 
 
¶19. (U) Embassy Belgrade is seeking guidance from CA/VO on 
visa classification of GoM officials after the June 12 USG 
recognition of Montenegro. 
 
POLT