VZCZCXRO7362
OO RUEHDBU RUEHFL RUEHKW RUEHLA RUEHROV RUEHSR
DE RUEHPS #0689/01 2341242
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
O 221242Z AUG 06
FM USOFFICE PRISTINA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 6403
INFO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 0808
RHMFISS/CDR USEUCOM VAIHINGEN GE
RUFOADA/JAC MOLESWORTH RAF MOLESWORTH UK
RHFMISS/AFSOUTH NAPLES IT
RHMFISS/CDR TF FALCON
RHEFDIA/DIA WASHDC
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC
RUEPGEA/CDR650THMIGP SHAPE BE
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC
RUEAWJA/DEPT OF JUSTICE WASHDC
RUFOANA/USNIC PRISTINA SR

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 PRISTINA 000689 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPT FOR DRL, INL, AND EUR/SCE, NSC FOR BRAUN, USUN FOR 
DREW SCHUFLETOWSKI, USOSCE FOR STEVE STEGER 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/22/2016 
TAGS: PGOV PREL KDEM UNMIK DPKO YI
SUBJECT: KOSOVO: COM URGES NORTHERN MAYORS TO STAY ENGAGED, 
AVOID EXTREMISM 
 
 
Classified By: COM TINA S. KAIDANOW FOR REASONS 1.4 (B) AND (D). 
 
¶1. (C) Summary:  COM travelled to northern Kosovo August 18 
to meet with the mayors of the three predominantly Serb 
municipalities and utilize press opportunities to convey the 
benefits of the decentralization process to Serb residents of 
the north.  All three mayors were definitive in rejecting a 
status outcome that included independence of any kind for 
Kosovo, but the mayor of Zvecan was the least hardline of the 
group, implying if not saying outright that the 
decentralization agreement could help Serbs come to terms 
with a new governing framework.  The mayors were uniformly 
appreciative of USG assistance projects now identified for 
implementation in all three municipalities, and agreed that 
it was important to keep the lines of communication to the 
international community open in the next weeks and months as 
the status process comes to a conclusion.  End summary. 
 
Mayors Reject Independence for Kosovo 
 
¶2.  (C) COM visited the three northern municipalities of 
Zvecan, Leposavic and Zubin Potok August 18, meeting with the 
mayor in each case and appearing before the Serb press in 
Zvecan.  Meetings were cordial, and in each instance the 
mayor recognized and expressed gratitude for ongoing 
USOP/USAID assistance projects identified with the 
participation of municipal authorities.  COM noted that the 
coming weeks and months would be critical ones as the status 
process reached its conclusion, and pointed to the importance 
of leadership on the part of municipal leaders to maintain 
stability and counter radical voices whose interests were not 
consonant with those of ordinary Serb residents.  She urged 
that the mayors follow carefully the outcome of the status 
discussions and that they consider -- and publicize -- its 
benefits to Serbs throughout Kosovo.  She also emphasized the 
need to maintain open lines of communication to KFOR, UNMIK 
and diplomatic missions in Kosovo as the situation evolved. 
 
¶3.  (C) All three mayors, but most emphatically those in 
Leposavic (Velimir Bojovic) and Zubin Potok (Slavisa Ristic), 
were categorical in their rejection of any form of 
independence outcome for Kosovo.  Bojovic expressed no trust 
in Kosovo institutions and insisted that there was no 
political goodwill on the part of the Albanian leadership, at 
one point lapsing into the pejorative "Shiptar" terminology 
when referring to Kosovar authorities.  He backpedalled 
considerably, however, when discussing the relationship 
between the municipality and international community, 
averring that cooperation would "of course continue."  Ristic 
in Zubin Potok echoed the same themes, maintaining that "more 
time needed to go by" to build trust between Albanians and 
Serbs in Kosovo and claiming that "Serbs would have to 
respond in some way to any independence outcome."  COM noted 
to both that the international community was committed to an 
outcome that gave Serbs every opportunity for a secure and 
prosperous future in Kosovo, but that self-imposed isolation 
or violence could only jeopardize that prospect.  She 
underscored the need to think carefully before acting in the 
wake of any status decisions, and pointed to the considerable 
resources the international community could bring to the 
largely poor, rural Serb community in the north as an 
outgrowth of the status process. 
 
¶4.  (C) Zvecan mayor Milovic was more restrained and 
reflective in his discussion with COM, listening to her 
description of the potential benefits the decentralization 
process would bring and commenting that "the outcome would be 
important for Serbs and the way they viewed the status 
decision."  Milovic and the COM appeared together in front of 
the Serb press, with Milovic noting his appreciation of the 
USG assistance projects underway and emphasizing the 
importance of security to the Serb population of northern 
Kosovo.  COM used the opportunity to speak about the 
decentralization process and its likely impact on Serb 
communities, which would be able to exercise local control 
over key aspects of daily life. 
 
 
PRISTINA 00000689  002 OF 002 
 
 
Comment 
 
¶5.  (C) Speaking with northern mayors, but particularly the 
two most intransigent, offers little prospect that they will 
accede to any status outcome that leaves Kosovo outside of 
Serbia.  They are guarded in their statements about what 
might follow an independence outcome, but clear that they 
will not stand in the way -- and may in fact encourage -- 
grass roots action to protest any such decision.  The Zvecan 
mayor, though obviously more nuanced in his approach, would 
likely not be in a position to stand aside from collective 
Serb decision making in a post-status environment.  It is 
increasingly important both to take our message on 
decentralization directly to the Serb community (in the north 
and south) and to continue a firm line with Serb leaders, 
emphasizing the potential consequences of rash or hasty 
action.  We will expand our outreach efforts to the Serbs, 
drawing in other Contact Group representatives as well, to 
encourage them to weigh the benefits of decentralization 
against the serious negatives of partition and isolation. 
End comment. 
 
 
¶5. (U) U.S. Office Pristina clears this cable for release in 
its entirety to U.N. Special Envoy for Kosovo Martti 
Ahtisaari. 
KAIDANOW