VZCZCXRO5540
RR RUEHAG RUEHAST RUEHDA RUEHDBU RUEHDF RUEHFL RUEHIK RUEHKW RUEHLA
RUEHLN RUEHLZ RUEHPOD RUEHROV RUEHSR RUEHVK RUEHYG
DE RUEHBW #1435/01 2951005
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 221005Z OCT 07
FM AMEMBASSY BELGRADE
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 1643
INFO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 BELGRADE 001435 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PGOV PREL PHUM SR KV
SUBJECT: Serbs Defend Kosovo Status Proposal to EUR/SCE Director 
Hoh 
 
 
Summary 
------- 
 
¶1.  (SBU) Government of Serbia officials told visiting Director for 
South Central Europe (EUR/SCE) Chris Hoh on October 16 that Serbia's 
proposal for Kosovo autonomy was extensive and fair, and that the 
dynamics of the Kosovo status discussions were not.  The government 
officials outlined their vision for Serbia's future within the 
European Union; some of which included NATO, some explicitly did 
not.  In separate meetings with the Prime Minister's Political 
Advisor, Energy Minister, and MFA Political Director, Hoh advised 
Belgrade to stop using foreign policy in its domestic political 
campaign, tone down its anti-NATO rhetoric and to adopt a strategic, 
long-term view towards Euro-Atlantic integration.  End Summary. 
 
Kosovo:  Serbia Needs "Membrane of Sovereignty" 
--------------------------------------------- -- 
 
¶2.  (SBU) Serbian Government officials told EUR/SCE OD Hoh that the 
GOS was unified behind its Kosovo policy and that Serbia's autonomy 
offer to Pristina was "the most generous minority policy in the 
world."  Foreign Policy Advisor to the Prime Minister, Vladeta 
Jankovic, a former vice president of the Democratic Party of Serbia 
(DSS), told Hoh that the DSS agreed at its October 14 party congress 
that Kosovo could never become independent without a UNSC resolution 
or Serbia's recognition -- and Serbia would never recognize an 
independent Kosovo.  Jankovic told Hoh that Belgrade's proposal for 
Kosovo autonomy was fair to Kosovo-Albanians. "No other national 
minority in the world would have as much as we are offering the 
Albanians," Jankovic said.  The proposal preserved for Serbia, 
however, a "membrane of sovereignty."  Elaborating, Jankovic said 
that, with this "membrane," Kosovo could have almost all but a seat 
in the UN and an army.  Belgrade had no illusions that it could run 
Kosovo.  But, he went on, it was a political imperative that the 
government ensured its ability to help Kosovo Serbs economically, 
educationally, and culturally. 
 
¶3.  (SBU) Interlocutors agreed on the need to deny Kosovo the UN 
seat and army, differing on few points.  Energy Minister Popovic 
said the GOS needed to maintain control of borders, defense, customs 
and monetary policy, and to have Kosovo administered "under one UN 
presence."  Belgrade should also oversee basic human and minority 
rights, in line with its obligations to the Council of Europe, 
Popovic said.  Although Belgrade wanted "one voice in international 
organizations," Popovic said Belgrade could consider a possible 
exception with regard to the IMF and World Bank.  Ministry of 
Foreign Affairs Political Director Stefanovic emphasized the need to 
respect the current borders, and to develop a "common sovereign 
roof" for both Kosovo and Serbia.  The reality, he said, was that 
Serbia wanted to regain (vice retain) Kosovo. 
 
Need for More Talks and More Engagement by Pristina 
--------------------------------------------- ------ 
 
¶4.  (SBU) GOS leaders told Hoh they expected more talks after 
December 10, but argued that recent U.S. statements and Pristina's 
position were counterproductive.  Jankovic said the Troika's 
December 10 deadline was hindering progress and U.S. public 
statements on the talks were undermining the negotiations.  The 
Albanians, he said, were a stone wall in the process; though he 
hoped by January and February there would be "a new phase" in the 
talks.  Stefanovic said talks were not going well and that new ideas 
needed to come from the Troika.  He said the United States needed to 
make the Kosovo-Albanians participate more in the talks, which he 
described as "kabuki."  Popovic said that Serbia's position was 
clear and engaged, but that messages needed to encourage both sides 
to negotiate.  Hoh responded that it was the responsibility of the 
parties to persuade each other that an agreement was possible; 
otherwise the Ahtisaari Plan could serve as a basis to move forward. 
 He emphasized that the costs of delay significantly increased over 
time.  Hoh told Jankovic that additional time would only further the 
hardening of the two sides' positions, therefore would be 
counterproductive. 
 
NATO:  Diverging Views 
---------------------- 
 
¶5.  (SBU) DSS officials told Hoh that Serbia's relationship with 
NATO should be limited to Partnership for Peace (PfP), but all 
acknowledged that Serbia's future decision to join NATO would 
ultimately be put to a referendum.  Popovic said that the DSS's new 
platform, adopted on October 14, rejected Serbia's membership in 
NATO.  "PfP is enough," he said, adding it was Serbia's "democratic 
right to be against NATO," and to remain neutral.  Jankovic said 
although the DSS favored neutrality, it also wanted regional 
cooperation and good defense and economic relations with the United 
States, the EU and Russia.  PfP "implies equal status with NATO, 
while membership would have additional costs and requirements," 
Jankovic said. Jankovic said ultimately NATO membership would come 
to a referendum, in which there would be an open and fair public 
debate.  In contrast to the DSS platform of Prime Minister 
 
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Kostunica, Stefanovic said President Tadic's team was doing all it 
could to be ready for NATO and a referendum on the issue.  "We will 
prepare ourselves in a quiet atmosphere.  While others are talking, 
we are doing," he told Hoh. 
 
¶6. (SBU) Hoh noted Belgrade's recent anti-NATO rhetoric and urged 
restraint.  Stefanovic said that any rhetoric was due to the Kosovo 
issue but should not poison the future relationship.  Jankovic 
acknowledged that the anti-NATO rhetoric may be too strong, but 
assured that the rhetoric was only limited to individuals and not to 
the actual party position. 
 
Serbia United on EU policy 
-------------------------- 
 
¶7.  (SBU) Serbian officials told Hoh that the coalition government 
was united on its pro-European stance, however, DSS interlocutors 
added a caveat if the EU were to recognize Kosovo.  Stefanovic said 
that the EU is "the root" of the GOS and that Serbia would not step 
back from that goal.  Jankovic also stressed that the EU was a 
priority for the GOS, but said if the EU were to recognize and 
independent Kosovo "we would have to reconsider relations."  Popovic 
said Serbia's future relationship with the EU "remains up to the 
EU," adding how the EU and the United States responded towards 
Serbia with regard to Kosovo would determine the future 
relationship.  "We will do our best, but much depends on how the 
West deals with us," Popovic said. 
 
Comment 
------- 
 
¶8. (SBU) Political leaders in Belgrade know that Kosovo's 
independence is looming.  Domestic politics prevent them from saying 
this publicly and USG arguments to "convince them" fall on deaf 
ears.  The comments to us by those closest to the decision makers 
suggest, however, that the GOS is preparing now for an outcome on 
Kosovo's independence.  That preparation includes how the GOS will 
act domestically as well as how it intends to respond to the 
Euro-Atlantic community.  End Comment. 
 
¶9. (U) EUR/SCE Director Hoh has not cleared this message. 
 
 
 
BRUSH