VZCZCXRO1320
RR RUEHAG RUEHAST RUEHDA RUEHDBU RUEHDF RUEHFL RUEHIK RUEHKW RUEHLA
RUEHLN RUEHLZ RUEHROV RUEHSR RUEHVK RUEHYG
DE RUEHPOD #0065 0681622
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 091622Z MAR 07
FM AMEMBASSY PODGORICA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 0110
INFO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE
RUEHPOD/AMEMBASSY PODGORICA 0116

UNCLAS PODGORICA 000065 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PHUM PGOV SNAR OPRC MW
SUBJECT: STATE DEPARTMENT REPORTS PROMPT DISCUSSION 
 
¶1. (U) Summary: The March 2 publication of the Department's 
International Narcotics Strategy Control Report (INSCR), and the 
March 5 publication of the Department's Human Rights Report not 
only attracted widesprad media attention in Montenegro, but also 
prompted calls for discussion and action. The advancement of 
good governance is a key USG goal in Montenegro.  End summary. 
 
 
 
INCSR 
 
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¶2. (U)  The International Narcotics Strategy Control Report 
(INSCR) for the first time in Montenegro attracted extensive 
meda coverage. (Note: In previous years, only Part II of the 
INCSR (money-laundering) was submitted in respect of Montenegro. 
End note.)  The major daily put the Report on its front page, 
headlined: "Suspicious money laundered through real estate." 
The head of Montenegro's Administration for the Prevention of 
Money Laundering announced "strengthened control of the real 
estate market following the State Department's report."  The 
leader of the oppostion Socialist People's Party (SNP), Srdjan 
Milic, told poloff March 5 that his party would call for the 
government to provide answers to questions raised by the INCSR, 
including the disposition of 400 offshore firms closed in 2002, 
and an explanation of how the government decides to block 
financial transactions and freeze assets. Milic added he felt 
both numbers were too low (15 of 152 suspicious transactions 
were temporarily blocked.)  Opposition daily "Dan" reported 
increased Government action to combat tobacco smuggling. 
 
 
 
Human Rights Practices Country Report 
 
------------------------------------- 
 
 
 
¶3. (U) Following the INCSR was the Human Rights Report, run as 
the main story in all major electronic media and daily 
newspapers. A prominent NGO activist, and head of the police 
civilian control board, assessed the report as a "very 
objective" report which reminds both Montenegrin and regional 
public on their serious shortages..." Opposition daily "Dan" 
noted that the report highlighted the unresolved murder of Dan's 
editor Dusko Jovanovic. Jovan Vucurovic, spokesman for the 
opposition Serbian People's Party - SNS, said the report proves 
that the U.S. has been closely following the murder 
investigation and that it would be good if such reports result 
in pressure on the government. Neboksa Vujinic, an International 
Law professor at the University of Montenegro, said " ... the 
report is mainly accurate," while criticizing the USG's record 
on human rights. 
 
BARNES