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R 261400Z JUN 07
FM AMEMBASSY PODGORICA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC
INFO EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE
RUFOADA/JAC MOLESWORTH RAF MOLESWORTH UK
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC
RUEHNO/USMISSION USNATO
RUEHPOD/AMEMBASSY PODGORICA
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UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 PODGORICA 000222 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PREL MARR PGOV MW
SUBJECT: FOREIGN MINISTER REVIEWS RANGE OF ISSUES WITH CHARGE 
 
REF: A. A) PODGORICA 205 
     ¶B. B) PODGORICA 206 
     ¶C. C) DOD/DTRA-PODGORICA (BROWNING-CARLSON) E-MAIL 6/1/07 
     ¶D. D) PODGORICA 221 
 
PODGORICA 00000222  001.3 OF 003 
 
 
SENSITIVE BUT UNCLASSIFIED - PLEASE HANDLE ACCORDINGLY 
 
 
 
¶1. (SBU) SUMMARY: A MEETING WITH THE FOREIGN MINISTER ON MONDAY 
JUNE 25 COVERED A VARIETY OF TOPICS INCLUDING THE CANCELLATION 
OF THE TENDER FOR THE THERMAL POWER PLANT, THE CONSTITUTION 
PROCESS, THE TRIAL OF AMERICAN CITIZENS CHARGED WITH SUPPORTING 
TERRORIST ACTIVITY, DEFENSE RELATIONS, VISA SERVICES IN 
MONTENEGRO (REF D) AND INTEREST IN DEVELOPING SUPPORT FOR NATO 
(SEPTEL). THE CHARGE PRESENTED A COPY OF ASSISTANT SECRETARY 
FRIED'S TESTIMONY ON U.S. POLICY TOWARD RUSSIA AND PROVIDED AN 
UPDATE ON THE CONFIRMATION PROCESS OF THE AMBASSADORIAL NOMINEE. 
END SUMMARY. 
 
 
 
--------------------------------------------- ----------- 
 
RULING COALITION RELATIONSHIP SOURED BY CANCELLED TENDER 
 
--------------------------------------------- ----------- 
 
 
 
TENDER SACRIFICED TO CONSTITUTION 
 
--------------------------------- 
 
 
 
¶2. (SBU) THE MINISTER OBSERVED THAT HE WASN'T CLEAR WHETHER THE 
D IN THE SDP PARTY NAME "STOOD FOR DEMOCRATIC OR DEMAGOGIC." HE 
SAID THE SOCIAL DEMOCRATIC PARTY WAS HAVING ITS OWN INTERNAL 
STRUGGLES (NOTE: THE SDP CONGRESS IS ON JULY 28) AND SEEMED 
NOSTALGIC FOR THE SOCIALIST PAST. HE EMPHASIZED THAT WHILE THE 
GOVERNMENT WAS UNDER NO OBLIGATION TO ACCEPT THE PARLIAMENTARY 
RESOLUTION CALLING FOR THE CANCELLATION OF THE THERMO POWER 
PLANT TENDER (REF A) IT HAD DONE SO IN THE INTEREST OF MOVING 
FORWARD ON A NEW CONSTITUTION. HOWEVER HE SAID THAT HE HAD MADE 
CLEAR TO IN A GOVERNMENT MEETING EARLIER IN THE DAY THAT THE 
GOVERNMENT SHOULD BE PREPARED FACE A REFERENDUM AND NEW ELECTION 
RATHER THAN AGREEING TO UNACCEPTABLE COMPROMISES IN ORDER TO 
ACHIEVE PARLIAMENTARY CONSENSUS ON THE CONSTITUTION. WHILE 
TIMING WAS IMPORTANT AND THERE WERE DEADLINES IMPOSED BY THE 
COUNCIL OF EUROPE, THE GOAL WAS TO HAVE A CONSTITUTION WHICH 
MEETS MODERN EUROPEAN STANDARDS AND TAKES INTO ACCOUNT THE 
RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE VENICE COMMISSION (REF B). 
 
 
 
DPS REMAINS COMMITTED TO PRIVATIZATION 
 
-------------------------------------- 
 
¶3. (SBU) TURNING AGAIN TO THE FAILED PRIVATIZATION, THE MINISTER 
SAID ALTHOUGH THE GOVERNMENT, READ DOMINANT DEMOCRATIC PARTY OF 
SOCIALISTS (DPS), HAD DEMONSTRATED FORBEARANCE IN DEALING WITH 
THE ACTIONS OF ITS JUNIOR COALITION PARTNER,  IT WOULD NOT BE 
DETERRED FROM ITS COMMITMENT TO CONTINUING PRIVATIZATION. CHARGE 
SUGGESTED THAT THE MOST EFFECTIVE WAY OF DEMONSTRATING THIS 
COMMITMENT WOULD BE THE SUCCESSFUL COMPLETION OF A PRIVATIZATION 
PROJECT IN THE NEAR FUTURE. 
 
 
 
---------------- 
 
"EAGLE'S FLIGHT" 
 
---------------- 
 
 
 
DELAY IN INITIAL CONSULAR ACCESS FAULTED 
 
---------------------------------------- 
 
 
 
¶4. (SBU) CHARGE RAISED THE CASE OF AMERICAN CITIZENS CURRENTLY 
ON TRIAL CHARGED WITH SUPPORTING TERRORIST ACTIONS. SHE SAID IN 
HER OPINION THE FOUR-DAY DELAY BETWEEN THE ARREST -- OPERATION 
"EAGLE'S FLIGHT -- AND THE INITIAL CONSULAR ACCESS HAD CREATED A 
HOST OF PROBLEMS FOR THE MONTENEGRIN GOVERNMENT AND EXPRESSED 
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PODGORICA 00000222  002.3 OF 003 
 
 
THE HOPE THAT IN ANY FUTURE CASES THE GOVERNMENT OF MONTENEGRO 
WOULD ENSURE PROMPT CONSULAR ACCESS TO DETAINED AMERICAN 
CITIZENS.  THE MINISTER REPLIED THAT THE DELAY HAD INDEED BEEN 
UNACCEPTABLE AND IN FUTURE THE EMBASSY SHOULD FEEL FREE TO SEEK 
THE ASSISTANCE OF THE MINISTRY IN REQUESTING PROMPT ACCESS. 
 
 
 
¶5. (SBU) ROCEN SAID THAT HE HAD PLANNED TO RAISE THE CASE TO 
MAKE OFFICIALLY KNOWN THE GOVERNMENT'S STRONG EXCEPTION TO THE 
CALLS OF A MEMBER OF THE UNITED STATES CONGRESS FOR 
EXTRAORDINARY ACTION TO BE TAKEN BY THE PRESIDENT OF MONTENEGRO. 
THE MEMBER HAD INITIALLY CONTACTED THE MONTENEGRIN AMBASSADOR IN 
WASHINGTON TO TELL HIM THAT PRESIDENT VUJANOVIC SHOULD PARDON 
THE AMERICANS, WITH NO REGARD FOR THE FACT THAT THERE IS AN 
ON-GOING JUDICIAL PROCESS. SUBSEQUENTLY THE MEMBER HAD PHONED 
THE PRIME MINISTER DIRECTLY LAST WEEK ON THE SAME SUBJECT. HE 
HAD SPOKEN TO THE PRIME MINISTER IN WHAT THE FOREIGN MINISTER 
DESCRIBED AS LANGUAGE WHICH WAS THREATENING AND INAPPROPRIATE 
FOR USE WITH A FOREIGN HEAD OF GOVERNMENT. THE PRIME MINISTER, A 
FORMER MINISTER OF JUSTICE, HAD EXPLAINED THE MONTENEGRIN LEGAL 
PROCESS AND NOTED THE GOVERNMENT WAS COMMITTED TO PROVIDING A 
FAIR, OBJECTIVE TRIAL. A SENIOR JUDGE HAD BEEN ASSIGNED TO THE 
CASE WITH THIS GOAL IN MIND. THE FOREIGN MINISTER ASKED 
RHETORICALLY HOW THE U.S., A GREAT PROPONENT OF THE RULE OF LAW 
AND JUDICIAL INDEPENDENCE AS WELL AS LEADER OF THE WAR ON 
TERRORISM, COULD COUNTENANCE SUCH ACTIONS. THE CHARGE SAID SHE 
WAS ONLY LEARNING OF THE CALLS TODAY AND THAT MEMBERS OF 
CONGRESS WERE INDEPENDENT ACTORS. 
 
 
 
CONCERNS ABOUT ALBANIAN DIASPORA 
 
-------------------------------- 
 
 
 
¶6. (SBU) ROCEN CONTINUED THAT MONEY FROM THE DIASPORA IN THE 
U.S. HAD FINANCED MUCH ACTIVITY IN KOSOVO AND HAD FINANCED 
ACTIVITIES THAT POSED A DANGER TO MONTENEGRO. CHARGE SAID SHE 
WAS NOT INFORMED OF SPECIFIC FUNDING ACTIVITIES, BUT THAT U.S. 
ENTITIES HAD LEGAL OBLIGATIONS TO ENSURE THAT THEIR FUNDRAISING 
ACTIVITIES DIDN'T SUPPORT TERRORISM ABROAD, A MATTER ABOUT WHICH 
SHE HAD REMINDED A VISITING DELEGATION OF ALBANIAN AMERICANS NOT 
LONG AGO. THE FOREIGN MINISTER SAID THE TRIAL WAS A SENSITIVE 
MATTER FOR THE GOM GIVEN ITS ETHNIC ALBANIAN MINORITY AND ITS 
DESIRE FOR GOOD RELATIONS WITH NEIGHBORING ALBANIA. 
 
 
 
---------------------------- 
 
DEFENSE REFORM AND RELATIONS 
 
---------------------------- 
 
 
 
OPPOSITION SERB NATIONALIST WANTS TO KEEP TANKS 
 
--------------------------------------------- -- 
 
 
 
¶7. (SBU) THE FOREIGN MINISTER WAS HIGHLY CRITICAL OF RECENT 
REMARKS OF SERBIAN LIST LEADER ANDRIJA MANDIC CALLING FOR THE 
RETENTION OF BATTLE TANKS (NOTE: MONTENEGRO, WITH UNDP/OSCE 
ASSISTANCE, WILL DESTROY 61 OF ITS 62 T-54/T-55S) FOR THE 
MONTENEGRIN MILITARY, DESCRIBING THEM AS ABSURD. HE WENT ON TO 
SAY THE U.S. SHOULD BE COGNIZANT OF WHO IT WAS DEALING WITH SO 
CLOSELY. (NOTE: MANDIC IS A FORMER IV RECIPIENT.) THE MINISTER 
SAID RATHER SOMBERLY THAT MANDIC BRAGGED THAT DURING THE 1999 
KOSOVO CAMPAIGN HE HAD BEEN PREPARED TO SHOOT DOWN NATO AIRCRAFT. 
 
 
 
WMD AGREEMENT 
 
------------- 
 
 
 
¶8. (SBU) QUERIED ABOUT A REPORT THAT MONTENEGRO WAS SEEKING A 
VISIT BY A SENIOR U.S. OFFICIAL TO SIGN THE WEAPONS OF MASS 
DESTRUCTION ANTI-PROLIFERATION AGREEMENT, THE MINISTER SAID THAT 
WAS CORRECT AND SUCH A VISIT WOULD BE IMPORTANT EVEN BEYOND THE 
SIGNING OF AN AGREEMENT (WHICH ALLOWS FOR THE PROVISION OF 
TRAINING AND EQUIPMENT). HE SEEMED TO LINK SUCH A VISIT TO 
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PODGORICA 00000222  003.3 OF 003 
 
 
PUTTING THE DEFENSE PRETENSIONS OF OPPOSITION POLITICIANS IN 
THEIR PLACE. (NOTE -- POLOFF WAS SEPARATELY INFORMED BY MFA A/FM 
RADULOVIC THAT SO FAR ONLY TWO OF SIX CONCERNED MINISTRIES HAVE 
SIGNED OFF ON THE AGREEMENT, AND THE GOM REPLY TO THE DRAFT 
PROVIDED BY THE USG (REF C) WILL NOT BE READY UNTIL THE 
BEGINNING OF JULY.  END NOTE.) 
 
 
 
--------------------------------------------- ------------- 
 
STATE DEPARTMENT TESTIMONY TO SENATE ON RUSSIA, MONTENEGRO 
 
--------------------------------------------- ------------- 
 
 
 
¶9. (U) CHARGE PROVIDED THE FM A COPY OF ASSISTANT SECRETARY 
FRIED'S JUNE 21 TESTIMONY ON RUSSIA BEFORE THE SFRC, NOTING IT 
PROVIDED A VERY LUCID OVERVIEW OF U.S. RELATIONS WITH RUSSIA AND 
WOULD SURELY BE OF INTEREST. CHARGE ALSO REVIEWED THE NEXT STEPS 
IN THE CONFIRMATION PROCESS FOR THE NEW AMBASSADOR AND NOTED 
THAT THE SFRC HAD SCHEDULED A BUSINESS COMMITTEE MEETING FOR 
JUNE 27. SHE PROVIDED A COPY OF THE NOMINEE'S STATEMENT TO THE 
COMMITTEE. 
 
 
 
------- 
 
COMMENT 
 
------- 
 
 
 
¶10. (SBU) ROCEN WAS TIRED AND RATHER SUBDUED. HE WAS MORE OPENLY 
CRITICAL OF THE GOVERNMENT'S COALITION PARTNER AND OF 
INDIVIDUALS THAN HE HAS BEEN IN THE PAST. RECENTLY, HE BECAME 
NEEDLESSLY EMBROILED IN A PUBLIC SPAT WITH EU AMBASSADORS OVER 
AN MFA NOTE WHICH SOUGHT TO HAVE FOREIGN MISSIONS SEEK ALL 
APPOINTMENTS WITH HIGH-LEVEL OFFICIALS VIA THE MFA. HE CALLED IN 
THE GERMAN AMBASSADOR AND ACCUSED HIM OF LEAKING THE SUBSTANCE 
OF THE EU'S COMPLAINT (WHICH HAD BEEN MADE THROUGH A MEETING 
WITH THE DEPUTY FM. THE SLOVENE AMBASSADOR IS CONVINCED THE LEAK 
TO THE PRESS CAME FROM WITHIN THE MFA).  IT WOULD APPEAR THAT A 
BARRAGE OF PRESS CRITICISM AND/OR A PUNISHING TRAVEL SCHEDULE 
ARE TAKING A TOLL ON THE NORMALLY JOCULAR FM. 
BARNES 
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