VZCZCXRO1618
RR RUEHAG RUEHAST RUEHDA RUEHDBU RUEHDF RUEHFL RUEHIK RUEHKW RUEHLA
RUEHLN RUEHLZ RUEHPOD RUEHROV RUEHSR RUEHVK RUEHYG
DE RUEHBW #0709 1411639
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 211639Z MAY 07
FM AMEMBASSY BELGRADE
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 0869
INFO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE

UNCLAS BELGRADE 000709 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
SENSITIVE 
 
E.O.12958: N/A 
TAGS: PGOV PREL PHUM SR
SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR, HUMAN RIGHTS GROUPS SHARE COMMON 
AGENDA FOR NEW GOVERNMENT 
 
 
¶1. (U) Summary: On the eve of the new government's 
formation, the Ambassador sat down with human rights 
groups to hear their concerns, discuss mutual 
interests, and express support for their role in civic 
society.  The lively exchange, which took place at the 
Embassy, reinforced the need to work cooperatively to 
keep Serbia's political leadership on the path of 
democratic reform and Euro-Atlantic integration. End 
Summary. 
 
¶2. (SBU) In a calculated show of public support for 
Serbia's civil society sector, the Ambassador met with 
key NGO leaders at the Embassy May 15.  Virtually all 
of the most influential NGO leaders in Serbia 
attended, including Natasa Kandic (Humanitarian Law 
Center), Sonja Biserko (Helsinki Committee), Biljana 
Kovacevic-Vuco (Lawyers Committee for Human Rights 
(YUCOM)), Dragan Popovic (Youth Initiative for Human 
Rights), Miljenko Dereta (Civic Initiatives), Stasa 
Zajovic (Women in Black), Borka Pavicevic (Center for 
Cultural Decontamination), and Vesna Petrovic 
(Belgrade Center for Human Rights).  Local press was 
also present. 
 
¶3.  (SBU)  In his meeting, the Ambassador pledged the 
full and continued support of the USG for the 
courageous work of the human rights groups, and 
informed the assembled leaders that he would highlight 
the need to continue to support the work of NGO's in 
his first round of meetings with the new government. 
The Ambassador summarized some of the key issues on 
which the Embassy would engage with the new government 
(economic development, democratic principles, security 
programs, ICTY cooperation, and constructive policy on 
Kosovo and other neighbors), and urged the human 
rights groups assembled to work cooperatively with the 
new government to further their human rights agenda. 
 
¶4. (SBU) Sonja Biserko of the Helsinki Committee began 
the discussion noting that the new government was "a 
reality for Serbia." Many concurred that last week's 
DSS-SRS deal to vote in Tomislav Nikolic as speaker of 
the Parliament had two important effects -- it left no 
doubt about Kostunica's anti-democratic leanings, and 
it ignited fear among Serbians (even within 
Kostunica's DSS) of a resurgence of Radical power. 
Miljenko Dereta of Civic Initiatives pointed out that 
both these developments help further the public debate 
on Serbia's future, clearly framing the choice between 
democratic reform and the alternative of isolation and 
economic stagnation. 
 
¶5. (SBU) Biljana Kovacevic-Vuco of the Lawyers 
Committee for Human Rights expressed skepticism that 
they could work with a government that is constantly 
attacking them and calling them traitors. Others said 
they would find allies within government or work with 
institutions, not individuals. 
 
¶6. (SBU) Dragan Popovic of the Youth Initiative for 
Human Rights commented that the first task of the new 
government should be to stop all forms of political 
violence; he noted that since October 2006 there have 
been 118 incidents against NGOs, media 
representatives, and minority party members. Others 
said they anticipated a potential backlash against 
them after the Kosovo decision. Ambassador Polt 
emphasized that the U.S. Embassy would "be here to 
help the first moment anything happens." 
 
¶7. (SBU) Comment:  Many NGO leaders have complained 
recently of an up tick in hostility directed toward 
them.  This has been especially true of NGO's who 
espouse a differing (read: more realistic) view on 
Kosovo from the government's official line.  Some of 
them have expressed concern that their offices - or 
their persons - could become targets of further 
threats, intimidation and/or violence once a Kosovo 
status decision plays out.  The rhetoric of the 
parliamentary debate that surrounded the Nikolic 
election, with its hearkening back to the Milosevic- 
era labeling of "traitors" and "patriots" further 
crystallized these concerns.  We will continue to 
insist at the highest levels that the new government 
ensure the safety of these organizations and their 
employees as part of its responsible management of a 
Kosovo outcome. 
 
POLT