VZCZCXRO0705
OO RUEHAST
DE RUEHBW #1236 2161239
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 041239Z AUG 06
FM AMEMBASSY BELGRADE
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 9102
INFO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC 1174
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC
RUFOADA/JAC MOLESWORTH RAF MOLESWORTH UK
RHMFISS/CDR USEUCOM VAIHINGEN GE
RXFEAA/HQ AFSOUTH NAPLES IT
RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHINGTON DC

UNCLAS BELGRADE 001236 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O.12958: N/A 
TAGS: PGOV PREL PHUM SR MW YI
SUBJECT: KOSTUNICA AND TADIC CONSTRUCTIVE AT CONTACT GROUP DEMARCHE 
 
 
¶1.  (SBU) SUMMARY: Prime Minister Kostunica and President Tadic were 
both cordial and constructive at a joint demarche by Contact Group 
(CG) Chiefs of Mission in Belgrade on August 4.  Both stressed that 
the GOS is committed to UNOSEK talks and confirmed Belgrade will 
participate in August 7th and 8th meetings on decentralization and 
community rights, respectively.  Tadic, especially, emphasized that 
rapid progress on decentralization and religious sites is crucial 
for the Kosovo Serb community. END SUMMARY. 
 
¶2. (SBU) The Contact Group COMs met on the morning of August 4 with 
President Tadic and Prime Minister Kostunica who were joined by 
Presidential advisors Leon Kojen and Vuk Jeremic and Prime Minster 
advisor Aleksandar Simic.  After listening attentively to Ambassador 
Polt's presentation of the demarche on behalf of the Contact Group, 
Tadic and Kostunica's comments focused on their willingness to stay 
engaged in Ahtisaari's talks and their desire to "show results" on 
decentralization and religious sites.  Kostunica said there was 
"never any doubt" that Belgrade would participate. 
 
¶3. (SBU) Tadic responded first, noting that there were only 
"technical" concerns with the talks, most specifically that the GOS 
preferred to discuss community rights within the rubric of 
"constitutional issues"  Nevertheless, he said that Belgrade would 
adhere to Ahtisaari's timeline and attend on August 7th and 8th. 
(Note: Serbian wires are reporting that Kojen and Simic are expected 
to attend along with Kosovo Serb representatives Marko Jaksic and 
Goran Bogdanovic and experts Gordana Matkovic, Dragor Hiber and 
Bosko Mijatovic. End note.) On behalf of the CG COMs, Ambassador 
Polt reaffirmed the CG's full confidence in Ahtisaari's decisions, 
including on schedule and structure. 
 
¶4. (SBU) Kostunica referenced the CG's point that substantive rather 
than procedural matters should be the focus at the talks, saying 
that "community rights are a substantive, constitutional issue." 
Kosovo Serbs, he continued, need "guarantees of individual rights 
within the institutions of government" and talks must not be limited 
to a general discussion on "rights of minorities." He emphasized the 
CG had in the past stated a goal of a "negotiated settlement" on 
Kosovo, and he supported this approach. 
 
¶5. (SBU) On northern Kosovo, Kostunica repeated the comments he made 
to Ambassador Wisner on July 25, stating that there was no GOS 
"parallel security structure" at work in the region, and also noted 
that UNSC Resolution 1244 allowed for less than 1000 Serbian 
security personnel to be present in Kosovo.  Ambassador Polt 
responded that the CG would not tolerate any instigation of violence 
by any group, and it was in the best interests of the Serbs to let 
KFOR "hold the line" in northern Kosovo.  Ambassador Polt again 
stressed that both Belgrade and Pristina will be held accountable 
for activities in the north. 
 
¶6. (SBU) Tadic made clear how important it was to him to achieve 
solid results quickly on decentralization and church issues.  He 
reiterated the "crucial" need to show "credible results" on 
decentralization and the church.  He said the GOS expects Ahtisaari 
to be "productive" in this regard.  "We are for compromise," the 
President concluded, next to a nodding Prime Minister. 
 
¶7. (SBU) COMMENT: Tadic and Kostunica had clearly prepared for the 
meeting together and the result was a productive meeting conducted 
in a cordial atmosphere.  Even the body language was positive. 
Kostunica, who returned from his vacation to attend this meeting, 
told the Ambassador that it "goes without saying it was important" 
for him to attend the demarche.  (We actually learned that previous 
attempts to send only Advisor Simic to receive the CG points had not 
been cleared with the PM and he decided himself that it was 
important for him to attend.)  Kostunica exhibited none of his usual 
complaining about the Kosovo process or the treatment of Serbia by 
the international community, and both men appeared to be speaking in 
one voice.  Without overstating the importance of this meeting, 
Tadic AND Kostunica deserve a pat on the back for showing up and 
being positive. END COMMENT. 
 
POLT