VZCZCXRO5542
PP RUEHIK RUEHPOD RUEHTRO RUEHYG
DE RUCNDT #0234/01 0741857
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 141857Z MAR 08
FM USMISSION USUN NEW YORK
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 3903
INFO RUEHZG/NATO EU COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RUEHGG/UN SECURITY COUNCIL COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RUEHBW/AMEMBASSY BELGRADE PRIORITY 0005
RUEHMO/AMEMBASSY MOSCOW PRIORITY 1166
RUEHBS/USEU BRUSSELS PRIORITY
RUEHNO/USMISSION USNATO PRIORITY 1521
RUEHPS/USOFFICE PRISTINA PRIORITY 1174

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 USUN NEW YORK 000234 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PGOV PREL UNMIK YI UNSC
SUBJECT: THIS JUST IN: SERBIA OPPOSES KOSOVO INDEPENDENCE 
 
 
USUN NEW Y 00000234  001.2 OF 003 
 
 
¶1. (SBU) Summary: In a March 11 Security Council public 
meeting, Serbian FM Jeremic criticized Kosovo's declaration 
of independence (DI) as an assault on the international 
system, asking countries who had recognized Kosovo to 
reconsider and encouraging those who had not to hold off.  He 
condemned attacks against foreign embassies in Belgrade on 
February 21, but also criticized the EU's rule of law mission 
and the International Steering Group (ISG) as unacceptable 
unless expressly endorsed by the Security Council.  On the 
positive side, he said Serbia would not impose a trade 
embargo on Kosovo and said that Serbia sees its place in 
Europe.  He said May elections will be a critical event for 
Serbia, as he hoped the May elections would demonstrate even 
as they demonstrated that Serbia is united in opposition to 
Kosovo independence.  In closed consultations, Russian 
Permrep Churkin said attempts at "reformatting" UNMIK would 
violate UNSCR 1244 as would the deployment of the EU's rule 
of law mission.  Churkin complained that the EU's Yves de 
Kermabon had told the press that he was in New York this week 
to coordinate deployment of the EU mission with the UN, 
alleging that such coordination would be unlawful.  Churkin 
tabled a draft presidential statement (PRST) calling for 
continued dialogue between all parties.  Ambassador Khalilzad 
said Russia's PRST could not be a basis for Council 
discussion as it ignores changed circumstances in Kosovo and 
underscored that the Council should help Kosovo implement the 
Ahtisaari plan and facilitate the development of neighborly 
relations with Serbia. End Summary. 
 
Jeremic: May Elections Will Be A Turning Point For Serbia 
--------------------------------------------- ------------ 
 
¶2. (SBU) On March 11, the Security Council held a public 
meeting at the request of Russia and Serbia to discuss the 
post-DI situation in Kosovo.  Reading from a prepared 
statement in English that seemed aimed at striking a moderate 
tone overall, Serbian FM Jeremic said that the Council was 
once again gathered "to discuss troubling developments in 
Serbia's southern province of Kosovo and Metohija."  Jeremic 
labeled the Kosovo PISG's February 17 DI an assault on the 
"innate operating logic of the international system" and 
called on countries that have recognized Kosovo to reconsider 
and those that have not to hold off for the time being.  He 
said that "understandably the public reaction in Belgrade to 
Pristina's DI has been clear and loud," but called February 
21 attacks on foreign embassies "deplorable."  He warned 
Serbia will not accept an imposed outcome and will "continue 
to return to the Security Council and other bodies." (Note: 
He made no direct reference to a possible ICJ referral. End 
note.)  He asserted that Serbia takes the rights of Albanians 
seriously, including giving them "substantial self-governance 
under Serbian sovereignty" and also will not impose an 
embargo on Kosovo or use force.  However, he said that Serbs 
of Kosovo will not remain relegated to "a fearful life of 
ghettoized isolation."  He criticized the EU rule of law 
mission and ISG as based on a plan not accepted by the 
Security Council.  He said Serbia would welcome the presence 
of the EU in Kosovo, but only with the endorsement of the 
Security Council. 
 
¶3. (SBU) Jeremic promoted President Tadic's statement of a 
few days earlier that Serbia is willing to sign a 
Stabilization and Association Agreement (SAA) with the EU -- 
which, he said a majority of Serbs support -- declaring that 
Serbia's place is in Europe and extolling the benefits of a 
European future.  He continued that Serbia is ready for 
meetings with UNMIK on issues such as the status of Kosovo 
Serbs, the status of the Serbian Orthodox Church, customs 
points and the status of Serb judges and police.  Jeremic 
concluded that Serbia's May elections will be a critical 
event as Serbia considered its possible future in Europe 
notwithstanding that Serbia was united in claiming Kosovo for 
itself. 
 
Russia: Opposes UNMIK "Reformatting" As Unlawful 
--------------------------------------------- --- 
 
¶4. (SBU) Russian Permrep Churkin said Russia will continue to 
recognize Serbia within its internationally-recognized 
borders.  Reminding all that SYG Ban confirmed in a February 
17 Council meeting that UNSCR 1244 remains valid, Churkin 
said the current international presences should remain in 
place.  He said any attempts at "reformatting" UNMIK would be 
unlawful and that deployment of the EU's rule of law mission, 
without approval of the Security Council, is not line with 
 
USUN NEW Y 00000234  002.2 OF 003 
 
 
¶1244.  He complained that the EU's Yves de Kermabon had told 
the press that he had been in New York this week to 
coordinate deployment of the EU mission, asserting that 
attempts to involve the UN in the EU's work would also be 
unlawful.  Churkin said that there had already been "a flow 
of refugees" and that de facto partition would be the fault 
of Albanians.  Churkin also tabled a draft PRST (faxed to 
Department) calling for continued dialogue between all 
parties in accordance with Russia's proposed roadmap. 
Churkin said later in rebuttal that there cannot be any "new 
reality" until 1244 is voided by the Security Council, 
calling any such discussion a "distorted, 'Matrix' reality." 
 
Vietnam, China, Indonesia and South Africa Support Russia 
--------------------------------------------- ------------ 
 
¶5. (SBU) Vietnamese Permrep Minh called Kosovo's DI a 
violation of international law, the UN charter and 1244 and 
expressed concern regarding the situation on the ground. 
He supported the Russian PRST.  Chinese Permrep Wang said the 
Council should bear in mind that respect for territorial 
integrity is an important part of the UN charter.   Wang 
supported a continuation of talks and welcomed Russia's PRST. 
 Indonesian Permrep Natalegawa urged the Security Council to 
engage on Kosovo, exercising leadership and continuing to 
promote dialogue and to consider the Russian PRST. 
 
¶6. (SBU) South African Pemrep Kumalo opined that it is not 
too late to negotiate.  He asked that the Secretariat hold a 
briefing for "troop contributing countries to UNMIK," saying 
that South Africa has received questions from countries 
wanting clarity on what will happen to their personnel. 
(Note: USUN Deputy Polcounselor asked the Russian Presidency 
whether there is a precedent for a TCC briefing on Kosovo 
since KFOR's presence is unique.  Churkin replied that South 
Africa's proposal might accommodate non-KFOR participants in 
UNMIK and the request could be dealt with in April when the 
Council considers the UNMIK report. End note.) Kumalo 
supported the Russian PRST. 
 
US: Russia's PRST Not A Basis For Discussion 
-------------------------------------------- 
 
¶7. (SBU) Ambassador Khalilzad stated that Russia's proposed 
PRST is not a basis for Security Council discussion because 
it ignores the changed circumstances of Kosovo's DI and 
recognitions.  He said the appropriate goal of the Council 
should be to assist Kosovo in implementing the Ahtisaari plan 
that a majority of its members supported and to facilitate 
the development of neighborly relations with Serbia. 
Khalilzad said Jeremic's statement had contained some 
positive elements such as supporting European integration and 
a commitment to non-violence.  He said the upcoming May 
election would be important for Serbia and hoped Serbia would 
move toward a European future.  Khalizad agreed with Russia 
that 1244 remains in effect, but said the EU should begin to 
take on a greater role under a "fade-in/fade-out" model.  He 
agreed with a few elements of Russia's PRST, including 
reaffirmation of 1244, a call for nonviolence and continued 
briefings from UNMIK and KFOR, but said we see no point in 
having experts discuss the rest since experts could not 
reconsider decisions made by their respective capitals. 
(Note: Russia has nevertheless called for an experts' meeting 
on March 17. End note.) 
 
Croatia, Belgium, UK, France and Italy: Solid Statements 
--------------------------------------------- ----------- 
 
¶8. (SBU) Croatian Permrep Jurica voiced understanding 
regarding Serbia's sensitivities but said one cannot close 
one's eyes to the fact that a significant number of countries 
have recognized Kosovo's independence.  He said "Kosovo is a 
new statehood reality in Southeast Europe and that fact 
cannot be reversed."  He said Croatia had always supported a 
political settlement, but all options were exhausted and the 
Ahtisaari plan has become the only viable option. 
 
¶9. (SBU) Belgian Permrep Verbeke said that isolation will not 
pay for Serbia so the EU will continue to reach out to the 
country.  He praised the response of Ruecker to violence in 
northern Kosovo.  UK Permrep Sawyers said Russia's PRST was 
unlikely to be supported by the Council as it is based on a 
view overtaken by events on the ground.  Sawyers argued that 
Jeremic's statement that all of Serbia opposes Kosovo 
independence inadvertently demonstrated that the GOS doesn't 
 
USUN NEW Y 00000234  003.2 OF 003 
 
 
really consider Albanians to be citizens of Serbia.  French 
Permrep Ripert voiced appreciation for UNMIK and NATO's 
responses to attacks in northern Kosovo.  He said there is a 
new reality that the international community must take into 
account and the EU's deployment of its rule of law mission is 
in full accordance with 1244. . 
 
Libya, Burkina Faso, Costa Rica and Panama 
------------------------------------------ 
 
¶10. (SBU) Libyan Permrep Attalhi said Libya understands 
Serbia's stance on its sovereignty and territorial integrity 
but also understands the aspirations of the Kosovars and 
"what led them to the current situation."  Attalhi said that, 
despite some incidents, the status quo in Kosovo is 
satisfactory.  Libya would study Russia's PRST. 
 
¶11. (SBU) Burkina Faso's Pemrep expressed regret for the lack 
of an agreed solution and said he would continue to follow 
the situation in Kosovo.  Burkina Faso would also study 
Russia's PRST.  Costa Rica expressed appreciation for the 
PRST.  Panamanian Permrep Arias said the chances are remote 
that Russia's PRST would be adopted. 
 
 
 
 
 
KHALILZAD