VZCZCXRO5204
PP RUEHIK RUEHYG
DE RUCNDT #1823/01 2591414
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 161414Z SEP 06
FM USMISSION USUN NEW YORK
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 0216
INFO RUEHZG/NATO EU COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RUEHBW/AMEMBASSY BELGRADE PRIORITY 0112
RUEHPS/USOFFICE PRISTINA PRIORITY 0616

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 USUN NEW YORK 001823 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PGOV PREL UNMIK YI
SUBJECT: FIRST UNSC KOSOVO MEETING FOR JOACHIM RUCKER 
 
 
¶1.  (SBU) Summary: On September 13, in his first appearance 
at a Security Council meeting on the United Nations Interim 
Administration Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK), SRSG Joachim Rucker 
praised Kosovo's leadership for having "now achieved most of 
the priorities on standards implementation."  Kosovo Prime 
Minister Ceku was present, in his second appearance in the 
Security Council, and was seated behind the SRSG as a member 
of his entourage but did not speak.  Rucker followed his 
praise for Kosovo's new leadership with a reminder that there 
were still areas where significant work remained.  Rucker 
furthermore made a strong appeal to Belgrade to allow Serbs 
in Kosovo to participate in the institutions and democratic 
processes of Kosovo's Provisional Institutions of Self 
Government (PISG).  Coordination Center for Kosovo and 
Metohija (CCK) President Sanda Raskovic-Ivic reiterated  many 
of the well-known, legalistic arguments she had offered to 
the Security Council in June, buttressing them once again 
with statistics on alleged incidents of ethnically-motivated 
violence against minorities.  As the  meeting drew to a 
close, Raskovic-Ivic requested the right to speak again and 
used it to counter a point in the European Union's statement 
from the day's meeting, saying that claims of improvements in 
freedom of movement and returns were untrue.  The CCK 
President also suggested that Kosovo Serb leaders lacked a 
public mandate because only 811 Serbs voted in the last 
elections.  Rucker had the last word of the meeting to rebut 
Raskovic-Ivic and commented, inter alia, that only a 
small-fraction of Serbs had voted in 2004 because Belgrade 
had interfered in the first place; the SRSG also cautioned 
Belgrade "to be careful to avoid the impression that it 
creates the conditions that it deplores." 
 
¶2.  (SBU) All Security Council members exercised their right 
to make a national statement and most welcomed the presence 
of both Raskovic-Ivic and Ceku and strongly agreed with 
Rucker's praise of Kosovo's progress on standards 
implementation and with his call for sustained progress; they 
also echoed his appeal to Belgrade to allow Serbs greater 
participation in the democratic process in Kosovo.  In 
Russia's national statement, Permanent Representative Churkin 
warned against "arbitrary timelines", saying "only a 
negotiated and not a one-sided or imposed solution can be 
supported by the Security Council."  Non-Security Council 
members Finland (as EU President), Ukraine and Albania also 
made statements.  End summary. 
 
Rucker Reviews Report on Standards Implementation 
 
¶3.  (SBU) In his first appearance before the Security Council 
as SRSG, Joachim Rucker reviewed the most recent report on 
standards implementations in Kosovo.  Kosovo was represented 
by Prime Minister Agim Ceku, who -- just as in June -- was 
present at the meeting as a member of the SRSG's entourage 
and sat behind the SRSG, but made no statement.  The status 
process, said Rucker, now understandably dominates 
international attention, and, UNMIK, although not directly 
involved in that process nonetheless shares the 
Secretary-General's view that Kosovo has to be rid of 
 
SIPDIS 
uncertainty so that it could move on.  Kosovo, had achieved 
most of the priorities on standards implementation and the 
Contact Group had contributed to this through its "Thirteen 
Priorities" of June 19.  Last month, the Kosovo Assembly had 
moved to merge its plan for standards implementation with 
goals to be met for its European path.  There were still 
incidents of ethnic violence, such as one in North Mitrovica 
in August, but, attempts to say these occurred on a daily 
basis were incorrect.  Belgrade, Rucker said, needed to allow 
Kosovo Serbs to participate more directly in democratic 
processes in Kosovo and should rescind a directive to Serbs 
working in most Kosovo institutions to choose between their 
Belgrade and Pristina salaries.  Rucker also criticized a 
recent case where Serbs in Kosovo were discouraged from 
meeting with Prime Minister Ceku.  "Serbs are in a difficult 
position in Kosovo, understandably fear for the future and do 
not know who to trust as they have been barred from 
participating in  government for two and a half years," 
offered Rucker, "but integration is the answer, not 
isolation."  On standards implementation, justice and the 
economy still needed attention, he added.  Rucker also said 
the devolution of UNMIK and its functions would be a major 
activity that has to be undertaken even in the absence of a 
clear timetable.  "We also have to keep momentum in the 
status process as a delay will only increase tension in the 
region and make a new start harder when it comes," said 
Rucker. 
 
CCK President Raskovic-Ivic: Legalistic Arguments 
 
¶4.  (SBU) In a lengthy statement that offered mostly 
legalistic arguments against Kosovo's independence, CCK 
 
USUN NEW Y 00001823  002 OF 003 
 
 
President Raskovic-Ivic appealed that the Security Council 
had unique significance and Serbia expected it would 
contribute to the Future Status process "in line with its 
previous documents, including UNSCR 1244 that reaffirms 
Serbia's sovereignty and territorial integrity." 
Raskovic-Ivic commented that former SRSG Soren 
Jessen-Petersen's report at June's Security Council session 
had reported progress in all areas, but the reality had 
spoken for itself: since the last UNMIK meeting there had 
been 51 incidents of ethnic violence in Kosovo and from the 
launching of status talks in October 2005 to September 1, 
2006 there had been more than 260.  Raskovic-Ivic enumerated 
other cases of violence that she said were directed by ethnic 
Albanians against minorities, calling a recent case where an 
Albanian had supposedly thrown a bomb into a Serb coffee shop 
"an act of terrorism."  However, Serbia's negotiating team 
was working actively to protect minorities on 
decentralization, she stated.  Turning to status, 
Raskovic-Ivic declared it was "unacceptable to rob an 
internationally recognized state of fifteen percent of its 
territory to create a second Albanian state."  On another 
subject, for protection of minorities and religious sites it 
was fine to pass laws, but implementation was needed. 
Raskovic-Ivic asserted that returns were also still a problem 
and even the most optimistic figures showed no more than five 
percent of Serbs as having returned, but  the real figure was 
closer to two percent.  Raskovic-Ivic continued that property 
claims were also not taken seriously in Kosovo and the Kosovo 
Property Agency (KPA) had not even been given proper funds to 
process claims.  Trafficking in humans, drugs and arms also 
plagued Kosovo and, to rectify this, Serbia was open to any 
form of specialized police, she stated.  Lastly, asserted 
Raskovic-Ivic, "a premature solution should not be forced at 
any cost as it would set a precedent that opens Pandora's 
box."  Raskovic-Ivic concluded with a warning that the 
international community "should make the Albanians accept a 
reasonable compromise solution so they could have the Serbs 
as partners for the future, because, without the Serbs, 
Albanians will not go far." 
 
Russia: Only A Negotiated Solution Supportable In Security 
Council 
 
¶5.  (SBU) In Russia's statement, Permrep Vitaly Churkin said 
"the leaders of the province should focus on steps to protect 
minorities and, despite some positive steps that are not 
significant, the number of ethnically-motivated crimes has 
shot up."  Furthermore, returns of refugees and progress on 
community rights was also not yet satisfactory.  Churkin also 
claimed the non-participation of Kosovo Serbs was because 
Kosovo was far from a democratic society and trust was low. 
He said it is "wrong to blame Belgrade for Kosovo-Serb 
non-participation in the PISG" and called on Kosovo Serb 
leaders to "lead the way."  Belgrade's offer of greater 
autonomy is open-ended and can be adjusted over time," said 
Churkin " what is needed are real negotiations and it is 
important for stability in the Balkans that the sides find 
points of convergence.  "Only a negotiated and not a 
one-sided or imposed solution could be supported by the 
Security Council and an optimistic solution would take a good 
deal of time," said Churkin, "but it is a priority for Russia 
and Russia opposes any arbitrary timeframe." 
 
Statements By Other Council Members 
 
¶6.  (SBU) French Permrep de La Sabliere echoed Rucker's 
praise of standards implementation as well as his call for 
further progress.  France hoped that the status negotiations 
would result in a negotiated settlement, but the best way to 
achieve that would be sticking to the established deadline of 
¶2006.  Belgrade and Pristina should both participate actively 
in the status process.  UK Deputy Permanent Representative 
Karen Pierce called for standards implementation to continue 
and declared that responsibility would fall on the PISG as 
the international community could not do it.  Kosovo's 
assembly should also finalize laws on languages and cultural 
assembly.  While violence against Serbs in Kosovo was a 
problem it could not alter the direction in which the status 
process was heading.  "Independence is an option for Kosovo 
-- and some would say the only option to bring stability to 
the region - but we still must work to protect minorities," 
said Pierce. 
 
¶7.  (SBU) Slovak Permrep Peter Burian welcomed Ceku's 
attitude and commitment regarding standards implementation, 
but asserted there should be "no semblance of double 
standards."  Violence in Kosovo ought to be condemned, said 
Burian, and Kosovo's institutions should address security. 
Slovakia also agreed that the number of minority returnees 
was still not satisfactory.  The international community 
 
USUN NEW Y 00001823  003 OF 003 
 
 
should maintain a presence in the north even after a status 
determination, he stated.  Slovakia continued to believe that 
a balanced settlement and compromise would increase 
stability in the region.  Delivering the U.S. statement, 
Ambassador Sanders promised that we would support Rucker in 
helping UNMIK help build meaningful self-government in Kosovo 
and cooperate with UNMIK and the PISG on standards 
implementation.  On standards, the U.S. applauded Prime 
Minister Ceku for his government's completion of several of 
the Contact Group's priorities, but ongoing efforts to 
complete the remaining items needed to be intensified, 
particularly regarding laws on languages and cultural 
heritage and implementing a comprehensive rental program for 
housing currently administered by the Kosovo Property Agency. 
The U.S., furthermore, strongly condemned the August 26 
incident in North Mitrovica.  Belgrade should take immediate 
steps to support Kosovo Serb participation in local 
institutions and address other concerns.  As noted by the 
Contact Group in January, all possible efforts should be made 
to achieve a negotiated settlement in 2006, stated Ambassador 
Sanders. 
 
Statements By Non-Council Members 
 
¶8.  (SBU) Under rule 37, which allows other countries to 
deliver addresses, Finland, Ukraine and Albania also made 
statements.  Speaking on behalf of the EU, Finnish Ambassador 
Kirsti Lintonen called for both sides to participate 
constructively in the status process.  The EU welcomed the 
recent adoption of the European Partnership Action Plan. 
Lintonen noted that a smooth transition from UNMIK would 
require funding and while the EU was the largest donor, 
funding from others would be needed; an international donor's 
conference was foreseen after the status settlement and there 
was need of a long-term commitment from the international 
donor community.  The status quo was unsustainable and had to 
be replaced with a solution that would provide lasting peace 
and promote Kosovo's European integration.  Ukraine stated 
that we needed a solution that would promote long-term 
regional stability and expressed concerns about changing the 
international borders of a democratic state and pointed to 
independence referenda that had recently been announced in 
Transnistria and South Ossetia.  In Albania's statement, 
Permanent Representative Adrian Neritani pledged Albania 
would continue to play an active, helpful and moderating role 
in close cooperation with the international community. 
 
Meeting With Ceku 
 
¶9. (SBU) In a meeting later in the day, Ambassador Sanders 
met with Ceku (the meeting was originally supposed to be with 
Rucker accompanied by Ceku).  Ceku argued forcefully that the 
key problem with standards implementation in Kosovo had 
become Belgrade's determined opposition to block it.  Ceku 
pointed to his recent attempts to hold meetings with Kosovo 
Serbs and other initiatives where Belgrade actively lobbied 
Kosovo Serbs and undercut his initiatives.  Sanders asked 
Ceku how he saw the process playing out in the next three 
months, to which the Prime Minister replied that he was 
worried that if we could not stick to the US and Contact 
Group commitment of finishing the process by the end of the 
year then it might not be possible to wait any longer as he 
had leveraged considerable progress by assuring Kosovo's 
people that a status outcome was in the pipeline.  In 
response to a question on decentralization from the Deputy 
Political Counselor, Ceku said that it was becoming difficult 
to give more, and not because of hesitation to be forthcoming 
with the Serbs, rather out of "fundamental worries about 
functionality."  Ceku said the timeline he envisaged would 
have a status decision by the end of the year, three months 
for UNMIK to "pack its bags" while Kosovo worked on a 
constitution and then elections capping all of this in the 
summer or fall of 2007. 
 
BOLTON