VZCZCXYZ0001
OO RUEHWEB

DE RUEHC #0678 0600221
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 290217Z FEB 08
FM SECSTATE WASHDC
TO RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK IMMEDIATE 0000
INFO UN SECURITY COUNCIL COLLECTIVE IMMEDIATE
RUEHVB/AMEMBASSY ZAGREB IMMEDIATE 0000
RUEHPS/USOFFICE PRISTINA IMMEDIATE 0000
RUEHNO/USMISSION USNATO IMMEDIATE 0000

UNCLAS STATE 020678 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
ZAGREB PLEASE PASS TO BELGRADE 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: UNSC PREL UNMIK YI
SUBJECT: KOSOVO -- DEMARCHE TO UN ON UNMIK, CUSTOMS IN 
KOSOVO 
 
REF: PRISTINA 85 
 
¶1.  The Department requests that USUN deliver a demarche 
at the highest appropriate level to UN officials, in 
coordination with our European allies on the Security 
Council, to ensure that UNMIK carry out its 
administrative and security functions on Kosovo's border 
with Serbia, particularly customs functions, in 
fulfillment of its mandate under UN Security Council 
Resolution 1244. 
 
OBJECTIVES 
---------- 
 
¶2. USUN should pursue the following objectives: 
 
-- that UNMIK maintain border controls at the 
administrative boundary line between Kosovo and Serbia; 
 
-- that UNMIK prevent Serbian agitators intent on inciting 
violence from entering Kosovo from Serbia; 
 
-- that UNMIK prevent or restrict the travel of Serbian 
officials who may seek to provoke violence and disorder from 
within Kosovo. 
 
-- that UNMIK reestablish customs functions at the border, 
including north of the Ibar river. 
 
-- that UNMIK reject as an inadmissable challenge to its 
authority any Government of Serbia proposal to open a GOS 
customs office in Mitrovica. 
 
-- that UNMIK police remain at full strength and actively 
enforce their mandate throughout the full period of transition 
to EULEX. 
 
BACKGROUND 
---------- 
 
¶3.  Reftel from Embassy Pristina details the negative 
impact of UNMIK's passive stance in not asserting its 
authority and failing to control movement across the 
border between Serbia and Kosovo, after Serbian rioters 
destroyed administrative facilities, particularly at gates 
1 and 31, near Leposavic and Zubin Potok, respectively. 
Reftel describes Serbia's attempts to establish a parallel 
administration in northern Kosovo, and, through the 
establishment of illegal customs posts within Kosovo, to 
implement a de facto economic blockade.  USUN may draw on 
the following points in making this demarche to UN 
officials: 
 
--      The UN has stated clearly that UNSCR 1244 
remains in effect and UNMIK will carry out its mandate as 
outlined in 1244.  We need UNMIK, including UN Police, to 
respond more robustly to Belgrade's provocations in Kosovo. 
Recent UN actions are not upholding 1244, especially in the 
north. 
 
--      Serbia is implementing a policy that directly 
contravenes UNSCR 1244.  Belgrade officials have stated 
bluntly that their goal is to establish/entrench parallel 
institutions for Kosovo Serbs that are directly controlled from 
Belgrade (de facto partition). 
 
-- We expect UNMIK to be robust in the face of Serb 
provocations and challenges.  Maintaining control over 
Kosovo's borders is essential.  KFOR can and is backing up 
police but border issues are an UNMIK responsibility. 
 
-- We recognize UNMIK's stated desire to be "status 
neutral" in Kosovo.  However, failure to control the 
border and to collect customs at the border is not status 
neutral.  It is a marked shift from UNMIK standard 
practice before February 17.  By allowing Belgrade to 
intensify parallel structures and roll back border/customs 
regimes UNMIK is ceding its authority in northern Kosovo 
to Serbia and failing in its 1244-mandated responsibilities. 
 
-- It is critical that UNMIK maintain border controls at 
the administrative boundary line. Gate #1 was inadequately 
staffed earlier this week and cars/trucks/buses were and 
still are passing freely without appropriate checks. 
Moreover, customs officials must return to gates 1 and 31 
immediately.  UNMIK should continue to collect customs at 
every border gate where it did so before February 17. 
 
-- We understand that Belgrade plans to open a GOS customs 
office in Mitrovica.  This would clearly violate UNSCR 
1244 and UNMIK must be prepared to respond vigorously to 
this latest provocation. 
 
-- It is also critical to resist attempts by Kosovo Serbs 
to transform the UNMIK court in the north into a Serb 
court and allow Serbs to expel ethnic Albanians from the 
staff. 
 
-- It is important that UNMIK police remain at full strength and 
actively enforce their mandate throughout the full period of 
transition to EULEX. 
 
-- Solana will be making similar points to Guehenno this 
week. 
 
DEPARTMENT POINT OF CONTACT 
--------------------------- 
 
¶4. Please report the results of this demarche to IO/UNP - 
John Mariz, 202 647-0048, marizjc@state.gov. 
RICE