VZCZCXRO3820
PP RUEHAG RUEHAST RUEHDA RUEHDBU RUEHDF RUEHFL RUEHIK RUEHKW RUEHLA
RUEHLN RUEHLZ RUEHPOD RUEHROV RUEHSR RUEHVK RUEHYG
DE RUEHBW #0644/01 1340641
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 140641Z MAY 07
FM AMEMBASSY BELGRADE
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 0802
INFO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC 1344
RUFOADA/JAC MOLESWORTH RAF MOLESWORTH UK
RHMFISS/CDR USEUCOM VAIHINGEN GE
RXFEAA/HQ AFSOUTH NAPLES IT

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 BELGRADE 000644 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
SENSITIVE 
 
E.O.12958: N/A 
TAGS: PGOV PREL PHUM PBTS KPAO SR MW YI
SUBJECT: KOSOVO: SERBIA WEEKLY UPDATE (5/7 - 5/11) 
 
REF: BELGRADE 623 
 
¶1. (U) This cable summarizes the week's notable events relating to 
Serbia and Kosovo. 
 
¶2. (SBU) Summary: For the week of May 7, Kosovo news was muted by 
the dominant story of last-minute government formation. 
Nevertheless, Belgrade media still reported on speculation about the 
draft UNSC resolution and indirect comments from Serbian politicians 
referencing Kosovo status as a factor in government formation. 
Serbia's diplomatic lobbying against a UNSC resolution continues 
apace, conspicuously affecting other multilateral deliberations. 
End Summary. 
 
 
UNSC: THE VIEW FROM BELGRADE 
---------------------------- 
 
¶3. (U) On 5/8, PM Kostunica expressed strong support for Russia's 
proposed UNSC resolution on Kosovo.  Kostunica repeated that a new 
resolution must uphold Serbia's territorial sovereignty and 
integrity.  The Foreign Ministry released an announcement calling 
for any resolution to respect the territorial integrity of Serbia, 
reaffirm UNSCR 1244 and continue talks between Belgrade and Pristina 
with "balanced international mediation." 
 
¶4. (SBU) As reported in reftel, Serbia cited its diplomatic lobbying 
of UNSC members as a factor in other multilateral decisions. 
 
¶5. (SBU) On 5/11, Belgrade media widely covered the report by 
Belgian PermRep Verbeke of the UNSC's trip to Belgrade and Pristina 
last month.  The text of the report has not provoked much reaction 
here yet, with most attention focused on the larger question of 
Russia's intentions.  Nevertheless, Serbian officials can be 
expected to use out of context passages about low numbers of IDP 
returns and unattained standards as part of their diplomatic 
lobbying efforts. 
 
¶6. (U) Meanwhile, USG statements on Kosovo matters from both the 
Ambassador and Washington received consistent and thorough coverage 
in Serbia.  In a 5/10 interview with Blic, the Ambassador stressed 
that the Kosovo question is completely separate from political 
processes in Serbia.  "The Serbian government has had its 
opportunity for over a year to present its case and negotiate. Now 
that process is over, and the action has moved to New York where a 
resolution has been worked on that will lead to the supervised 
independence of Kosovo."  The Ambassador said that the U.S. would 
continue working with Russia on Kosovo, but will not accept new 
negotiations.  "We aim to bring a settlement of Kosovo status to a 
conclusion now, meaning this month, at the latest next month. 
Either we do it through a controlled process, through the Security 
Council, or things will happen in an uncontrolled way through which 
it will be much more difficult to provide safety and security for 
all the people involved in this process."  The Ambassador warned 
that the status quo will not hold. 
 
¶7. (U) Belgrade media also gave wide coverage to U/S Burns' comments 
this week in favor of a new UNSC resolution paving the way for 
Kosovo's independence.  The press highlighted Burns' statements that 
the U.S. will continue to work with the other members of the UNSC, 
the majority of whom support the Ahtisaari plan, on a resolution 
which would lead to a vote this month. 
 
 
KOSOVO A MINOR ISSUE IN GOVERNMENT FORMATION 
-------------------------------------------- 
 
¶8. (SBU) Kosovo status was only referred to only obliquely during 
the government formation discussions. The only public comments came 
from newly elected Radical Speaker of Parliament Nikolic, who 
referenced on 5/11 Serbia's need for a "legitimate" government in 
advance of possible foreign recognition of Kosovo independence. 
Nikolic also raised Kosovo when discussion the possibility of Serbia 
declaring a state of emergency, saying that a Kosovo resolution 
could lead to such a decision.  Nikolic downplayed all of his 
comments about declaring a state of emergency a day after, saying he 
was only noting the technical possibility existed. Privately, the 
Prime Minister alluded to the U.S. and other countries' pressure to 
resolve Kosovo as partly to blame in the strong performance of the 
Radicals in the elections (which he tied to his party's decision to 
elect Nikolic as Speaker).  Also privately, former Minister for 
Human Rights (and DS ally) Rasim Ljajic told emboff that he saw the 
political divide which emerged from the vote for Nikolic based on 
Kosovo policy. 
 
DIPLOMATIC ACTIVITY 
------------------- 
 
 
BELGRADE 00000644  002 OF 002 
 
 
¶9. (U) Russia:  Speculation on how Russia will vote at the UNSC 
continued to be a major story in Serbia this week.  RTS and other 
Serbian media reported that Russia continues to push for an 
agreement acceptable to both Belgrade and Pristina. 
 
¶10. (U) EU/Germany: Belgrade wires reported that PM Kostunica 
expressed concern to Germany Chancellor Merkel in a phone call 
regarding the EU's support for Kosovo independence. 
 
¶11. (U) EU: Belgrade press also covered EU foreign policy chief 
Solana's reiteration of the EU's support for a new UNSC resolution 
on Kosovo.  Stefan Lehne, the EU's envoy to UNOSEK, also made news 
here on 5/8 voicing support for a new UNSC resolution as soon as 
possible. 
 
¶12. (U) NATO: Serbian Army Chief of Staff Ponos's visit to NATO 
received attention in Belgrade media, particularly his statements 
that both the Serbian army and NATO share interest in keeping Kosovo 
stable and view violence in Kosovo unacceptable.  Media also noted 
that NATO SYG Scheffer reiterated that the Alliance understood the 
sensitive nature of the issue to Serbia, and also supports 
Ahtisaari's plan as a resolution for Kosovo. 
 
¶13. (U) Slovakia:  Serbian media also gave coverage to Slovakian PM 
Fico's comments in Russia that Ahtisaari's report is unacceptable 
and that the other countries also understood the possibility of 
altering that plan 
 
POLT