VZCZCXRO4151
PP RUEHAG RUEHAST RUEHDA RUEHDF RUEHFL RUEHIK RUEHKW RUEHLA RUEHLN
RUEHLZ RUEHPOD RUEHROV RUEHSR RUEHVK RUEHYG
DE RUEHBW #0232/01 0731620
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P R 131620Z MAR 08
FM AMEMBASSY BELGRADE
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 0039
INFO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE
RHEHAAA/NSC WASHINGTON DC
RUFOADA/JAC MOLESWORTH RAF MOLESWORTH UK
RHMFISS/CDR USEUCOM VAIHINGEN GE
RUEHBW/AMEMBASSY BELGRADE 0062

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 BELGRADE 000232 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PGOV PREL PHUM SR MW KV
SUBJECT: SERBIA: DRASKOVIC TO FORM ELECTION COALITION WITH DS 
 
 
BELGRADE 00000232  001.2 OF 002 
 
 
SUMMARY 
 
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¶1.  (SBU) Former Foreign Minister and leader of the Serbian 
Renewal Movement, Vuk Draskovic, told the Ambassador March 12 
that he intended to join a coalition with the Democratic Party 
for the May elections. Draskovic encouraged Washington and 
Pristina to accept Kosovo Serbs participation in the May 
elections.  The United States should emphasize its historical 
friendship with Serbia in an effort to move beyond Kosovo, and 
Serbia's international interests will be best served when Serbia 
has a strong democratic state at home, Draskovic said.  End 
Summary. 
 
 
 
DRASKOVIC TO FORM COALITION WITH DS 
 
----------------------------------- 
 
 
 
¶2.  (SBU) Draskovic, leader of the Serbian Renewal Movement 
(SPO) told the Ambassador that he was negotiating with President 
Boris Tadic's Democratic Party (DS) to form a pro-EU coalition 
for the May 11 election.  It was essential for "democratic 
forces to do everything possible to win a majority (in the May 
election) in order to avoid disaster," Draskovic said.  He said 
his coalition with the DS was only natural, since he could not 
support the Democratic Party of Serbia's (DSS) and Prime 
Minister Vojislav Kostunica's "suicide policy of isolation." 
Draskovic said he had "an obligation to defeat the policy of 
defeat," and thus was committed to moving Serbia towards its 
European future.  He hoped he would reach an agreement with the 
DS in the near future. 
 
 
 
 
 
ACCEPT KOSOVO-SERB PARTICIPATION IN ELECTIONS 
 
--------------------------------------------- 
 
 
 
¶3.  (SBU) Draskovic said he believed Kostunica would push to 
have Kosovo-Serbs participate in the elections.  He stressed 
this was a right Serbs had under UN Resolution 1244, which was 
still in effect, and under the Ahtisaari plan, which permits 
dual citizenship.  He urged the United States to consult closely 
with Pristina to encourage the Kosovo Albanians "to close their 
eyes to Serb participation in the elections and to encourage 
(the Kosovar Albanian's) patient behavior."  He said it was 
important for the Serbs in Kosovo to express their own political 
will in the elections. 
 
 
 
U.S. SHOULD PROMOTE HISTORICAL FRIENDSHIP WITH SERBIA 
 
--------------------------------------------- -------- 
 
 
 
¶4.  (SBU) Draskovic said the United States should encourage 
Serbia to move past Kosovo by focusing on the close bilateral 
friendship of the last century.  He suggested the United States 
to issue a statement reaffirming its appreciation to Serbia as 
an ally in the world wars and stressing our dedication to this 
historical friendship.  "The United States has not betrayed our 
historical friendship, but rather someone in Serbia did, and for 
this reason, the United States is right to support Serbia's 
pro-democratic forces," Draskovic said.  He encouraged the 
United States "to take the offensive" of reminding Serbia of the 
strong friendship in the past. 
 
 
 
SERBIA'S INTERESTS BEST SERVED THROUGH STRONG DEMOCRACY 
 
--------------------------------------------- ---------- 
 
 
 
¶5.  (SBU) Serbia would best serve its international agenda by 
 
BELGRADE 00000232  002.2 OF 002 
 
 
developing a strong democratic state at home, Draskovic said. 
"My Serb nationalism is not against other nations, or my own 
nation, but instead is focused on building a strong state at 
home," Draskovic said. He was disappointed that his erstwhile 
friend, the Crown Prince, attended the February 21 rally for 
Kosovo led by Radical and DSS figures, concluding that he was a 
"good western educated man" who was just "thinking the wrong 
way."  He said Serbia needed the EU and the United States to 
further strengthen its democracy, citing empowerment programs on 
the local level and economic assistance for Serbia's 
underdeveloped regions.  Draskovic said he had "an obligation" 
to tell Serbs "not to be blind any longer" and to work with the 
West in developing this strong democratic state. 
 
 
 
COMMENT 
 
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¶6.  (SBU) Draskovic's party is small.  The SPO won only 3.1% of 
the vote in the January 2007 parliamentary elections, and thus, 
currently has no seats in the parliament.  However, in what is 
gearing up to be a tough and contentious political race, every 
percentage point could very much make the difference between a 
Democratic or Radical victory.  Since the last election, 
Draskovic has modified his public stance on what role the 
monarchy could play in Serbia.  His comments suggest that he is 
now more in the democratic camp, with a lucid observation of 
what Serbia needs to become a modern democratic state. Unlike 
leaders in the DS, Draskovic is advocating a much more vocal 
U.S. position during the election campaign, something that fits 
his own personal vocal style.  Draskovic is not afraid to speak 
up, and now he appears to be speaking up for a democratic, 
European Serbia. End Comment. 
MUNTER