VZCZCXRO1333
PP RUEHAG RUEHAST RUEHDA RUEHDBU RUEHDF RUEHFL RUEHIK RUEHKW RUEHLA
RUEHLN RUEHLZ RUEHROV RUEHSR RUEHVK RUEHYG
DE RUEHBW #0275/01 0600941
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 010941Z MAR 07
FM AMEMBASSY BELGRADE
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 0365
INFO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC 1306
RUFOADA/JAC MOLESWORTH RAF MOLESWORTH UK
RHMFISS/CDR USEUCOM VAIHINGEN GE
RXFEAA/HQ AFSOUTH NAPLES IT

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 BELGRADE 000275 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
SENSITIVE 
 
E.O.12958: N/A 
TAGS: PGOV PREL PBTS SR YI
SUBJECT: KOSOVO SERB PROTEST AT EMBASSY BELGRADE 
 
REFS: A) Belgrade-Watch email of February 27; 
B) Pristina Bullets of February 27 
 
¶1. (SBU) SUMMARY: The Kosovo-based Serbian National Council (SNV) 
staged a peaceful demonstration of approximately 10,000 - 20,000 
people in front of the U.S. Embassy on February 27 to protest 
against the Ahtisaari proposal for Kosovo status and alleged USG 
support for "dividing up" Serbia.  The size, expense, and 
orchestration of the event -- combined with the public support for 
it from the Prime Minister's DSS and the Socialists and Radicals -- 
suggest strongly that the Serbian Government helped finance and 
organize the event. The Charge' met with an SNV delegation prior to 
the event.  END SUMMARY. 
 
--------- 
THE RALLY 
--------- 
 
¶2. (SBU) About 10,000 - 20,000 people gathered for the two-hour 
afternoon protest.  According to the SNV, 120 busloads of protestors 
came from Kosovo. The Serbian Radical Party (SRS) reportedly also 
provided buses to bring in people from outside of Belgrade to the 
protest.  A variety of speakers and music were featured on an 
elevated stage, with rhetoric and banners mostly focused on Kosovo. 
Many protestors waved banners reading "we will never give up 
Kosovo," "Kosovo is the heart of Serbia," and pictures of Russian 
President Putin and Chinese President Hu Jintao with the word 
"Veto."  Some rhetoric was directed against U.S. policy, with signs 
reading "Yankee Go Home" and "USA World Terrorist." 
 
¶3. (SBU) The Serbian authorities provided heavy security coverage in 
front of and around the Embassy.  Kneza Milosa Street, a main artery 
for traffic in Belgrade in front of the Embassy, was blocked off by 
the police. MSG detachment was on site in observation posts.  No 
untoward incidents occurred.  The interior minister called the 
Charge after the event to inquire as to how his units had 
performed. 
 
------------------ 
MEETING AT EMBASSY 
------------------ 
 
¶4. (SBU) The meeting between the Charge' and SNV leaders was calm. 
Ivanovic stressed that the protest would be peaceful, like the 
others SNV had organized within Kosovo.  Ivanovic passed to the 
Charge' a copy of a letter protesting the Ahtisaari plan and Kosovo 
independence (the same text was published widely in newspapers in 
the weeks leading up to the protest). 
 
¶5. (SBU) Ivanovic stressed that the Ahtisaari proposal is 
"unacceptable" and "leaves no opportunity for Serbs to stay in 
Kosovo."  He expressed support for the resolution recently passed by 
the Serbian parliament. (Note:  Parliament convened on 2/14 solely 
to repudiate the Ahtisaari plan and reaffirm opposition to Kosovo 
independence. End note.)  He added that the international community 
had failed to implement UNSCR 1244 and that it is beholden to 
Albanian interests. 
 
¶6. (SBU) The Charge' received the letter and thanked the delegation 
for coming, and said the USG fully supports the rights of the 
delegation to peacefully demonstrate.  He urged them to work 
constructively within the framework supported by the USG and Contact 
Group.  He added that "key USG objectives" are the right of all 
citizens of Kosovo to live in safety, the right of return of all 
Serbs who left Kosovo, as well as Serbia's full integration into 
Euro-Atlantic institutions.  He expressed support for the Ahtisaari 
plan, calling it "fair and balanced." 
 
¶7. (SBU)  In his call to the CDA, Interior Minister Jocic went out 
of his way to thank us  for receiving the SNV delegation, saying 
that it sent a very positive message that the US is not an 
unfriendly country and that we have genuine concerns for the welfare 
of the Kosovo Serbs. 
 
------- 
COMMENT 
------- 
 
¶8.  (SBU) Despite Ivanovic's assertions to the contrary, most 
observers believe that this rally enjoyed not only the 
publicly-announced strong political support of the Prime Minister's 
DSS, but also logistical and funding support from the Serbian 
Government.  Moderate Kosovo Serb leader Oliver Ivanovic told USOP 
on February 27 that the Serbian government ordered Kosovo Serbs to 
participate in the protest and provided transportation to allow them 
to do so.  Ivanovic said that the Serbian government also closed 
Kosovo Serb parallel schools and other institutions to encourage 
participation (ref b). The expense of providing dozens of buses, 
 
BELGRADE 00000275  002 OF 002 
 
 
setting up a stage and high-quality loudspeaker system, and 
extensive advertising in Serbian print and electronic media suggest 
that this was not an inexpensive affair. One press report indicated 
that Kostunica Chief of Staff Nikitovic was spotted at the rally, 
and rumors abound that he had a direct role in orchestrating the 
event.  Most conclusively, DSS VP Milos Aligrudic told us flat out 
that the government had provided support - including funding - for 
the rally, indicating it was a wholly appropriate measure.  As it 
was, aside from snarling traffic along Kneza Milosa and attracting 
some international media attention, the event was a relatively minor 
blip for Belgraders. 
 
¶9. (U) SNV Delegation: 
 
Milan Ivanovic - Leader, Serb National Council 
Zdravko Vitosevic - Dean of Kosovo University 
Nebojsa Jovic - President of Serb National Council, Kosovska 
Mitrovica 
Momir Kasalovic- Head of Kosovska Mitrovica District 
 
MOORE